This is a short essay that compares a common theme or motif in two works of literature. Choose two works of literature that we have studied so far in this course. Choose a common theme, topic, or motif in these two works. Your essay should present an argument based on one of the following prompts:
How do two stories from either different time periods or different countries treat gender?
How do two stories from either different time periods or different countries contribute to dangerous or positive social norms?
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
Essay: The Portrayal of Gender in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway”
Introduction
Gender has been a recurring theme in literature, often reflecting and challenging societal norms. In William Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” and Virginia Woolf’s novel “Mrs. Dalloway,” the portrayal of gender is a central focus. Despite being from different time periods and genres, both works provide insight into the complexities of gender roles and expectations. This essay will explore how these two works treat the theme of gender and how they contribute to shaping perceptions of gender in their respective contexts.
Thesis Statement
While “Macbeth” reinforces traditional gender roles and the idea of masculinity as power, “Mrs. Dalloway” challenges these norms by portraying characters who defy conventional gender expectations, ultimately advocating for individual agency and freedom from societal constraints.
Portrayal of Gender in “Macbeth”
In Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” the theme of gender is prominent through the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The play reinforces traditional gender roles of the time, where masculinity is equated with power and ambition, while femininity is associated with weakness and submissiveness. Lady Macbeth, in her quest for power, defies these traditional roles by urging Macbeth to commit regicide to fulfill his ambition for the throne. However, her eventual descent into madness and guilt can be seen as a punishment for her transgression against feminine norms.
Portrayal of Gender in “Mrs. Dalloway”
Contrastingly, Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway” challenges traditional gender roles by presenting characters who resist societal expectations. The character of Clarissa Dalloway navigates the constraints of her gender by questioning the roles assigned to her as a wife and socialite. Through Clarissa’s introspection and defiance of societal norms, Woolf advocates for individual agency and self-determination regardless of gender.
Comparison and Conclusion
In comparing “Macbeth” and “Mrs. Dalloway,” it becomes evident that while Shakespeare’s play reinforces traditional gender norms, Woolf’s novel challenges these norms by advocating for individual freedom and agency. The characters in both works navigate the constraints of their gender roles, but while Lady Macbeth faces tragic consequences for defying traditional norms, Clarissa Dalloway finds empowerment through self-reflection and defiance.
In conclusion, the portrayal of gender in literature reflects the societal norms and expectations of the time in which the works were written. “Macbeth” and “Mrs. Dalloway” offer contrasting perspectives on gender, with one reinforcing traditional roles and the other challenging them. Through these works, readers are encouraged to critically examine and question the limitations imposed by gender expectations, ultimately advocating for individual agency and autonomy regardless of societal norms.
