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 Speech of Diotima in Plato’s Symposium: A Philosophical Perspective on Love
In Plato’s Symposium, the speech of Diotima presents a profound and philosophical perspective on the nature of love. Diotima, a wise woman and philosopher, outlines her views on love as a ladder of ascent towards the ultimate form of beauty and goodness. Her definition of love surpasses mere physical attraction and emotional connection, delving into the metaphysical realm of the soul’s journey towards enlightenment.
Diotima’s Definition of Love
Diotima defines love as the desire for immortality and the pursuit of beauty and goodness. She describes love as a form of divine madness that transcends the physical realm and leads individuals towards the contemplation of eternal truths. According to Diotima, love is a process of seeking spiritual fulfillment and connection with the divine.
Supporting Points
1. Love as Ascent: Diotima explains that love begins with the physical attraction but progresses to the love of minds, then the love of laws and institutions, and ultimately culminates in the love of beauty itself.
2. Desire for Immortality: She emphasizes that through procreation and the creation of beauty, individuals seek to create something that will outlast their physical existence, thus achieving a form of immortality.
3. Love as Pursuit of Goodness: Diotima argues that love motivates individuals to seek goodness and moral excellence, guiding them towards a higher understanding of virtue and wisdom.
Structure of the Argument
1. Introduction: Introduce Diotima’s speech in Plato’s Symposium and its significance in defining love.
2. Explanation of Love as Ascent: Discuss how Diotima’s concept of love progresses from the physical to the metaphysical realm, illustrating the transformative nature of love.
3. Analysis of Desire for Immortality: Explore how Diotima’s emphasis on immortality through procreation and creation of beauty reflects the eternal nature of love.
4. Discussion on Love as Pursuit of Goodness: Delve into Diotima’s argument on how love leads individuals towards moral excellence and the contemplation of higher truths.
5. Comparison with Other Speeches: Contrast Diotima’s definition with other speeches in the Symposium to highlight the uniqueness and depth of her philosophical perspective on love.
6. Conclusion: Summarize how Diotima’s speech offers a comprehensive and profound understanding of love as a spiritual journey towards beauty, goodness, and immortality.
Argument for Diotima’s Definition
Diotima’s speech stands out as the correct definition of love due to its transcendental nature, emphasizing love as a transformative and spiritual experience. Unlike other speeches in the Symposium that focus on physical desire or emotional attachment, Diotima elevates love to a higher plane of existence where individuals strive for eternal truths and moral perfection. Her emphasis on the pursuit of beauty, goodness, and immortality resonates with the enduring and profound nature of love that transcends temporal boundaries.
In conclusion, Diotima’s speech in Plato’s Symposium provides a compelling and insightful definition of love that goes beyond conventional notions of affection and desire. By portraying love as a pathway to spiritual enlightenment and connection with the divine, Diotima offers a unique perspective that elevates love to a transcendent and transformative force in human existence.
