How were Englands efforts, in colonizing the New World distinct from those of France and Spain?
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: The Distinct Colonization Efforts of England, France, and Spain in the New World
Introduction
During the Age of Exploration, European powers such as England, France, and Spain sought to expand their territories by colonizing the New World. While all three nations were driven by the desire for wealth and power, their approaches to colonization were distinct in terms of motivations, methods, and long-term impacts.
Thesis Statement
England’s efforts in colonizing the New World were distinct from those of France and Spain due to their focus on establishing permanent settlements, promoting religious freedom, and fostering a culture of self-governance.
Motivations for Colonization
England
– Economic Opportunities: England sought to establish profitable colonies for resources such as tobacco, timber, and fur.
– Religious Freedom: The English colonies provided a haven for religious dissenters such as the Pilgrims and Puritans.
– Strategic Interests: England aimed to challenge Spanish dominance and expand its influence in the New World.
France
– Trade and Commerce: France focused on establishing trade networks with Native American tribes for fur and other goods.
– Alliances with Natives: French colonists often formed alliances with indigenous peoples for mutual benefit.
– Strategic Outposts: France established scattered outposts for military and economic purposes.
Spain
– Wealth and Power: Spain’s primary goal was to acquire gold, silver, and other valuable resources.
– Forced Labor: Spanish colonization relied heavily on forced labor systems such as encomienda and slavery.
– Cultural Assimilation: Spain aimed to convert Native Americans to Christianity and assimilate them into Spanish culture.
Methods of Colonization
England
– Permanent Settlements: English colonists established permanent settlements such as Jamestown and Plymouth.
– Self-Governance: The Mayflower Compact and the Virginia House of Burgesses laid the foundation for self-governing colonies.
– Land Ownership: England implemented systems such as the Headright System to encourage private land ownership.
France
– Fur Trade: French colonists focused on trading furs with Native American tribes, establishing trading posts throughout North America.
– Limited Settlements: France established fewer permanent settlements compared to England, focusing more on strategic trading outposts.
– Flexible Alliances: French colonists formed alliances with various Native American groups rather than imposing their authority.
Spain
– Conquest and Control: Spanish conquistadors used force to subjugate Native American populations and extract resources.
– Mission System: Spain established missions to convert Native Americans to Christianity and integrate them into Spanish society.
– Encomienda System: Spanish colonists exploited Native labor through the encomienda system, leading to widespread abuse.
Long-Term Impacts
England
– Legacy of Self-Governance: English colonization laid the groundwork for democratic principles and self-governing institutions in the future United States.
– Cultural Diversity: The English colonies attracted a diverse population seeking religious freedom, leading to a rich cultural tapestry.
France
– Cultural Exchange: French colonization facilitated cultural exchanges between European settlers and Native American tribes.
– Legacy in Canada: French influence remains strong in Canada, particularly in Quebec, where French culture and language are prominent.
Spain
– Cultural Hybridity: Spanish colonization led to a blending of European, Native American, and African cultures in regions such as Latin America.
– Economic Dependency: Spanish colonies developed a reliance on resource extraction and labor systems that shaped their economies for centuries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, England’s efforts in colonizing the New World differed from those of France and Spain in terms of their emphasis on establishing permanent settlements, promoting religious freedom, and fostering self-governance. These distinct approaches have had lasting impacts on the development of the Americas and continue to shape their societies today.