Examine the ways in which the global issue(s) of your choice is(are) presented through the content of the course. Cite a minimum of two or more of the works that we have studied in this course. Present your analysis infusing concepts of sustainability and our Global future.
Please focus on the following points as you prepare your final essay.
1. The essay question requires that you integrate information taken from several different (referenced) sources, to organize that information, and to summarize the information with conclusions that may be new to you.
2. Begin with a thesis statement, (or a claim) that you will explain and justify in your essay. Support your ideas with a rationale and evidence (not opinion statements such as I think) that are logically organized throughout the essay. Your ideas and the support should be clear to the reader.
3. Select relevant material to illustrate your points and provide specific references to class readings as well as additional research that you conduct via FDU library resources. Your essay must make substantive reference to at least two to three resources. Do not cite, quote, or reference from Wikipedia or general non-verifiable sources. References should follow a standard citation format APA as per your instructor.
4. Your essay should reflect appropriate grammar and syntax.
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 Presentation of Global Sustainability Issues in Contemporary Literature
Thesis Statement
The exploration of sustainability and its implications for our global future is a pressing concern articulated through various literary works. This essay examines how the themes of environmental degradation and social inequity are presented in The Overstory by Richard Powers and Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver, demonstrating that literature serves as a powerful medium for raising awareness and inspiring action towards a sustainable future.
Introduction
As the world grapples with the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, and social injustice, literature has emerged as a vital platform for articulating these global issues. Through narrative techniques and character development, authors can reflect on humanity’s relationship with the environment, as well as the systemic inequalities that exacerbate these crises. This essay will explore how Richard Powers’ The Overstory and Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior illuminate critical aspects of sustainability, ultimately underscoring the interconnectedness of ecological and social issues.
Environmental Degradation in The Overstory
Richard Powers’ The Overstory intricately weaves together the lives of multiple characters, all of whom develop a profound connection to trees and the natural world. The novel portrays the devastating impact of deforestation and climate change on ecosystems, emphasizing the urgency for collective action. For instance, Powers utilizes a variety of perspectives to illustrate how individuals become stewards of nature, fighting against corporate interests that prioritize profit over ecological health (Powers, 2018). The diverse narratives serve to highlight the idea that environmental sustainability is not merely an individual endeavor; rather, it requires a unified movement grounded in social responsibility.
In furtherance of this point, Powers’ depiction of trees as sentient beings underscores the ethical implications of environmental degradation. By personifying trees, he invites readers to empathize with these living organisms and consider their intrinsic value beyond mere resources (Powers, 2018). This literary technique fosters a deeper understanding of sustainability—one that encompasses respect for nature and recognizes the need for a paradigm shift in how society perceives its environmental responsibilities.
Social Inequity in Flight Behavior
Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior offers another dimension to the discourse on sustainability by addressing social inequities intertwined with environmental issues. Set in rural Appalachia, the novel explores the economic struggles of a small community facing the effects of climate change through the migration patterns of monarch butterflies. Kingsolver delves into the lives of her characters who grapple with poverty, lack of education, and limited access to resources (Kingsolver, 2012). These social challenges reveal that environmental issues are often exacerbated by socioeconomic disparities, highlighting the need for an equitable approach to sustainability.
Kingsolver’s narrative illustrates that solutions to environmental problems must also consider social justice. For example, the character Dellarobia’s journey from apathy to activism demonstrates how personal transformation can lead to broader community engagement (Kingsolver, 2012). By empowering marginalized voices and emphasizing community resilience, Kingsolver argues that sustainable practices must include efforts to address systemic inequalities.
Conclusion
Through their respective works, Richard Powers and Barbara Kingsolver illustrate the critical interrelation between environmental sustainability and social equity. The Overstory emphasizes the urgent need for collective action against environmental degradation, while Flight Behavior highlights how socioeconomic disparities complicate our responses to ecological crises. Together, these narratives serve as compelling calls to action, urging readers to recognize their role in fostering a sustainable future. As we navigate the complexities of global challenges, literature becomes not just a reflection of our current state but also a source of inspiration for transformative change.
References
– Kingsolver, B. (2012). Flight Behavior. HarperCollins.
– Powers, R. (2018). The Overstory. W.W. Norton & Company.
