Explain the origins of the Progressive Movement. What types of reforms did they want to bring about? How successful were those reforms? Explain why they needed reforms, namely, what was occurring to create the need for change. How did these reforms correspond to the actions of the Gilded Age?
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 Origins and Impact of the Progressive Movement
The Progressive Movement in the United States emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a response to the social, political, and economic challenges brought about by the Gilded Age. Fueled by a desire for reform and social justice, Progressives sought to address issues of corruption, inequality, and industrialization through a series of comprehensive reforms.
Need for Reforms
Gilded Age Legacy: The excesses of the Gilded Age, characterized by unbridled capitalism, wealth disparities, political corruption, and poor working conditions, created a pressing need for change.
Industrialization: Rapid industrial growth led to urbanization, overcrowded cities, labor exploitation, and environmental degradation, prompting concerns about social welfare and public health.
Types of Reforms
Political Reforms: Progressives called for political transparency, direct democracy measures such as initiative, referendum, and recall, and anti-corruption laws to curb the influence of powerful interests.
Social Reforms: Progressives advocated for labor rights, consumer protection, public health initiatives, and education reforms to address societal ills and improve quality of life for all citizens.
Economic Reforms: Calls for antitrust legislation, regulation of monopolies, and fair labor practices aimed to promote competition, protect workers’ rights, and ensure economic equity.
Success of Reforms
Legislative Achievements: Progressives achieved significant legislative victories with the passage of laws such as the Pure Food and Drug Act, Meat Inspection Act, Sherman Antitrust Act, and establishment of regulatory agencies like the FDA.
Social Impact: Reforms led to improved working conditions, child labor laws, expansion of public education, women’s suffrage, and advancements in public health that transformed American society.
Correspondence with Gilded Age Actions
Contrast with Gilded Age: The Progressive Movement stood in stark contrast to the excesses and inequalities of the Gilded Age, emphasizing social responsibility, government intervention, and the role of collective action in addressing societal challenges.
Shared Concerns: Both eras witnessed rapid industrialization, technological advancements, and economic growth; however, while the Gilded Age prioritized individual wealth accumulation and laissez-faire economics, Progressives emphasized social welfare and regulatory reforms.
Conclusion
The Progressive Movement arose as a response to the injustices and inequalities perpetuated during the Gilded Age, advocating for comprehensive reforms to address political corruption, economic disparities, and social injustices. By enacting significant legislative changes and advancing social welfare initiatives, Progressives reshaped American society and laid the groundwork for a more equitable and progressive future.
References:
Hofstadter, R. (1955). The Age of Reform: From Bryan to F.D.R. Vintage.
Buenker, J. D., & Buenker, J. M. (1998). Progressivism. ABC-CLIO.
McGerr, M. (2013). A Fierce Discontent: The Rise and Fall of the Progressive Movement in America. Oxford University Press.
