For this e-journal I'd like you to consider one aspect of Dante's Inferno that has struck you as interesting, enlightening, important, striking, confusing, unsettling, strange, and so on... You must describe your aspect and why you have chosen it. You also need to support your statements with textual evidence, explaining how this evidence exemplifies (i.e., to show by example) your aspect.
Think of this journal as excellent preparation for your first short paper. You can explore a possible thesis statement right here and now! Also, remember that you can always reply to another student's post, offering your own interpretation or take on the passage they have selected or the argument(s) they have made.
For example, you could find Dante's efforts at aligning himself with the past poetic greats of history (i.e., Virgil, Homer, Ovid, etc.) as particularly noteworthy. This initial insight may lead to a line of questions such as: Why is Dante attempting to place himself amongst and equal to the greatest poets of all time? How is he continuing poetic convention(s)/tradition(s)? How is he breaking them? What kind of statement is he trying to make via his poem? Where exactly does his provide the reader with evidence of his poetic career (aka, Virgilian Career) coming to fruition?
An e-journal topic could be some lines which you favor. For instance, Dante describes damned souls passing over the river Acheron in Canto III, writing, "And all pass over eagerly, for here / Divine Justice transforms and spurs them so / their dread turns wish: they yearn for what they fear" (121ff). This is a key moment in the text because it describes an allegory which persists throughout the Inferno. As Ciardi notes, each soul who is damned actually desires his or her own eternal punishment (24, n.123). Thus, Dante aptly points out the internal transformation from "dread" to "yearn[ing]" as they pass over the river Acheron and into the first circle of Hell. What kind of statement(s) does this make about Dante's sense of the human character or psyche?
As a last example, you could always write about the historical context of the poem and how those concurrent events and personae are included and illustrated in the text.
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ReplyDeleteWhat I find interesting is that Dante mixes different religious aspects in his poem "The Inferno", but still favors Christianity. For example in Cantos V we meet Minos "like all the monsters Dante assigns to the various offices of hell, Minos is drawn from classical mythology" (p.40). He also introduces a three headed dog Cerberus which "in classical mythology Cerberus appears as a three headed dog" (p.48) Since Dante is mixing gods and monsters together, I find it interesting to see how he put all these different people in one poem. It shows that Dante used variety in his writings. While he is using variety he puts these monsters and others in a "Christian Hell" which favors Christianity.
ReplyDeleteOne aspect of Dante’s Inferno that has struck me as interesting was the way he depicted Hell to be. I was thinking about writing that as my first paper, the imagery and the depiction of Hell according to Dante’s mind. There are many parts of “The Inferno” that depicts this. One example in Canto III, (lines 1-9), in which he writes:
ReplyDeleteI am the way into the city of woe.
I am the way to a forsaken people.
I am the way into eternal sorrow.
Sacred justice moved my architect.
I was raised here by divine omnipotence.
Primordial love and ultimate intellect.
Only those elements time cannot wear
Were made before me, and beyond time I stand.
Abandon all hope ye who enter here.
This is just to depict the entrance of Hell. Another example is also in Canto III, lines 25-29, where Dante writes, “Voices hoarse and shrill and sounds of blows, all intermingled, raised tumult and pandemonium that still whirls on the air forever dirty with it as if a whirlwind sucked at sand.”
This aspect struck me, because of the imagery that Dante implores in his writings. As Professor D'amato said in class, poetry is the highest art and Dante is branching out and becomes one of the best. There are so many examples, but these are the clear and distinct ones that I found very striking. I really find a grasp of what Hell looks like based on his depiction.
PS There is also a map of Hell, in page 48 in the Signet Classics version, which I found is awesome in guiding you where the text takes place.
Something that I found particularly noteworthy can be found in the beginning of Canto 3. In my obviously very limited and naive understanding of the afterworld, i always thought of there being just two possibilities; those who are fortunate to go to heaven, and those undeserving souls are sent to hell. However, in the beginning of Canto 3, regarding the Vestibule of Hell, the Opportunists are discussed. The book states "Dante sees the first of the souls in torment. They are THE OPPORTUNISTS, those souls who in life were neither for good nor evil, but only for themselves." That line opened up an entirely new thought process for me. I always envinsioned everyone as either good or evil. It was black and white, with no gray area in between. Heaven and Hell. Anyone who wasnt bad, in my mind were more likely good, even if they did not accomplish anything particularly noteworthy in their lifetime. But now it seems from my understanding that this "gray area" is more similar to Hell itself, and those who do not lead their lives doing good for others are considered somewhat bad and are left with "cries of anguish," certainly a far cry from the bliss of Heaven.
ReplyDeleteIn Dante Inferno, there was one thing that I found very interesting in Canto III. Dante and Virgil just enter Hell and Dante heard cries of torment and suffering souls. Virgil explains that these cries originate from the souls of those who did not commit to either good or evil but who lived their lives without making conscious moral choices. Therefore, Heaven and Hell didn’t want them. They were to live in the Ante-Inferno, within Hell yet not truly part of it. Lines 31-39
ReplyDelete““What souls are these who run through this black haze?”
And he to me: “These are the nearly soulless
whose lives concluded neither blame nor praise.
They are mixed here with that despicable corps
of angels who were neither for God nor Satan,
but only for themselves. The High Creator
scourged them from Heaven for its perfect beauty,
and Hell will not receive them since the wicked
might feel some glory over them.”
It’s like Dante is trying to show people who are alive and well to pick a side, or if you don’t want to pick a side at least make moral choices that will better your chances in getting into Heaven. If not, your faith is going to be living your after life in the Ante-Inferno. Don’t we all want to go to Heaven?
There were a few more things I found interesting involving Virgil and Dante in Canto IV. I'm just going to mention Dante.
I just find it interesting after Virgil introduces Homer, Horace, Ovid, and Lucan (the greatest poets) Dante mention being the sixth. Line 97-102.
“And they honored me far beyond courtesy,
for they included me in their own number,
making me sixth in that high company.”
Maybe it means that they would have a completed circle of great poets. I was just paying attention to the number and trying to find some meaning out of it.
One aspect that I find interesting in Dante’s inferno is the way faith itself is used and how its importance in Dante’s journey influences his decision-makings. In canto I, it states, “I wavered back; and still the beast pursued, forcing herself against me bit by bit till I slid back into the sunless wood” (lines 58-60). The fact that Dante has to go through the place of eternal hell brings forth his strength in faith and how long he is willing to keep going without be distracted by the beasts or giving up. We can see how the she-wolf try to push up on Dante but the fact that he knows he sinned before, he doesn’t want to get distracted because the flesh is as natural as it can be. In canto II, it states “but I-how should I dare? By whose permission? I am not Aeneas. I am not Paul. Who could believe me worthy of the vision? (lines 32-34). These lines are in fact showing how he is in exile internally, we clearly see how Dante feels less worthy than Paul and Aeneas and fears (meaning his faith is lowered) and feel less about continuing the journey through hell. From my understanding, in Canto II, Dante is tired and exhausted, it seems as if he wants to give up since he is in the second circle of hell. Virgil is basically motivating his faith, which is a good thing, but How Long Would Virgil continue to do so? I believe until Dante’s faith is strong enough for him to be on his own and strong in his knowledge (wisdom).
ReplyDeleteIn canto III, it states:
I am the way into the city of woe
I am the way to a forsaken people
I am the way into eternal sorrow
Based on these lines (1-3), we see how the lines starts off by saying I am the way which is actually meaning, to even get pass the journey Dante is experiencing, first Dante has to believe in God in order to get pass the evil spirits. So the lines are representing faith, which Dante have to acquire to move on further to the heavenly realms.
In canto III, it also states, “so he put fourth his hand to me, and with a gentle and encouraging smile he led me through the gate of mystery” (lines 19-21). Based on these lines, Dante made a decision where he actually put his life in the hands of Virgil who said would keep him safe through this journey Dante is experiencing. I thought this was interesting because it shows how much faith Dante is willing to put out whereas, we see Virgil actually being humble as if everything will be ok sort of thing. From reading the Cantos, I’ve envision how Virgil could be a angel that is trying to guide Dante in the right direction but in order for Dante to experience and see good, he has to see the bad. It’s almost saying without the bad how can you experience well, without the good how can you experience the bad. Which is interesting I must say!
In canto IV i found it particularly interesting that Dante mentioned highly respected individuals such as Moses, Abraham, etc as being part of hell. We can see that starting on line 55 where it states
ReplyDelete"He took from us the shade of our first parent, of Abel, his pure son, of ancient Noah, of Moses, the bringer of the law, the obedient. Father Abraham, David the king, Israel with his father and his children, Rachel, the holy vessel of his blessing."
The fact that these people were in hell is a very strange visual but in order to keep his ideas consistent Dante had to put them in circle 1 since they all came before Christ. What I find interesting is why wasnt Virgil considered as one of those individuals who elevated. In Dante's mind Virgil was considered virtous and as one of the elites who deserved to reach holliness. I see two options of why Virgil was not selected. 1st is that Virgil was a strong believer of reason and people of reason like to challange and question everything that is not completly supported with solid tangibale facts which would include religion and God. 2nd option is that Dante wanted Virgil as his guide threw hell and therefore he purposly left Virgil in the inferno for that particular task.
After reading more into Dante, I go back to the begining and look at something that we have passed over in a different way. When Dante had found himself in the dark woods of error, maybe impling that it is his error he is in, the errors he has performed in his life. When he wants to go towards the bright light he is intercepted by the 3 beast of worldliness, now after reading through the story i came out with a hypothesis, that these three beasts that blocked his path, are the beasts of his own sins, the sins that he has commited in his life and that is the reason why he is in this dark wood of error, he is forbidden from reaching this light due to his sins. The first line in canto I implies that he has sinned: "Midway in our life's journey, I went astray from the straight road and woke to find myself in a dark wood." p.1 line 1-3. The proof that when he was about to reach for the light he was blocked by thoes animals. " I faced a spotted Leopard...at sight of a great lion that broke upon me ragin with hinger...And down his track a She-Wolf drove upon me." p.5 lines 34-49. At the begining of Canto I the author gives us an explanaition that each beast represents a sin, Leopard: malice and fraud, Lion: violence and ambition, She-Wolf: incontinence. To wrap up, the bests that have blocked Dante's path are his sins that these beast represent and due to that he was not able to reach the white light.
ReplyDeleteOne aspect that I found interesting in Dante’s Inferno was the way he managed to tell a story based on Christianity while having many strong contradictions as well. He has proven to be a spiritual man in the Inferno with his ideas on the virtues of mankind and the belief in the righteous judgment between heaven and hell. I would assume these contradictions would be somewhat controversial in the time Dante was alive. In particular, the fact that he puts Abel, Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, Israel, and Rachel, all important biblical characters, in Limbo.
ReplyDelete“And still their merits fail, for they lacked Baptism‘s grace, which is the door of the true faith you were born to. Their birth fell before the age of the Christian mysteries and so they did not worship God’s Trinity in the fullest duty.”
Key word here is fullest. He is taking the teachings of the Bible very literal and almost turning them against the church, if it says that all who were not baptized cannot enter heaven so the rules must apply to those who died before the time of Christ then, even these biblical men. Although they all were significant figures in Christianity and all very religious people, Dante still places them in hell. At this time in Italy going against the church would be seen as a serious offense and could be punishable. I wonder if this was controversial in its time when he wrote it. This shows that Dante’s views on being worthy of heaven and the depiction given from the Christian religion were not always cohesive.
Throughout Dante's inferno, Virgil guides Dante through the depths of hell and with the confrontation of every guardian/monster in hell, Virgil dispells their power with his words alone claiming he will not be stopped because he was willed to guide Dante in Canto V line 21, "that is not your concern; it is his fate to enter every door. This has been willed where what is willed must be, and is not yours to question. Say no more." The problem with dispelling the mighty beasts of hell with only words is ludicrous.
ReplyDeleteIts understandable that it is God's will but aren't the creatures of hell aligned with lucifer/satan? Thus why would God's will have power over Lucifer's domain? The quote typed earlier was Virgil silencing a beast of hell - Minos, pause and ponder about that for a moment; a mere mortal that was willed by a divine being that has no power over someone else's domain just silenced a beast of hell, who is supposedly aligned with Satan.
However, one possibility is that Dante might just be emphasizing how much power a philosopher/poet has over anything.
One part of Dante's "Inferno" that really caught me as interesting was in Canto III. The story begins with Dante walking through the dark woods, and having no recollection of how he got there. He soon is sent, some may say, a guardian angel, in the form of Virgil. Virgil was sent there from his love Beatrice who asked Virgil to help Dante find his way out of the depths of hell.
ReplyDeleteAs the story goes on and the journey continues, they come across the gates of hell in canto III. In the beginning, they reach the gate and it reads:
(L 7-9) "...Only those elements time cannot wear were made before me, and beyond me, and beyond time I stand Abandon All Hope ye who enter here."
This quote is very interesting to me. First it comes off by showing Hell as a city; a place crowded by people. It could be referred to as the city of god, where God basically is the chooser of who comes to heaven and who goes to hell. Secondly, its very interesting that Dante would put this quote in saying "Abandon all Hope." This is a place that no one can escape. Once you enter the gates of hell, there is no turning back. It is a place of eternal pain and loss. To me Dante is showing that even though there is this statement across the gates, he will still continue his journey, and try to find his way out of the 9 circles of Hell.
To comment on amaneta's post, I find your comment about Canto II lines 30-34 interesting. Your comment above states your interpretation of the text. For example, I agree with what you said about Dante being in exile internally due to his fears and him feeling less worthy, but does that mean that his faith is lowered? You mentioned that he "fears (meaning his faith is lowered) and feels less about continuing his journey
ReplyDeletethrough Hell." What do you mean that he "feels less?" Also, how are fear and faith interconnected?
It is possible that he is afraid, but that doesn't mean that his faith is lowered because on either has faith or doesn't. Faith is not something that can be measured in terms of "high or low."
Another aspect of the text that I found interesting was that in Canto IV lines 100-103 Dante states "And they honored me far beyond courtesy and included me in their own number making me sixth in their high company." I then realized that on page xvii of the introduction, Dante (the real one) had his political career elevated upon being elected "one of the six supreme magistrates, called priors." Perhaps the number six is significant to Dante because he was sixth in a real political circle and he choose to correlate his election in "The Inferno."
After he mentions his sixth inclusion, Dante describes his entering into the Citadel of Human Reason to relate this to history, the introduction states that "from early in 1302 his voluntary absence became exile under penalty of being burned alive." Perhaps he was "reasonably" fighting for his cause, and his political involvement with the Guelph party influenced his live so much so that he was willing to sacrifice himself for the Whites (other name for political party). Interestingly, the Ghibellines represented the old Florentine aristocracy, and were symbolized by the color Black. I wondered why this was so. Why were the Gulephs White and the Ghibellines Black? Perhaps because White symbolizes purity and "Noble Souls" (as Dante perceives himself) and the Whites were perhaps fighting for the purity of G-d in a new age, while the Blacks were fighting to preserve their ancestral rule over the commoners.
One passage of the Inferno in particular caught my eye. In Canto VIII when Dante and Virgil encounter Filippo Argenti while crossing the river Styx.
ReplyDelete"And I replied: If I come, I do not remain.
But you, who are you, so fallen and so
foul?"
And he: I am one who weeps. And I then:
May you weep and wail to all eternity, for
I know who you are. Then he stretched both
hands to the boat, but warily
the Master shoved him back crying, "Down!
Down! with the other dogs!'
I found this rather interesting because before this event Dante was displaying fear and sadness to those he and Virgil encountered on their journey. But at this moment, he and Virgil were furious and enraged with this person, this apparition of Filippo Argenti. I believe this passage to be important because even though Dante considers Virgil to be one of the exalted and Dante himself, to be included in that classification, they still are human; they are still affected by "human" emotions. It doesn't matter if you are an esteemed or virtuous person, you can still succumb to carnal, base emotions.
One aspect that intrigued me was that Dante uses epic poets throughout his story. Virgil is his guild through all the circles of hell. The way he explores these historic figures, seems like he is looking up to them and Virgil in particular he is asking for help. In canto 2 Dante says to Virgil “Poet, you who must guide me, before you trust me to that arduous passage, look to me and look through me-can I be worthy?”. The knowledge that they (the poets) have to offer is greater than anyone else of that time. One thing that caught me was if he thinks so highly of these figures, why he chose to have them in hell with him. You don’t take someone you look up to or admire to hell. Instead you would illustrate the light that life brings, not that dark, scary or evil aspect of it. It is possible that Dante wants to learn about life and in order for him to believe that he is capable he need Virgil’s approval, since Virgil has higher status in the world. I think that Dante should have found his own was through hell.
ReplyDeleteTo me the most interesting part of “The Inferno” is circle one, which is described in Canto IV. In this circle are people that did not live when christ was invented. People that are in this circle are called the virtuous pagans. Dante says, “they were born without the light of Christ’s revelation, and, therefore, they cannot come into the light of God, but they are not tormented.” These people were born and were good people, lived there life doing good for others. The people in this circle were great poets of their time and there reward is to be in the pit of hell. How are they not tormented? When the thing they want the most is dangled in front of them. The worst part of it all is when the “Mighty One” comes into hell and picks a few people to come with him up into heaven. To me I see that as a big insult to the rest of the people in circle one. It is as if god is saying oh I made a mistake by letting this people into hell when their true home is up in heaven with me. Line 76 to 78 says, “the signature of honor they left on Earth is recognized in heaven and wins them ease in hell out of god’s favor.” This statement is totally ludicrous, if god really cared about these people he would take them up into heaven. Such honorable people are trapped in hell for being honorable, what sense do that make. The most unsettling part to me is when circle one is described as being serene. Circle one is still apart of hell and no part of hell is serene, this is just to mock the people in circle one even more, saying don’t you wish you were up in heaven. I think the people in circle one didn’t do anything wrong and shouldn’t be in hell, just because they didn’t know christ, does not mean they didn’t worship another kind of god.
ReplyDeleteOne aspect of Dante's inferno that I found interesting is the idea that all sins are punished the same way it was committed. He refers to this as the Law of symbolic retribution. For example, the opportunists in the first layer of hell are punished by chasing an elusive banner for the rest of eternity. This symbolizes the life they lived when they were living, they never choose a side and remained indecisive, thus Dante doesn't give them a place and they are eternally pursuing the waving banner. Another example is in Canto VI when Dante talks about the third layer of hell. This layer is for the people who were greedy and Gluttons in their life. They gave into temptations easily and indulged themselves with all food they craved. Thus, they were punished by being beaten and torn while lying down, half buried in a pile of garbage because to Dante all they ever produced in life was garbage.
ReplyDeleteA particular quote that I found interesting that relates and empowers Dante's idea of symbolic retribution is when Virgil explains the reasoning behind the punishments sinners endure at the end of Canto III, he says "Their dread turns to wish:they yearn for what they fear", what he means is Hell is practically chosen by those who sin, and the "damned" are well aware of their consequences because it is what their hearts really yearn to happen. The punishments that Dante describes are not only significant because they deserved by the sinners, but the idea that they want the same thing they fear most.
Muslimah wrote via email:
ReplyDeleteOne interesting aspect that stuck out to me was in Canto III where Dante introduces the opportunists.The opportunist are neither good or evil, they are neither for heaven or hell but are somewhere in the middle. I found there hell to a cruel joke and ongoing cycle of torture because they are striving for something they will never obtain,"so they pursue eternally an elusive, ever-shifting banner." (41,Dante) I was also confused in if the hell was created for humans or only angels. Thinking in a perspective of the hell being intended for humans it seemed unjust because at times a good person could commit an evil action but it wouldn't he/she wouldn't be defined as evil or entirely good. A person that is defined as evil at times can committ a good action. I kind of wondered what Dante defines as good and evil and what determines their destination of being an opportunists or being sent to heaven or hell.
The level of noise in Hell is important since there a lot of people but when Danto reached the first circle, the limbo, it was silent.
ReplyDeleteIn Canto 4, when " A heavy clap of thunder! I awoke from the deep sleep that drugged my mind- startled, the way one is when shaken out of sleep." Dante says that he got up because of the sound of a loud thunder, he is referring to the crying coming from Hell, the crying of all the souls that are damned. He is awakened by the hopeless sounds of Hell, that sounded like thunder. However, when Dante reaches the first circle of Hell, there is silence. This circle has no sounds because those in Limbo are not being punished. The silence represents dignity and this circle is where the virtuous pagans are. They are blameless,judged and honored according to their virtue. The pagans in Limbo implies that Hell is a place where the person is not given another chance to choose the right path. The opportunities came and are gone now, nothing will change.
At the beginning of Canto III, as Dante enters past the Gate of Hell, the inscription above the gate reads: “I am the way into the city of woe. I am the way to a forsaken people. I am the way into eternal sorrow. Sacred justice moved my architect. I was raised here by divine omnipotence. Primordial love and ultimate intellect. Only those elements time cannot wear were made before me, and beyond time I stand. Abandon all hope ye who enter here (Dante, 42).” This passage struck me with an oozing sense of mystery and darkness. This paints a rather dark portrait of God, who is generally oft forgiving and merciful. “They have no hope of death…their miserable lives have sunk so low that they must envy every other fate (Dante, 43),” Virgil tells Dante upon his questioning of the lamentation of the damned. The specific line that really leaves me daunted is when Virgil tells him, “Their miserable lives have sunk so low that they must envy every other fate,” for these souls are neither alive nor dead, susceptible to the pain of physical anguish amidst the eternal aspect of the soul. I wonder what mercy, if any, befalls these anguishes souls, and what path, if any, will lead them to the light.
ReplyDeleteI agree with swiecek comment about the religion aspect of the story. Most people that do believe in religion definitely would say when you die you go to heaven or hell, but no religion really describes what is going to happened if you end up in one of these places. Dante really strikes my interest in this poem because he really uses his imagination and describes every detail possible. For example he talks about the Cerberus the three headed dog, he says “his eyes are red, his beard is greased with phlegm, his belly is swollen, and hands are claws to rip the wretches and flay and mangle them” the way Dante explains this to us almost makes me think that this is type of things we will see if we go to hell.
ReplyDeleteit was canto vi where i got my quote
ReplyDeleteYeva wrote via email:
ReplyDeleteAn aspect of Dante’s Divine Comedy, The Inferno, that I find interesting is how he emphasizes the importance of Virgil’s character in the story, yet places him as a figure that would be in Limbo. As expressed in canto IV lines 34-45:
“ And still their merits fail, for they lacked Baptism’s grace, which is the door of the truth faith you were born to. Their birth fell before the age of the Christian mysteries and so they did not worship God’s Trinity in fullest duty. I am one of these. For such defects are we lost, though spared the fire and suffering Hell in one affliction only: that without hope we live on in desire. I though how many worthy souls there were suspended in that Limbo, and a weight closed on my heart for what the noblest suffer.”
Virgil holds tremendous power and acts as a guide to Dante. Virgil, along with the other greats is, idolized yet is not granted the right to be in Heaven. If Virgil is such an important figure then why is passage blocked? Apparently God and religion are of great importance to the story and determinants of placement in afterlife, however Dante uses religious figures in a negative form in future cantos. This is seen by the placement of religious figures into hell. Based on history and prior knowledge we know the importance of these religious figures along with the great poets, however, Dante contradicts prior beliefs by placing them in their given circles.
An aspect of Dante’s Divine Comedy, The Inferno, that I find interesting is how he emphasizes the importance of Virgil’s character in the story, yet places him as a figure that would be in Limbo. As expressed in canto IV lines 34-45:
ReplyDelete“ And still their merits fail, for they lacked Baptism’s grace, which is the door of the truth faith you were born to. Their birth fell before the age of the Christian mysteries and so they did not worship God’s Trinity in fullest duty. I am one of these. For such defects are we lost, though spared the fire and suffering Hell in one affliction only: that without hope we live on in desire. I though how many worthy souls there were suspended in that Limbo, and a weight closed on my heart for what the noblest suffer.”
Virgil holds tremendous power and acts as a guide to Dante. Virgil, along with the other greats is, idolized yet is not granted the right to be in Heaven. If Virgil is such an important figure then why is passage blocked? Apparently God and religion are of great importance to the story and determinants of placement in afterlife, however Dante uses religious figures in a negative form in future cantos. This is seen by the placement of religious figures into hell. Based on history and prior knowledge we know the importance of these religious figures along with the great poets, however, Dante contradicts prior beliefs by placing them in their given circles.
In the Inferno, there are a lot of themes that can essentially be discussed fully. However, the one aspect that is interesting is the faith that Dante has. I feel is a major point that eventually keeps arising throughout the cantos. Dante is characterized as someone who still has hopes, therefore he overcomes all his fears which torment him and are punishments he goes through to reach happiness or even better paradise. Luckily with the help of Virgil, the representation of Human Reason, Dante is able to get thorugh these rough steps, but as i mentioned before, Hope is what keeps the character of Dante alive, along with Virgil the Guide. In Canto I, the reader can grasp the emphasis that Dante the author has put to the idea of maintaining hope for Dante the pilgrim. For instance, the following lines can show how important it is to maintain faith. "Thus the holy hour and the sweet season/of commemoration did much to arm my fear/of that bright murdeous beast with their good omen" (30ff). "For my soul's salvation, I beg you, guard me from her,/for she has struck a mortal tremor thorugh me" (75ff). "Therefore, for you forth own good, I think it well/you follwo me and I will be your guide/and lead you forth through an eternal place" (105ff). These were very important moments because not only did Dante show faith but he also allowed Virgil to guide him, but more importantly it shows that he is not givivng up his hope to get to that final stage of happiness.
ReplyDelete