In an essay, trace the stages of Maggie’s “realigned thinking,” and then discuss a time when an assumption you held was disrupted and you had to adapt to a new way of seeing things.
In “The Foundations of the Earth,” Maggie Williams, a 70-year-old woman from tiny Tim’s Creek, is forced to change how she sees the world after her grandson, Edward, dies in a car accident and she learns that he had been living with another man, “like man and wife” (163). In an essay, trace the stages of Maggie’s “realigned thinking,” and then discuss a time when an assumption you held was disrupted and you had to adapt to a new way of seeing things.
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
Tracing the Evolution of Maggie’s Realigned Thinking in “The Foundations of the Earth”
In “The Foundations of the Earth,” Maggie Williams, a 70-year-old woman from tiny Tim’s Creek, undergoes a profound transformation in her thinking following the death of her grandson, Edward, in a tragic car accident. Maggie’s world is turned upside down when she discovers that Edward had been living with another man, “like man and wife.” This revelation challenges Maggie’s deeply held beliefs and forces her to confront her biases and prejudices. Through a series of stages, Maggie’s thinking evolves and realigns as she grapples with the complexities of love, acceptance, and forgiveness.
Denial and Shock
Initially, Maggie experiences denial and shock upon learning about Edward’s relationship with another man. She struggles to reconcile this new information with her preconceived notions of love and relationships. Maggie’s immediate reaction is one of disbelief and disbelief, unable to accept the reality of Edward’s life choices.
Anger and Resistance
As the shock wears off, Maggie’s denial gives way to anger and resistance. She grapples with feelings of betrayal and disappointment, questioning Edward’s choices and feeling a sense of personal affront. Maggie’s anger is directed not only towards Edward but also towards the situation that has shattered her perception of her grandson.
Reflection and Understanding
With time, Maggie begins to reflect on her own beliefs and biases. She confronts her prejudices and begins to question the rigid expectations she held for Edward. Through introspection and self-examination, Maggie starts to understand the complexity of human relationships and the importance of acceptance and compassion.
Acceptance and Transformation
Finally, Maggie reaches a point of acceptance and transformation. She embraces the reality of Edward’s life and recognizes the love and authenticity in his relationship with another man. Maggie learns to let go of her judgments and prejudices, replacing them with empathy and understanding. Through this process, Maggie’s thinking undergoes a profound realignment, leading to personal growth and a deeper connection with her grandson’s true self.
Personal Reflection: Challenging Assumptions and Embracing New Perspectives
Reflecting on my own experiences, I recall a time when an assumption I held was disrupted, prompting me to adapt to a new way of seeing things. As a student, I had always believed that success was solely determined by academic achievements and grades. I held a narrow view of what it meant to be successful, equating it with high marks and accolades.
However, my perspective shifted when I encountered a classmate who excelled in extracurricular activities but struggled academically. Initially, I judged this classmate based on my narrow definition of success. I assumed that academic performance was the only measure of worth and accomplishment.
Through conversations with my classmate and observing their dedication to their passions outside of academics, I began to challenge my assumptions. I realized that success comes in many forms and that each individual has unique talents and strengths to offer. I learned to appreciate the diversity of skills and experiences that contribute to personal fulfillment and achievement.
This experience taught me the importance of embracing new perspectives and challenging my own biases. It encouraged me to broaden my definition of success and value the richness of individual differences. By acknowledging and adapting to new ways of thinking, I have grown personally and intellectually, becoming more open-minded and empathetic in my interactions with others.
In conclusion, like Maggie in “The Foundations of the Earth,” we all encounter moments that challenge our assumptions and require us to realign our thinking. By navigating through stages of denial, anger, reflection, and acceptance, we can evolve our perspectives, foster personal growth, and cultivate greater understanding of ourselves and the world around us.