Write a response supporting why you agree or disagree with the following assertion: Gregors transformation highlights his isolation and alienation before his metamorphosis.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Significance of Isolation and Alienation in Gregor’s Transformation
In Franz Kafka’s renowned novella “The Metamorphosis,” the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, undergoes a bizarre and unsettling transformation into a giant insect. A prevalent interpretation posits that Gregor’s isolation and alienation are already deeply ingrained in his life before his physical metamorphosis occurs. This essay will argue in favor of the assertion that Gregor’s transformation indeed highlights his pre-existing isolation and alienation.
Pre-Existing Isolation
1. Gregor’s Role as the Breadwinner
Before his transformation, Gregor’s sense of isolation stems from his role as the primary breadwinner for his family. The burden of supporting his parents and sister financially leads to a profound sense of alienation, as his existence becomes solely defined by his work and obligations.
2. Lack of Emotional Connection
Gregor’s interactions with his family members prior to his metamorphosis are marked by a lack of emotional connection. Communication within the Samsa household is transactional and utilitarian, devoid of genuine warmth or understanding. This emotional distance contributes to Gregor’s feelings of isolation even in the presence of his loved ones.
3. Physical Separation
Gregor’s physical separation from the rest of society is evident in his job as a traveling salesman. Constantly on the move and isolated from stable social connections, Gregor experiences a profound sense of estrangement from the world around him even before his physical transformation takes place.
Transformation as Amplification
1. Heightened Physical Isolation
Following his metamorphosis into an insect, Gregor’s physical isolation intensifies dramatically. His grotesque appearance and inability to communicate effectively further distance him from human society, accentuating the isolation that was already present in his life.
2. Emotional Estrangement
The transformation serves as a metaphor for Gregor’s emotional estrangement from his family members. Their repulsion and rejection of his new form reflect the emotional distance that existed between them even before his physical change, highlighting the pre-existing alienation within the Samsa household.
3. Psychological Alienation
Gregor’s psychological state deteriorates post-transformation, mirroring the mental isolation he experienced before. His inability to communicate his thoughts and feelings exacerbates his sense of alienation, emphasizing the internal struggles he faced long before his outward metamorphosis.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Gregor’s transformation in “The Metamorphosis” serves as a magnifying glass that amplifies the pre-existing themes of isolation and alienation in his life. By highlighting the deep-rooted emotional, social, and psychological estrangement that characterized Gregor’s existence before his physical metamorphosis, Kafka underscores the pervasive nature of isolation in human experience. Gregor’s transformation acts as a catalyst that brings to the forefront the profound loneliness and disconnection that were always present in his life, making the novella a poignant exploration of the complexities of human relationships and the enduring impact of isolation on individual identity.
