This character analysis essay must focus on a character from one of the three short stories that we read in class. You must use adjectives to describe the character, called character traits, based on your interpretation of the character. Your writing will be directed to an audience who has already read the story and would like to understand the story’s deeper meaning and significance.
website for 3 short stories
https://poestories.com/read/amontillado
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/theliteratureofprescription/exhibitionAssets/digitalDocs/The-Yellow-Wall-Paper.pdf
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
Title of Short Story: “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston
Thesis statement: Delia Jones, through her resilience and determination, challenges the social norms of the time, highlighting the need for empowerment and liberation of women.
Topic sentence 1: Delia’s character traits of strength and endurance reveal her ability to withstand oppression.
Quote 1: “Delia’s work-worn knees crawled over the earth in Gethsemane and up the rocks of Calvary many, many times during these months.” (Hurston)
Analysis of quote 1: This quote illustrates Delia’s physical labor and the hardships she endures, demonstrating her resilience despite the challenges she faces.
Quote 2: “She had brought love to the union and he had brought a longing after the flesh.” (Hurston)
Analysis of quote 2: Delia’s commitment to her marriage contrasts with her husband’s selfish desires, highlighting her strength in maintaining the relationship despite his faults.
Quote 3: “The voice of her dream was cold as ice.” (Hurston)
Analysis of quote 3: Delia’s dreams represent her aspirations for a better life, and her ability to confront the harsh reality indicates her determination to rise above her circumstances.
Topic sentence 2: Delia’s actions challenge societal expectations and empower her to assert her independence.
Quote 1: “She would not move until she had finished her work, then she would put the whole world out of her house.” (Hurston)
Analysis of quote 1: Delia’s refusal to leave her home until she completes her work shows her dedication to her responsibilities and her unwillingness to be controlled by others.
Quote 2: “Delia went on with her work, but she felt a new strength.” (Hurston)
Analysis of quote 2: Despite her husband’s cruelty, Delia finds inner strength through her work, symbolizing her growing independence and self-reliance.
Quote 3: “She had been squeezed and wrung out, and now she was quiet.” (Hurston)
Analysis of quote 3: Delia’s newfound tranquility represents her liberation from the oppressive relationship and a sense of empowerment as she takes control of her own life.
Topic sentence 3: Delia’s triumph over adversity challenges the societal norms that confine women.
Quote 1: “Delia faced him coolly.” (Hurston)
Analysis of quote 1: Delia’s calmness in confronting her abusive husband signifies her refusal to be intimidated by him, challenging the traditional gender roles that dictate submission.
Quote 2: “Delia was full of that oldest human longing—self-revelation.” (Hurston)
Analysis of quote 2: Delia’s desire for self-discovery and self-expression demonstrates her rejection of societal expectations that limit women’s autonomy.
Quote 3: “She wanted to rise up to meet it with its own weapons.” (Hurston)
Analysis of quote 3: Delia’s determination to confront injustice head-on reveals her defiance against the oppressive forces that seek to suppress her.
Conclusion:
Delia Jones, as depicted in Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat,” embodies strength, endurance, and defiance against societal norms. Through her resilience and determination, Delia challenges the oppressive conditions she faces, highlighting the need for empowerment and liberation of women. Her character serves as an inspiration for readers, encouraging them to question social expectations and strive for independence and equality.
