A Reaction Paper is designed to develop and sharpen your critical thinking and writing skills. Your objective in writing this assignment is to define an issue clearly and formulate and clarify your position by reacting to a controversial statementBoth women and men murder their intimate partners. But what are some of the factors associated with women who kill their intimate partners that are not commonly associated with men who kill their partners? Do any of the causal factors associated with women who murder their partners support a plea of reasonable force or self-defense?
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
Women Who Kill their Intimate Partners: Unveiling the Complexities
Introduction
The act of killing an intimate partner is a tragic and complex issue that affects both women and men. While it is crucial to acknowledge that both genders are capable of committing such acts, it is equally important to explore the factors associated with women who kill their intimate partners that may differ from those associated with men. By examining these distinct factors, we can better understand the complexities surrounding female-perpetrated intimate partner violence and whether any causal factors can support a plea of reasonable force or self-defense.
Factors Associated with Women who Kill their Intimate Partners
When examining cases of women who kill their intimate partners, several factors emerge that are not commonly associated with men who commit similar acts. These factors shed light on the unique challenges women face in relationships and the potential influences that lead to extreme acts of violence.
History of Abuse: Women who kill their intimate partners often have a history of enduring prolonged abuse, both physical and psychological. This may include domestic violence, coercive control, or other forms of mistreatment. Such experiences may push some women to a breaking point, leading them to resort to extreme measures as a means of self-preservation or escaping further harm.
Fear and Threat: In cases where women kill their partners, there is often a pervasive sense of fear and perceived threat. Women may feel trapped in abusive relationships, with limited options for escape. This fear can be exacerbated by factors such as economic dependence, isolation, or threats to their well-being or the well-being of their children. In extreme cases, women may believe that killing their partner is the only way to protect themselves or their loved ones.
These factors associated with women who kill their intimate partners highlight the unique challenges and vulnerabilities they face within abusive relationships. However, it is important to note that these factors do not automatically justify or excuse the act of murder.
Causal Factors and the Plea of Reasonable Force or Self-Defense
While the factors mentioned above provide insights into the context surrounding female-perpetrated intimate partner violence, it is essential to differentiate between understanding the underlying causes and justifying the act itself.
In cases where women claim reasonable force or self-defense, it becomes crucial to evaluate the circumstances leading up to the killing. The legal concept of self-defense typically requires an imminent threat of harm, where the use of force is necessary to protect oneself from injury or death. Understanding the dynamics of power, control, and fear that often exist within abusive relationships can help assess whether a plea of reasonable force or self-defense is supported.
However, it is important to approach these cases with caution and examine them on an individual basis. Each case should be evaluated thoroughly to determine whether the actions taken by women who kill their intimate partners were proportionate to the threat they faced at that specific moment.
Conclusion
Women who kill their intimate partners face unique challenges within abusive relationships that may contribute to extreme acts of violence. Factors such as a history of abuse and a pervasive sense of fear and threat shed light on the complexities surrounding female-perpetrated intimate partner violence. While understanding these factors is essential for comprehending the context, it is crucial to differentiate between understanding causes and justifying actions. The plea of reasonable force or self-defense should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, considering the specific circumstances leading up to the killing. Ultimately, addressing intimate partner violence requires comprehensive support systems for all victims and proactive efforts to prevent such tragedies from occurring.
