December 24th, 2009
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The purpose of this essay is to discuss the relevance of Dante’s Inferno / Hell to the contemporary reader in the Western world. This essay will demonstrate that there are many issues discussed in Dante’s The Divine Comedy that are as relevant today as they were when Dante first wrote his comedy. Although the views discussed are not common to everyone, it will be shown that such views are still apparent in contemporary society and therefore are relevant to the contemporary reader. It will be shown that even today, many people undertake a journey such as the one Dante describes. It will also be shown that many of the sins that were considered worthy of hell in Dante’s time are still considered by some people to be sins today.
The relevance of Dante’s hell to contemporary society in the western world could be said to be visible from the very first Canto. Here Dante is lost and unable to find his way back to the right road. “Midway this way of life we’re bound upon, I wake to find myself in a dark wood”. This could be said to be a representation of the psychological torment of many people who become depressed or unsure of their place in life. Many people are forced to go on a journey within themselves in order face and overcome the fears and dark thoughts that are affecting their lives. To many it is a journey of self-discovery, not always a pleasant one. Often it is difficult for someone to leave the dark underworld within themselves and they can be pushed back again and again “Back to that place wherein the sun is mute”. Dante was forced to go through the circles of hell and face all the horrors so that he could safely leave the dark wood. Dante was fortunate in that he had Virgil to guide him on his way. Many do not have the good fortune to have such a guide to help them during their darkest hours. For some the journey through darkness and despair must be faced and endured alone. Dante’s journey is one in which he faced and described what he perceived to be the sins of the world. Read more…
December 18th, 2009
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Throughout the seventeenth century, the English evolved into two distinct societies within the northern New England area and southern Chesapeake region. These territories contained inhabitants that were different economically, religiously, and in overall living conditions. The grounds for these distinct developments were mostly based on the type of people that came from England and the lifestyle they wanted, adapted, or were forced to live.
In the vicinity of the New England and Chesapeake region, the first differentiating quality that they had was in economics. Economically, New England had agriculture in a more diverse kind. Although agriculture continued to dominate in the New England area, it was less favorable there than in the south. The combination of hard and rocky soil along with cold weather conditions made it complicated for farming to become a main source commercial farming system, as seen in the south. To compensate, New Englanders engaged in home industries. Intermittently, these home industries provided surplus goods that one may sell or trade. Colonists worked at home as cobblers, blacksmiths, silversmiths, cabinetmakers, and printers. Some people harnessed the power of water to run small mills for grinding grain, making clothes, or processing lumber. Shipbuilding operations and ironworks also began to blossom in New England during this period. In the Chesapeake region, economics were primarily focused on farming cash crops. Fertile soil and clement weather supported the production of farming. Planters cultivated Indigo and Rice but the main source was all in thanks to Tobacco. Tobacco played a major role as it was the foundation of the southern economies success. Strong European demand for Tobacco made many farmers wealthy and several prospered. In Georgia and South Carolina, rice production under the radiating sun in knee deep mud motivated the white laborers to quit. As a result, planters took advantage of African slaves for labor and found it to be more economical and effective to get the job done. Read more…
