Why is resiliency a key characteristic of a hero? Cute specific examples from the “resilience” article, the odyssey, and from charac tree rustics of the hero’s journey to support your claim
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 Role of Resiliency in Heroes: Examples from Various Literary Works
Introduction
Resiliency is a key characteristic that distinguishes heroes from ordinary individuals. Heroes face numerous challenges and setbacks throughout their journey, but their ability to bounce back, adapt, and persevere in the face of adversity is what sets them apart. This essay will explore the significance of resiliency in heroes by examining examples from the article “Resilience,” the epic poem “The Odyssey,” and the archetypal hero’s journey.
The Importance of Resiliency in Heroes
Resilience in the Article “Resilience”: The article “Resilience” by Heidi Grant highlights the essential role of resiliency in achieving success. It emphasizes that setbacks and failures are inevitable on the path to success, but it is the resilience of individuals that enables them to overcome these obstacles. Heroes exemplify this characteristic as they encounter numerous challenges and setbacks on their quests, yet they persist and find ways to achieve their goals.
Odysseus’ Resilience in “The Odyssey”: In Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey,” Odysseus exemplifies resiliency in his long and arduous journey back home. Despite facing countless trials, such as the Cyclops, the Sirens, and the wrath of Poseidon, Odysseus remains determined to return to his kingdom of Ithaca. His ability to adapt, make strategic decisions, and persevere in the face of adversity showcases his resilience as a hero.
The Hero’s Journey: Resilience at Every Stage: The hero’s journey, as described by Joseph Campbell, outlines the stages that heroes go through in their quests. At each stage, heroes encounter challenges and setbacks that test their resilience. For example, in the initiation stage, the hero faces a crisis or ordeal that requires them to dig deep and find inner strength. This resilience is evident in characters like Frodo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” as he faces numerous trials on his quest to destroy the One Ring.
Examples Supporting the Claim
Resilience in “Resilience” Article: The article cites the example of Thomas Edison, who encountered thousands of failures before successfully inventing the electric light bulb. Despite numerous setbacks, Edison’s resilience allowed him to learn from his mistakes and persevere until he achieved his goal.
Odysseus’ Resilience in “The Odyssey”: In “The Odyssey,” Odysseus encounters various obstacles that test his resilience. For instance, when trapped on the island of Calypso for years, he remains determined to return home, resisting temptations and staying focused on his goal.
The Hero’s Journey: Frodo Baggins: Frodo Baggins faces numerous challenges throughout his journey to Mount Doom in “The Lord of the Rings.” Despite physical and emotional hardships, he continues to carry the heavy burden of the Ring, displaying unwavering resilience in his quest to save Middle-earth.
Conclusion
Resiliency is a fundamental characteristic of heroes, enabling them to overcome challenges and setbacks on their journeys. Whether depicted in articles, epic poems like “The Odyssey,” or through archetypal hero’s journeys like Frodo Baggins’, heroes demonstrate the ability to bounce back, adapt, and persevere in the face of adversity. The examples provided highlight how resiliency is an integral part of a hero’s makeup, inspiring readers and reminding us of the importance of resilience in our own lives.
