Pursuit of Knowledge in Inferno and The Open Boat
It is inherent for man to want to understand more about himself and the universe in which he lives. Galilio Galilei stated, "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." However, the pursuit of knowledge has not been easy, for man has endured several obstacles, whether willingly or by chance as presented in Genesis, Dante's "Inferno," and Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat." Since his creation, man has encountered obstacles in his pursuit of knowledge. For instance, in the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve are hindered by God's word to eat fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:16-17). However, being tempted by the luscious fruit and the desire to be wise, Adam and Eve willingly disobey God's word and eat the fruit, thus, surmounting their barrier toward obtaining knowledge (Genesis 3:6-7). Unfortunately, this longing for knowledge proved to be Adam and Eve's downfall, for God pronounced his judgement by forbidding re-entrance into the Garden of Eden, causing man to cultivate a cursed earth, causing woman to suffer during motherhood, and ending man's immortality. Overcoming obstacles in the pursuit of knowledge does not always lead to misfortune. For instance, in Dante's epic poem, "Inferno," Dante the Pilgrim is faced with the obstacle of journeying through the circles of hell, witnessing firsthand the grotesque punishment and suffering of the sinners. This experience causes Dante to understand and renounce sin, leading him to salvation and allowing him to make his ascent to God. With reason as his guide, Dante willingly makes his pilgrimage through hell and slowly begins to attain an understanding of the nature of sin. Signs of this spiritual development are apparent as Dante passes the fifth circle of hell, the wrathful, and scorns a sinner who has risen from the slime to question the Pilgrim. Dante states, "May you weep and wail, stuck here in this place forever, you damned soul" (Canto VIII: 37-38). Dante has recognized the severity of sin and, thus, has begun his conquest over that which deters his acquisition of knowledge. A slightly different approach to obstacles and the pursuit of knowledge can be found in Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat." In this short story, the narrator comes to a realization as a result of conquering an obstacle. Stranded at sea and teased with a hint of land in sight, the narrator along with several other men must struggle with the harsh waves of the ocean before realizing their insignificance to nature. At the opening of the story, the narrator describes Fate as an "old hen who knows not her intention" (Paragraph 70). He believes that Fate would not have allowed him "to come thus far and contemplate sand and trees" (Paragraph 70). However, as his situation fails to improve, he comes to the conclusion that "nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him" (Paragraph 173). This realization is further proved, when one of his fellow men who seemed to work the hardest to reach land has drowned. Being a student at a university, I am well aware of the obstacles that come with the pursuit of knowledge. For instance, I must learn to adjust to my ever-changing classes and professors. I must also learn to manage stress associated with an increased workload. In addition, I must learn to remain focused on my studies, despite the many tempting distractions associated with college life. Overcoming these obstacles will ensure me a valuable education, which in turn will provide me with the means to live a full and rewarding life.
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