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blog#7

“Us, and them
And after all we're only ordinary men.
Me, and you.
God only knows it's knows what we would choose to do.”- Pink Floyd

 

            Though out life people in a way are all ordinary, but what they do, god only knows. He knows the lies, falsies, and goodness people do in life, and what they choose to do. This quote pertains to the nature of human kind in the Christian belief. As Dante finishes his journey though the Circles of Hell, the description is prevalent that god makes the decisions because he is all knowing to what the soul did during his or her life on Earth. As he accuses the souls, he sends them to heaven or to hell depending on the actions that he knows each and every human did in the past.

            During Dante’s journey he is surrounded my depressing endless hopelessness created by the souls around him that suffer for all eternity. For him, however, the journey is for the hope of gaining the entrance to heave by learning the mistakes of others. He is filled with hope even though his surroundings are forever punished. The book ends with the quote, “He first, I second, without thought of rest we climbed the dark until we reached the point where a round opening brought in sight the blest and beauteous shining of the Heavenly cars. And we walked out once more beneath the stars.” As stars being the last word of the book, it indicates that the hope that Dante had during his journey thought Hell was not lost. The stars are a symbol of hope and virtue, and also the though of every conclusion of a soul who is allowed into heaven is toward the starts. Even though the devastating visions that led Dante though the cries of Hell, the book ends in a way that gives hope and justice.

            In the quote, “Up and down, But in the end it's only round and round” by Pink Floyd, it describes the figure of Virgil. He goes up to Heaven and back down to hell to help people like Dante experience the ways of afterlife. He can not go into ether one, so thus he goes up and down between Heaven and Hell which creates a circle between worlds.

           

entry 6

"They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe, Pools of sorrow waves of joy are drifting thorough my open mind, Possessing and caressing me" The Beatles

 

            This quote describes how some people are unnoticed as they pass in life, and are forgotten as they go on to heaven or hell. Through the sorrows and joys of life that drift through the mind of someone who remembers the ones who are forgotten makes one think possessing and caressing them. This is prevalent through Cantos 26-30 Dante is exposed to the evil counselors, the sowers of discord of religion, politics, and discord between kinsmen, and the falsifiers. As each had extended their life to the point of corruption, they slither in ways by Dante as they go into the eternal universe of Hell and damnation. The sorrow that Dante feels for them is ecstatic when he sees them in their tortures caused by their actions as humans.

            Pools of sorrow waves of joy explains how there is more sorrow in ones head when in Hell then there is joy. "Such shrikes and strangled agonies shrilled through me like shafts, but barbed with pity, that my hands flew to my ears," Page 244, this quote is from when Dante enters the Bolgia of the Falsifiers who during their life on earth told lines and falsifications. Now in hell they are punished by affections of every séances by possessing them in darkness, stench, thirst, filth, loathsome disease, and a shrieking din. The sorrow drifts through the open mind of Dante, which creates his action to cover his ears in protection from the pain of sorrow.

            He sees and feels almost joy when in the Eight Bolgia Count Guido Da Montefeltro. Hearing the Italian language the soul quivers with his eagerness to hear the recent news from his home town. This brings joy to Dante in a way by encountering with the hidden soul about the country that belongs in a way to both of them. Even in such a depressing situation of pain and suffering, Dante brings the outside world into the depths of Hell, to relieve the sinners for a few moments.

entry #4

"O human race born to fly upward, wherefore at a little wind dost thou fall" The Divine Comedy

           

            As a whole this quote means that humans are meant to go up to heaven rather than down to hell. The after world in which the story is based on is a dichotomy of one world. This quote could in ways exemplify the basis of the book as a whole. Within Cantos 15-20 as Virgil and Dante further their exploration into the darkness of Hell. As they enter the eight circle, Malebolge, the punishments seem to get in was "less aggressive" but more prevalent to their actions on earth.

            As citizens of the Earth people take upon themselves to uphold jobs based on their talents. During Canto 30 when Dante enters Bolgia Four he sees the macrosocpic "victims" of being fortune tellers and diviners in their previous live of being a free soul. Now in Hell they are punished for their talent and almost "helpfulness" to people who did seek to know their future. To them it seems like a peccadillo, but to God "the arts of sorcery are a distortion of his law. Since in ways they went against the ways of "god" they are forced to have their heads backwards on their bodies and walk, blinded by tears, backwards for all eternity. Once an action has been done,

 "a little wind", the decision for the entrance of ones soul into Hell is made. No turning back and no sympathy is given. "I wept. I leaned against the jagged face of a rock and wept so that my Guide said: "Still? Still like the other fools? There is no place for pity here. Who is more arrogant within his soul, who is more impious than one who dares to sorrow at God's judgment?"(p175)

As the soul is designated into the grasp on God, and the power of Hell, there is no turning back. This is the way that the people that Dante encounters with during the whole book.  Dante, however, is not yet sucked into the stronghold but still has hopes for not falling behind. By God's sagacious behavior, he forces the decisions after death. One is not able to rationalize any further after their last breath on earth to their first breath in Hell. "Led by my Guide and his truth, I leave the gall and go for the sweet apples of delight. But first I must descend to the center of all."(p 144) Led by Virgil, Dante has to descend to Hell before he can reach Heaven.

entry #3

“He listens well who takes notes.”

 

            This quote is relates to the actions within cantos 11-15. Now that Dante has experienced Upper Hell, he has now been lead into the Lower Hell by the continuous guidance of Virgil. As Dante experiences more and more aspects of hell he becomes more and more familiar with the constant pain, suffering, and sadness that is brought upon him as he views the ones of the past. With out “taking notes”, comprehending the guidance that Virgil gives him, Dante would not survive through the drama that he is lead into.

            “I moved on, deep in thought; and my Guide to me: ‘You are wondering perhaps about this ruin which is guarded by that beast upon whose fury I played just now. I should tell you that when last I came this dark way to the depths of Hell. This rock had not yet felt the ruinous blast.”(p112) As Virgil explains to Dante changes in hell around the changes that Virgil explains to Dante are put into notes by the visual surroundings of where he is.

            “There for my Master said: ‘if you break off a twig, what you will learn will drive what you are thinking from your heard.’”(p120) When Dante and Virgil are in the Woods of Suicides, Virgil gives Dante instructions on what to do to driving thoughts from his head. Dante takes notes in the form of actions. By doing what Virgil explains physically Dante’s understanding of Hell furthers tremendously.

            “But if these waters flow form the world above, why is this rill met only along this shelf?” The next way in which Dante takes notes is asking questions toward Virgil. At the edge of the Wood of the Suicides at the blood-red rill that flowed boiling from the woods and across the burning plane Dante questions Virgil of how it exists here in Hell. He sees it, can feel it, but questions it to know and learn about it. These are three examples of how “He”, Dante, listens well and takes notes through cantos 11-15.

entry #2

“If the present world go astray, the cause is in you, in you it is to be sought” –The Divine Comedy

 

Through cantos 6-10 Dante continues though the third through sixth circle, and finishes his journey through the Upper Hell. The quote from the Divine Comedy is a representation of why there are people in the circles of hell. The world goes astray because of the ones such as gluttons, wasters, and greedy people, as a result of their actions. As a denouement of their life, they are put into the different circles where their actions are sought out from torture in the circles of hell. “I see new torments and new souls in pain about me everywhere. Wherever I turn away from grief I turn to grief again.” (p 65) this quote tells how the punishments surround Dante, engulfing him in a torture himself.

            This quote relates to the person that Dante meets in the third circle of hell that is designated to gluttons, those who wallowed in the affluence of food and drink, were the producers of garbage, and had no deference for their appearance. He meets a citizen from Florence that tells him how has friends nicknamed him Ciacco, the hog, when he was on earth. “Your citizens nicknamed me Ciacco, The Hog; gluttony was my offense, and for it I lie here rotting like a swollen log.”(p 67) This relates to the quote due to the fact that when Ciacco was on earth it is due to this actions as a glutton that he now has the imprecation of Hell upon him. The cause for his greed for food and drink is continuously being sought through the icy paste, in which he lies forever, and continually being ripped and tarred by the claws and teeth of Cerberus that impairs him further and further into the future.

cantos 1-5

Dantes life outline:

Youth:

            Born in Florence, Italy (Sovereign country)

            Mother died when he was young and his father remarried

            Was completely orphaned in adolescence

Middle Years:

            Received normal education

                        Early interest in vernacular lyric

            Love for Beatrice Portinan

            Took part in the battle of Campaldino/capture of Caprona

            Made himself eligible for public office

                        Spoke in the “council of the hundred”

            1299 had was minor ambassador

            Six supreme magistrates

Older Years:

            Exile under penalty of being burned alive

            Fell ill in Venice and died

 

“Consider your origin; you were not born to live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge.”

 

            As a human begins a journey for a prized purpose, it becomes necessary for the wander to have guidance and strength when encountering obstacles along the way. With in the first five cantos, it is clear the Dante is experiencing visions and communications in which he has never dreamed of. “You were not born to live like brutes,” is indicating that “brutes” are followers of the Christian belief, and unlike Dante, he belies that he can change were he is, Hell or Heaven, without the decision of god, but with an unknown god. “….by that God to you unknown.”(p32)

            As the follower of “virtue and knowledge”, virtue and knowledge being Virgil, Dante winds his way through the two first circles of Hell. As if he is almost dependent of Virgil for protecting him though this land of sprits, pain, and suffering, Dante follows exactly what Virgil tells him to do. “Therefore, for your own good, I think it well you follow me and I will be your guide and lead you forth through an eternal place. There you shall see the ancient spirits tried in endless pain, and hear their lamentations as each bemoans the second death of souls.” (p31) This quote indicates that for the own good of a soul is to follow the virtue and knowledge of human reason.

            “Consider your origin,” is indicated during the first few people in which Dante encounters once he steps into the gates of Hell. The first being with Dante reached the Acheron, the first river of Hell, and Charon, the monster, denies ferrying Dante across. This refusal is because Dante is still living. “Woe to you depraved souls! Bury here and forever all hope of Paradise; I come to lead you to the other shore, into eternal dark, into fire and ice. And you who are living yet, I say begone from these who are dead.”(p44) This quote makes Dante consider that he is still living and that he shouldn’t really be in Hell since it is a place of torture for those who are dead.

As America’s population becomes more and more diverse within every year due to the different cultures that immigrants bring in or that we possess and share, the differences between every human being becomes more prevalent. As every person grows up, he or she is taught different aspects of the culture in which they are surround. Religion is one of the big aspects that most people learn at a young age. Due to this fact, people may reflect their beliefs in different ways that may pose a threat to others. This can cause great confusion and great disagreement within different groups of people, creating hard consents to disagreements. 

 With in our nation, church and state are not fully separated. This could be due to the fact that our main source of history, Europe, based its government mostly around the church, but as the melting pot that our country is, the aspects of religion are an unfair way to control our country. In the Pledge of Elegance it states “under god” which is a reference to Christianity, and on the dollar bill that is our country’s currency it states “In god we trust.” The citizens of American don’t realize these references to the Christian faith since they are so solid in our culture already, but when it affects the laws that we must live under, things must be changed.

Since our president is Christian, some of the laws that he wants to pass have to deal with the “abuse of his religion.” Two of these aspects are abortion and the right for homosexuals. Abortion is against his religion due to the fact that it is “killing a living being,” which is different religions is not a “sin.” Homosexual’s, he believes, are going against what the bible quotes that marriage is between a man and a woman. It is not equal to declare a law based on the beliefs of one religion for the rest of the population.

As the responsibility of the American Government to protect and treat every person as an equal, it is imperative that the great differences, such as religion, be kept out of being a deciding factor for reasons of law.  The Government shouldn’t be separated between church and state as it was in Europe in the past history.

 

Question(s): How do you truly know when someone is competent to lead? How do you define a great leader in terms of the qualities that he or she exhibits? Use examples from "The Iliad" to support your arguments.

To become a leader, is to become the voice of the people within a stong community that support the same ideas in a democracy. One must be dedicated to his postition as if his/or her life depended on it such as Achillis in the Iliad. To be a competent leader one must show the strenth, support, and honor toward the population in which he or she will represent and lead. By taking the definintion of competent, qualified, it is important that over time a person recognises the importance of the job inwhich he or she will undertake as a leader.When a person showns  these aspects toward his or her belifes continually is when he or she may be considered as a qualified competent leader.

As deminstrated in the Iliad, the lead played the very most importat role in the cource of the war. If one of the main leaders fell below their beifes and qualifications, so did the reast of the body of his army. As a leader made the decisions for his army, it was imparative the he considered the qualities of a leader inorder to make the dessions that would be the difference between life and death.

The people with in a population my  not always support the desisons of a leader, but that is the nature of a human being. It is important to realize that the differences between the people of the world and the individualisum that flowes from their actions is a gift that every person has been given. The good leaders take advantage of their gift, but wind it in with the asparations of the bodies that they are representing.  A good leader my not always win, but he or she will always stay faithful to his or her people.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Why does it still seem the norm in Western culture, when it comes to the use of heroes in literature and film, that the traditional role of men as the hero and the role of women as the victim still is used and supported by the audiences?  Is there any way to break this mold in a way that will lead to more diversity in the types of heroes?

In Western culture the population is not used to change within almost every aspect of their culture, in cluding literature and film. The use of heroes, with the man the hero and the women the victim, is a key to the accepance of the film from the gerneral public. Throughout history men have been the "stong and brave" humans on the planet. Woman have been the meek and week humans on the planet. By useing the taditional roles that men and woman play in literature and film, people are already able to relate to the story rather then thinking about the changes that the authors have put into text or action. As times are changing, and the education of woman is increacing over that of men, the stariotypes might be lifted off the backs of woman turing the hero of a female into reality. This would make the population accept the fact of a woman figure being the hero. It might not be a muscular, buff, and tall hero, but she would be a stong, darning, and challengeing one. The public bases their oppinons of reality and the past, and by changeing reality they would except the new consept.

Question #1

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:  Former Presidential candidate, Howard Dean, stated last week that race, age, and class were primary factors in who suffered and died as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Given the fact that the entire Gulf Coast was destroyed by the hurricane, is Dean's assertion accurate or a perpetuation of the media's obsession with New Orleans over other affected areas? If race, age, and class are the factors, then what are your solutions to preventing this in the future?

When people are in a situation between survival vs. death, chances are confusion is racing thoughout the mind of the people affected by the insident. The confusion is a factor of not knowing about the event, not know where to do, and not knowing if your family and friends are safe. As Hurrican Katrina was announced, only the people equiped with a home or lifestyle with communicaion toward the outside world were able to hear the warning. As the people who were more focused on surviving everyday were clueless to what was going on just miles from where they lived. This is one of the factors of class that Howerd Dean presented. When the manditory evacuation was announced the citizens of New Orleans were more then cluless. Age was also a factor due to the fact that the elderly and young were, the women and children, were brought to safty faster than the men and middle age citizens. This, however, was caused by the certicy in which the men presented to their community. Barbara Bush was said to have gone down to the area and say that the blacks "didn't have anything anyways" creating a hesitation to President Bushes responce. The discrimination was present due to ethnicity.