The History of Kingston Penitentiary and Its Impact on Canadian Society

by | Jul 21, 2023 | Criminology

Write a six to nine-page (1500-2250 words) essay that relates and applies the course material found in Module Six to two of the online videos.
Videos:
● Behind the Wall; 2010 (video; 49:00 CC) https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2675576109
● Life Inside Out; 2005 (video, 1:13:29 CC) https://www.nfb.ca/film/life_inside_out/
Module 6, Section 6.1:
The Kingston area was chosen to be Ontario’s first prison because it was centrally located near many southern towns, so prisoners could be cheaply transported there for confinement. Today, the area still hosts six different correctional centers. First called the “Provincial Penitentiary of the Province of Upper Canada,” Kingston Penitentiary was built in 1835 as a single, large limestone cellblock with 150 cells in five tiers. It would grow to become the largest public building in Ontario and most of the expansion construction was done by inmate labour not local workers, which explains why “among Kingston workingmen, the emergence of the penitentiary was regarded as an ill wind that blew no good” (Palmer, 1980). (Module 6, Section 6.1, Canada’s Foundational Penitentiaries: Kingston and Stony Mountain)

 

 

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.


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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 Solution

The videos “Behind the Wall” and “Life Inside Out” provide a glimpse into the lives of prisoners at Kingston Penitentiary, one of Canada’s oldest and most infamous prisons.

Sample Solution

The videos “Behind the Wall” and “Life Inside Out” provide a glimpse into the lives of prisoners at Kingston Penitentiary, one of Canada’s oldest and most infamous prisons.

Introduction

The videos “Behind the Wall” and “Life Inside Out” provide a glimpse into the lives of prisoners at Kingston Penitentiary, one of Canada’s oldest and most infamous prisons. The videos document the challenges and struggles that prisoners face, as well as the hope and resilience that they often find within the prison walls.

The History of Kingston Penitentiary

Kingston Penitentiary was built in 1835 as a single, large limestone cellblock with 150 cells in five tiers. It was designed to be a “penitentiary,” a place where prisoners would be punished and reformed through solitary confinement and hard labor. The prison was initially used to house prisoners from Upper Canada, but it soon became a national institution.

In the early years, Kingston Penitentiary was a harsh and brutal place. Prisoners were subjected to long periods of solitary confinement, and they were often beaten and abused by guards. However, over time, the prison’s conditions improved. Solitary confinement was gradually reduced, and educational and vocational programs were introduced.

The Challenges of Prison Life

Despite the improvements, prison life remains a challenge for many prisoners. The videos “Behind the Wall” and “Life Inside Out” document some of the challenges that prisoners face, including:

  • Loneliness and isolation: Prisoners are often isolated from their families and friends, and they can feel lonely and isolated.
  • Violence and abuse: Prisoners are sometimes subjected to violence and abuse from other prisoners or from guards.
  • Drugs and alcohol: Drugs and alcohol are often available in prison, and they can lead to addiction and violence.
  • Mental illness: Many prisoners suffer from mental illness, and they may not have access to adequate treatment.

The Hope and Resilience of Prisoners

Despite the challenges, many prisoners find hope and resilience within the prison walls. The videos “Behind the Wall” and “Life Inside Out” document some of the ways in which prisoners find hope, including:

  • Education and vocational training: Education and vocational training can help prisoners develop skills that will help them find jobs after they are released.
  • Religious faith: Religious faith can provide prisoners with a sense of hope and purpose.
  • Support from family and friends: Family and friends can provide prisoners with emotional support and encouragement.
  • The desire to change: Many prisoners want to change their lives and become productive members of society.

Conclusion

The videos “Behind the Wall” and “Life Inside Out” provide a glimpse into the lives of prisoners at Kingston Penitentiary. The videos document the challenges and struggles that prisoners face, as well as the hope and resilience that they often find within the prison walls. These videos are a valuable resource for understanding the experiences of prisoners and for raising awareness of the challenges of prison life.

Application of Course Material

The course material in Module Six provides a theoretical framework for understanding the videos “Behind the Wall” and “Life Inside Out.” The module discusses the history of prisons in Canada, the challenges of prison life, and the factors that contribute to recidivism. The module also discusses the role of prisons in society and the debate over the purpose of punishment.

The videos provide a valuable opportunity to apply the course material to real-world examples. The videos show how the challenges of prison life can lead to violence, drug use, and mental illness. The videos also show how some prisoners find hope and resilience through education, religious faith, and the support of family and friends.

The videos “Behind the Wall” and “Life Inside Out” are a valuable resource for understanding the experiences of prisoners and for raising awareness of the challenges of prison life. The videos also provide a platform for discussing the role of prisons in society and the debate over the purpose of punishment.

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