You must have watched the movie Trading Places or Saint of fort Washington to complete this term paper.
Answer both questions.
Please give multiple examples of one of the following ( Pick one)
a) Racial inequality
b)Of Poverty and wealth inequality
c)Of gender inequality
What would a conflict theorist say regarding the movie you just watched? what details/aspects of this story would they point to? and why in making their points.
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: Wealth Inequality in the Movie “Trading Places”
Thesis Statement: The movie “Trading Places” highlights the pervasive issue of wealth inequality through various characters’ experiences, interactions, and societal structures, providing a compelling portrayal that aligns with the perspective of conflict theorists.
Introduction:
The movie “Trading Places” is a thought-provoking comedy that delves into the stark contrast between the lives of the wealthy elite and those living in poverty. Through its engaging storyline and well-developed characters, the film effectively sheds light on the issue of wealth inequality. Drawing upon the conflict theory perspective, this essay will analyze different aspects of the movie that highlight the existence and consequences of wealth inequality.
Body:
I. Systemic Discrimination:
The conflict theorist would argue that the movie portrays systemic discrimination as a significant factor contributing to wealth inequality. For instance:The character of Louis Winthorpe III, a privileged white man, is initially depicted as having an affluent life due to his family’s wealth and connections.
On the other hand, Billy Ray Valentine, an African American man, is shown to be living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet.
These contrasting circumstances illustrate how societal structures perpetuate disparities in wealth distribution based on race.
II. Power Dynamics:
Conflict theorists would also point to power dynamics as an essential aspect of wealth inequality depicted in the movie:The Duke brothers, Randolph and Mortimer, represent the capitalist elite who manipulate the stock market for their own gain.
Their actions result in Winthorpe losing his job, home, and social status while simultaneously exploiting Valentine’s potential.
This power imbalance showcases how the wealthy control resources and opportunities, exacerbating wealth disparities.
III. Socioeconomic Mobility:
Another point conflict theorists would emphasize is the limited socioeconomic mobility presented in the film:Winthorpe’s descent into poverty highlights how quickly an individual’s circumstances can change due to external factors.
Meanwhile, Valentine’s rise to success is portrayed as an exception rather than the norm, suggesting that opportunities for upward mobility are scarce for those in poverty.
This reinforces the notion that wealth begets wealth while perpetuating systemic barriers for those attempting to escape poverty.
IV. Reinforcement of Class Divisions:
Conflict theorists would argue that “Trading Places” reinforces class divisions through its portrayal of social interactions and stereotypes:The stark differences in lifestyle between Winthorpe and Valentine are emphasized to underscore the inherent privileges associated with wealth.
The film also depicts characters from lower socioeconomic backgrounds facing social stigma and discrimination.
Such representations contribute to the perpetuation of stereotypes and further solidify societal divisions based on economic status.
Conclusion:
“Trading Places” provides a compelling narrative that aligns with the conflict theory perspective on wealth inequality. By examining systemic discrimination, power dynamics, limited socioeconomic mobility, and the reinforcement of class divisions, conflict theorists would find ample evidence within the movie to support their arguments. This thought-provoking film serves as a reminder of the pervasive inequalities present in our society and encourages discussions around wealth distribution and social justice.
