Amnesty, the need for the granting of amnesty and, now, living in the aftermath of amnesty underscore and recall the tragic past – the many deaths, abuses, violence committed. For amnesty not to bring into effect a total forgetting and erasure of the past, the tragic past must be remembered, but also, the story of the transition itself shouldn’t amount to a romantic recall. —K. van Marle
Does the granting of amnesty for murder under the TRC process mean that recipient of amnesty is no longer a murderer?
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 Paradox of Amnesty: Does Forgiveness Erase the Label of Murderer?
Introduction
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) process, which involved the granting of amnesty for crimes committed during apartheid-era South Africa, has sparked debates on the implications of forgiveness and accountability. This essay explores the complex question of whether the recipient of amnesty for murder under the TRC process ceases to be considered a murderer.
Amnesty and Legal Implications
1. Legal Definition: From a legal standpoint, the granting of amnesty does not change the fact that the individual committed murder. Amnesty is a political decision to forego prosecution for past crimes in the interest of reconciliation, but it does not alter the nature of the act itself.
2. Moral and Ethical Considerations: While the legal consequences may be set aside through amnesty, the moral and ethical implications of murder do not disappear. The act remains a grave violation of human rights and a reflection of the individual’s past actions.
Remembering the Tragic Past
1. Historical Memory: Granting amnesty should not lead to a whitewashing of history or a complete erasure of the tragic past. It is essential to remember and acknowledge the atrocities that occurred to prevent their recurrence in the future.
2. Transitional Justice: Amnesty is a tool of transitional justice aimed at promoting healing and reconciliation. However, this process should not overshadow the need for accountability and acknowledgment of past wrongs.
Impact on Perception
1. Public Perception: While legally absolved of prosecution, recipients of amnesty may still be perceived as murderers by society. The label may persist due to the gravity of the crime and its lasting impact on victims and communities.
2. Personal Reflection: Individuals who receive amnesty may grapple with their own identities and actions, recognizing that while forgiven legally, the moral weight of their past deeds remains.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the granting of amnesty for murder under the TRC process does not erase the fact that the recipient was involved in taking another person’s life. While legally pardoned, the moral responsibility and societal perceptions associated with the act of murder endure. It is crucial to strike a balance between forgiveness and accountability, ensuring that the tragic past is not forgotten, and that justice, memory, and reconciliation are upheld in navigating the complexities of post-conflict societies. The legacy of amnesty serves as a reminder of the intricate interplay between law, ethics, memory, and identity in shaping our understanding of past atrocities and their enduring impact on individuals and communities.
