Discuss the period known as “The Gilded Age.” Discuss the factors that made it “gilded” instead of truly “golden.” What technological and business innovations drove the period, and what problems manifested themselves because of them? What was the role of the “Robber Barons”? How did men like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and J. P. Morgan help shape the era?
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 Gilded Age: A Closer Look at its “Gilded” Nature
The period known as “The Gilded Age” in American history, spanning roughly from the 1870s to the early 1900s, was characterized by rapid industrialization, technological advancements, and economic growth. Coined by Mark Twain, the term “gilded” suggests a superficial layer of prosperity that masked underlying societal issues and inequalities.
Factors Contributing to the “Gilded” Nature
Wealth Disparity: While there was immense wealth accumulation among industrialists and financiers, the majority of Americans faced economic hardship, low wages, and poor working conditions, highlighting the stark wealth gap.
Political Corruption: The era was marked by political corruption, with powerful business interests influencing government policies and regulations to their advantage, undermining democratic principles.
Technological and Business Innovations
Technological Advancements: The Gilded Age witnessed significant technological innovations such as the expansion of railroads, telegraph communication, and the rise of electricity, transforming industries and facilitating economic growth.
Business Innovations: Large corporations emerged during this period, utilizing vertical and horizontal integration strategies to consolidate industries and amass wealth. Trusts and monopolies became prevalent, leading to concerns about market competition and consumer welfare.
Problems Arising from Innovations
Labor Exploitation: The rapid industrialization led to harsh working conditions, long hours, and low wages for laborers, sparking labor movements and strikes seeking improved rights and protections.
Environmental Degradation: Unregulated industrial practices resulted in environmental pollution, deforestation, and resource depletion, raising concerns about sustainability and public health.
Role of “Robber Barons”
Wealth Accumulation: The “Robber Barons,” including figures like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and J.P. Morgan, amassed immense fortunes through business monopolies, ruthless competition, and strategic financial maneuvers.
Legacy in Shaping the Era: These industrialists played a significant role in shaping the Gilded Age by revolutionizing industries, creating vast business empires, and influencing economic policies through lobbying and philanthropic endeavors.
Conclusion
The Gilded Age represents a period of stark contrasts between ostentatious wealth and pervasive poverty, shaped by technological advancements, business innovations, and the influence of powerful industrialists. While the era brought about unprecedented economic growth and industrial progress, it also underscored social injustices, political corruption, and environmental degradation that tarnished its “golden” veneer.
References:
Chernow, R. (2004). Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller Sr. Vintage.
Nasaw, D. (2006). Andrew Carnegie. Penguin Books.
Brands, H. W. (2010). The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J.P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy. Vintage.
