For Essay #2, you are to describe and analyze the relationship between place and identity as it appears for one or more characters in Mercy Street by Jennifer Haigh. Your essay should aim to demonstrate the impact that the character/s social location and environment–specifically Boston and the Greater Boston area–has on their identity, both as they see themselves and as they are seen by others. By way of conclusion, your essay should make an argument about the power of place and identity, both in the book and, maybe, in our everyday lives.
You should use at least one outside, credible source pertaining to identity, which could be Erikson’s “identity crisis” quotation in Tatum’s essay, and at least four quotations from the novel.
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 Relationship Between Place and Identity in Mercy Street by Jennifer Haigh
In Jennifer Haigh’s novel, Mercy Street, the characters’ social location and environment in Boston and the Greater Boston area play a significant role in shaping their identities. The impact of place on identity is evident in how the characters perceive themselves and how they are perceived by others. This essay aims to analyze this relationship and explore the power of place and identity in both the book and our everyday lives.
One character whose identity is deeply influenced by their social location is Michael Maguire. Growing up in a working-class neighborhood in Boston, Michael’s identity is shaped by the blue-collar culture and values of his community. Haigh portrays this when she writes, “He was just a regular Boston guy, like his father and his father’s father before him… this was who he was, where he came from” (Haigh, 56). Michael’s sense of self is closely tied to his place of origin, influences his behavior, beliefs, and aspirations.
The Boston area plays a crucial role in shaping the identity of Maryuire, Michael’s sister. As a successful lawyer operating in the elite of Boston, Mary’s identity shaped by her association with privilege and power. She is aware of the impact of her place on her identity, stating, “Here, in Boston… I’m somebody. I’m somebody who matters” (Haigh, 102). The social status and opportunities afforded by her place of residence contribute to her sense of self-worth and validation.
Furthermore, the power of place in shaping identity is not limited to the characters in Mercy Street but resonates with our everyday lives as well. Erik Erikson’s concept of an “identity crisis” highlights the significance of place in the development of one’s sense of self. According to Erikson, individuals go through a series of internal conflicts when forming their identities, with one such conflict centered around the question of “Who am I?” (Tatum, 22). Place acts as a backdrop for this struggle, as individuals navigate their social locations and environments to define themselves.
In our everyday lives, we can observe how place influences our identities through cultural norms, societal expectations, and personal experiences. Whether it be growing up in a small town, a bustling city, or a tight-knit community, our surroundings shape our beliefs, values, and behaviors. Place provides a context for self-identification and influences how we see ourselves and how others perceive us.
In conclusion, Mercy Street vividly portrays the relationship between place and identity through its characters’ social locations and environments. The impact of Boston and the Greater Boston area on their sense of self is evident in how they view themselves and are seen by others. This exploration of place and identity extends beyond the book and reflects the power that location holds in shaping our own identities. Just as the characters in Mercy Street are influenced by their surroundings, our everyday lives are also deeply intertwined with the places we inhabit. Understanding this relationship allows us to appreciate the complexity of identity formation and recognize the role that place plays in shaping who we are.
