Violence in The Penelopiad and “Book VI” of The Iliad (translated by Butler)
○ What do these texts similarly or differently ultimately suggest about the source or consequence of violence? How so (through what idea or logic) or why (to what end or to support/critique what specific idea or consequence)?
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
Violence in The Penelopiad and “Book VI” of The Iliad
Introduction
Violence is a pervasive theme in both Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad and Homer’s The Iliad, though it manifests differently in each text and serves distinct purposes. While The Iliad glorifies and romanticizes the brutality of war through heroic ideals, The Penelopiad critiques these notions by highlighting the violence experienced by women in the aftermath of male-centered conflict. This essay will analyze how both texts address the source and consequences of violence, emphasizing their thematic divergences and contextual implications.
The Source of Violence
In The Iliad, violence primarily arises from human emotions such as honor, pride, and vengeance. The epic centers on the rage of Achilles, which catalyzes a chain of violent confrontations among the Greeks and Trojans. The source of violence can be attributed to personal grievances and the quest for glory, as seen in Hector’s desire to protect his city and Achilles’ need for recognition:
– Homeric Logic: In The Iliad, violence is framed as an inevitable consequence of human nature and societal values. Heroes are celebrated for their prowess in battle, reinforcing a cultural narrative that equates violence with honor and masculinity.
Conversely, The Penelopiad shifts the focus from the battlefield to the domestic sphere, exposing the often-overlooked violence that women endure during and after war. Atwood presents the consequences of male violence through the voices of Penelope and the twelve maids, who are executed following Odysseus’s return:
– Atwood’s Critique: The source of violence in The Penelopiad stems not only from the actions of men but also from a patriarchal society that diminishes women’s agency. Atwood critiques the glorification of male heroism by showcasing the brutal aftermath of war that affects women, emphasizing their suffering and indignities.
Consequences of Violence
The consequences of violence in The Iliad are multifaceted, leading to both physical destruction and existential reflection. The battlefield becomes a site of glory for warriors, yet it also brings about profound loss:
– Heroic Consequence: In The Iliad, death and destruction are portrayed as part of the heroic ideal, with warriors achieving immortality through their deeds. However, this glorification also leads to a cycle of grief, as seen in the lamentations of Hector’s family and Achilles’ eventual realization of mortality.
On the other hand, The Penelopiad presents violence as a mechanism of control that perpetuates injustice and silences female voices:
– Subjugation and Silence: The execution of the maids represents the broader societal consequences of war, where women’s lives are expendable in the pursuit of male honor. Atwood highlights how this violence leads to the erasure of women’s stories, ultimately critiquing a narrative that prioritizes male experiences over those of women.
Comparison and Contrast
Although both texts address violence, they do so through different lenses. In The Iliad, violence is often romanticized, serving to reinforce heroic ideals and masculine identity. The deaths in battle are painted with grandeur, portraying warriors as noble figures engaged in a glorious struggle.
In contrast, The Penelopiad deconstructs this narrative by exposing the brutality that underlies such ideals. Atwood’s narrative serves as a counterpoint to Homeric valorization by illustrating how war’s violence extends far beyond the battlefield, particularly affecting those left behind. The experiences of Penelope and her maids reveal the harsh realities women face as collateral damage in male-dominated conflicts.
Conclusion
Ultimately, both The Penelopiad and “Book VI” of The Iliad engage with the themes of violence, yet they diverge sharply in their implications. While Homer’s epic emphasizes honor and glory derived from violent conflict, Atwood critiques this perspective by foregrounding the often-ignored consequences faced by women in its wake. Through these contrasting portrayals, both texts contribute to a more nuanced understanding of violence—one that encompasses not only its sources but also its profound and far-reaching effects on individuals and society at large.
