How has the role of the grandparent changed over time? Are the demands on grandparents more or less than in previous generations?
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 Changing Role of Grandparents Over Time: The role of grandparents has undergone significant changes over time, influenced by societal shifts, cultural norms, and family dynamics. Some notable changes include:
Traditional Roles: In earlier generations, grandparents often played a more traditional role, primarily providing emotional support, wisdom, and guidance to their grandchildren. They were seen as secondary caregivers, with the primary responsibility for childcare resting on the parents.
Increased Involvement: In recent decades, there has been an increase in the involvement of grandparents in the lives of their grandchildren. This shift can be attributed to various factors, such as changing family structures, increased life expectancy, economic factors, and the rising number of working parents.
Caregiving Responsibilities: Grandparents today often take on more significant caregiving responsibilities for their grandchildren. This may be due to factors such as dual-income households, single-parent families, or parents’ need for support in managing work-life balance. Grandparents may provide regular childcare, pick up children from school, or even become the primary caregivers in some cases.
Intergenerational Relationships: The role of grandparents has evolved to include fostering intergenerational relationships within the family. They are viewed not only as sources of wisdom and guidance but also as companions and playmates for their grandchildren. Grandparents actively participate in activities, events, and experiences with their grandchildren, creating stronger bonds across generations.
Financial Support: With economic challenges faced by families today, grandparents may also provide financial assistance to their adult children or grandchildren. This may include contributing towards education expenses, housing costs, or other financial needs.
Demands on Grandparents: More or Less than Previous Generations? The demands on grandparents today can be argued to be both more and less than in previous generations:
Greater Demands:
Increased Caregiving Responsibilities: With more grandparents assuming primary caregiving roles for their grandchildren, the demands on their time, energy, and resources have increased significantly.
Blurring of Boundaries: In some cases, grandparents may face challenges in establishing boundaries between their own personal lives and the demands of providing care for their grandchildren.
Technological Challenges: Modern grandparents may face additional demands related to keeping up with technology to communicate with their grandchildren or assist them with virtual learning.
Fewer Demands:
Extended Life Expectancy: Advances in healthcare and improved living conditions have resulted in longer life expectancy for many individuals. This means that grandparents may have more energy and vitality to engage with their grandchildren.
Increased Support Systems: Today’s grandparents may have access to more resources and support systems than previous generations. This can include support groups, educational materials, and technological tools that can help them navigate their roles effectively.
Changing Cultural Attitudes: Society’s recognition of the importance of intergenerational relationships has led to a greater appreciation for the contributions and value of grandparents. This may result in increased support from communities and institutions.
In conclusion, the role of grandparents has evolved over time, with increased involvement and caregiving responsibilities. While the demands on grandparents today can be greater due to increased caregiving responsibilities and changing societal expectations, they also benefit from extended life expectancy, improved support systems, and changing cultural attitudes. Ultimately, the demands placed on grandparents depend on individual family dynamics and circumstances, which can vary widely from one situation to another.
