Dante The Divine Comedy. Dante's Life Born in Florence in 1265; died in Ravenna in 1321 Born in Florence in 1265; died in Ravenna in 1321 Met Beatrice.

Dante Dante The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy

Dante's LifeDante's Life

Born in Florence in 1265; died in Born in Florence in 1265; died in Ravenna in 1321 Ravenna in 1321

  Met Beatrice circa 1274 Met Beatrice circa 1274   Married Gemma Donati in 1289 Married Gemma Donati in 1289   Elected Prior (highest magistrate, a Elected Prior (highest magistrate, a

2 month post) in 1300 2 month post) in 1300   Exiled from Florence in 1302 Exiled from Florence in 1302

Literary WorksLiterary Works   De Vulgari EloquentiaDe Vulgari Eloquentia, on the origin and , on the origin and

development of language development of language   De MonarchiaDe Monarchia, on political theory , on political theory   ConvivioConvivio, unfinished, a compendium of , unfinished, a compendium of

knowledge knowledge   Vita NuovaVita Nuova, lyric poems and commentary , lyric poems and commentary   CommediaCommedia , dubbed , dubbed The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy

in the 16th century, written from 1307-21.  in the 16th century, written from 1307-21.  Relates a symbolic pilgrimage through Relates a symbolic pilgrimage through Hell, Purgatory, & Heaven undertaken by Hell, Purgatory, & Heaven undertaken by the fictitious pilgrim Dante beginning the the fictitious pilgrim Dante beginning the evening before Good Friday, 1300. evening before Good Friday, 1300.

DANTE AND DANTE AND The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy

Dante Alighieri (1265-Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)1321)

La Divina La Divina CommediaCommedia ( (The The Divine ComedyDivine Comedy) )

Trilogy: Trilogy: Inferno, Inferno, Purgatorio, ParadisoPurgatorio, Paradiso

Written in the late Written in the late Middle Ages, c. Middle Ages, c. 1307 -1321 1307 -1321

Dante’s home in Florence

BackgroundBackground

Dante wroteDante wrote The Divine Comedy The Divine Comedy while in exile due to his involvement while in exile due to his involvement with a political party that criticized with a political party that criticized the corruption of the pope. Dante the corruption of the pope. Dante believed that an emperor should believed that an emperor should govern affairs of the state while the govern affairs of the state while the pope’s power should be confined to pope’s power should be confined to religious affairs.  religious affairs. 

Literary InfluencesLiterary Influences

    Old & New Old & New Testament Testament

    Homer’s Odyssey, Homer’s Odyssey, and especially and especially Virgil's Virgil's AeneidAeneid

    St. Augustine's St. Augustine's ConfessionsConfessions

ContentsContents

The Divine Comedy is an account of The Divine Comedy is an account of Dante's own journey through the Dante's own journey through the afterlife (hell, purgatory, and afterlife (hell, purgatory, and paradise)paradise)

He is guided by the Roman poet Virgil He is guided by the Roman poet Virgil (1st c. BC) and later by Beatrice(1st c. BC) and later by Beatrice

The journey inspired by and directed The journey inspired by and directed toward Beatrice, the earthly love of toward Beatrice, the earthly love of Dante's youth Dante's youth

A journey toward salvationA journey toward salvation

Structure in Multiple Layers of Three to Structure in Multiple Layers of Three to Symbolize the Trinity:Symbolize the Trinity: Three Guides: Three Guides:

1. Virgil, symbol of human reason & poetry, through 1. Virgil, symbol of human reason & poetry, through Inferno & Purgatorio Inferno & Purgatorio 2. Beatrice, his “pure” human love, through most of 2. Beatrice, his “pure” human love, through most of Paradiso Paradiso 3. St. Bernard de Clairvaux, a 12th century 3. St. Bernard de Clairvaux, a 12th century contemplative monk contemplative monk

Written in vernacular Italian in terza rima (aba, bcb, Written in vernacular Italian in terza rima (aba, bcb, cdc, etc.) cdc, etc.)

33 cantos in each canticle (Inferno, Purgatorio, and 33 cantos in each canticle (Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso), plus one in the beginning as an introduction Paradiso), plus one in the beginning as an introduction = 100. = 100.

Nine circles of Hell + anteroom = 10; seven levels of Nine circles of Hell + anteroom = 10; seven levels of purgatory plus three ante-terraces = 10; nine heavenly purgatory plus three ante-terraces = 10; nine heavenly spheres + empyrean = 10. spheres + empyrean = 10.

Three beasts block his path: Leopard, Lion, and She-Three beasts block his path: Leopard, Lion, and She-Wolf. Wolf.

CharactersCharacters

"Peopled" by "Peopled" by hundreds of hundreds of historical, historical, contemporaneous, contemporaneous, and mythical and mythical figures who had figures who had died by the year died by the year 1300, but who may 1300, but who may have lived have lived centuries before. centuries before.

VirgilVirgil

TimeTime

The action of the poem begins on The action of the poem begins on Good Friday of the year 1300, at Good Friday of the year 1300, at which time Dante, who was born in which time Dante, who was born in 1265, had reached the middle of the 1265, had reached the middle of the Scriptural threescore years and ten. Scriptural threescore years and ten. It ends on the first Sunday after It ends on the first Sunday after Easter, making in all ten days. Easter, making in all ten days.

Dante's historical world as hell:Dante's historical world as hell:

civil and international warfarecivil and international warfare political struggles political struggles corrupt popes seeking power and wealth corrupt popes seeking power and wealth sale of ecclesiastical offices (simony) and of sale of ecclesiastical offices (simony) and of

salvation (indulgences) salvation (indulgences) world of intolerance and persecution world of intolerance and persecution

(Inquisition founded 1231) (Inquisition founded 1231) religion is abused, and manipulated; greed, religion is abused, and manipulated; greed,

pride and violence disguised as holiness pride and violence disguised as holiness prevalence of ignorance, superstition, and prevalence of ignorance, superstition, and

fearfear

DANTE'S CRITICISM OF HIS WORLDDANTE'S CRITICISM OF HIS WORLD exposure of the evils of his worldexposure of the evils of his world

challenging of Church dogmas, exposing superstitionschallenging of Church dogmas, exposing superstitions

creation of a new Humanist philosophy radically re-creation of a new Humanist philosophy radically re-interpreting Christianityinterpreting Christianity

giving Christianity a human and earthly meaning giving Christianity a human and earthly meaning centered around the idea of lovecentered around the idea of love

demanding the substance of true Christianity in demanding the substance of true Christianity in Christian life: love, peace, humility, forgiveness, Christian life: love, peace, humility, forgiveness, giving, caring about others, healing the sick, feeding giving, caring about others, healing the sick, feeding the hungrythe hungry

Dante’s Journey Begins in HellDante’s Journey Begins in Hell

Concept of Concept of contrapassocontrapasso (sin = (sin = punishment), sinning punishment), sinning isis hell hell

Hell is the state of sin; harming others Hell is the state of sin; harming others creates a world that is literally hellish creates a world that is literally hellish for the sinner himself and for othersfor the sinner himself and for others

We are responsible not only for our We are responsible not only for our own actions, but for the effects they own actions, but for the effects they have on others; we are responsible not have on others; we are responsible not only for our own salvation, but for the only for our own salvation, but for the good of society. good of society.

THE INFERNOTHE INFERNO

Hell is a place on earthHell is a place on earth Most notable: the popes in hell (Nicholas III, Most notable: the popes in hell (Nicholas III,

Boniface VIII, Clement V); the keys of Saint Boniface VIII, Clement V); the keys of Saint Peter opening the gates of understanding of Peter opening the gates of understanding of the new symbolism created by Dantethe new symbolism created by Dante

Representation of hell in earthly, sensory, Representation of hell in earthly, sensory, familiar terms, populated by oneself and familiar terms, populated by oneself and those one knowsthose one knows

The presence of the living human being in The presence of the living human being in hellhell

The Nine Circles of HellThe Nine Circles of Hell

1. Limbo 1. Limbo 2. The Lustful 2. The Lustful 3. The Gluttonous 3. The Gluttonous 4. The Avaricious and the Prodigal 4. The Avaricious and the Prodigal 5. The Wrathful and the Sullen 5. The Wrathful and the Sullen 6. Heretics 6. Heretics 7. The Violent 7. The Violent 8. The Fraudulent 8. The Fraudulent 9. The Treacherous 9. The Treacherous

Map of the InfernoMap of the InfernoInferno Inferno Circle 1 Circle 1

The Virtuous Pagans                    The Virtuous Pagans                    Circle 2 Circle 2

The Lascivious/Lustful                  The Lascivious/Lustful                  Circle 3Circle 3

The Gluttonous                            The Gluttonous                            Circle 4Circle 4

The Miserly and the Wasteful against The Miserly and the Wasteful against kindred, country kindred, country

Circle 5Circle 5 The Wathful guests, lords, etc.The Wathful guests, lords, etc.

Circle 6Circle 6 The Heretics The Heretics

Circle 7 Circle 7  The Violent The Violent

Circle 8Circle 8    The Fraudulent The Fraudulent

Circle 9Circle 9    The Lake of the TreacherousThe Lake of the Treacherous

Images of Dante’s HellImages of Dante’s Hell

Boticelli’s Image of Dante’s Hell Boticelli’s Image of Dante’s Hell

Bartolomeo’s Vision of Dante’s HellBartolomeo’s Vision of Dante’s Hell

Canto ICanto IDante enters hell while alive: Dante enters hell while alive:

Canto I.1 "in the middle of the Canto I.1 "in the middle of the road of our life“road of our life“

Dante enters hell driven by his Dante enters hell driven by his own sins (symbolized by the own sins (symbolized by the

lion, the wolf, and the leopard)lion, the wolf, and the leopard)

A lion: Pride or ambition.A lion: Pride or ambition.

A she-wolf: AvariceA she-wolf: Avarice

A leopard: FraudulenceA leopard: Fraudulence

Here he confronts the lion.Here he confronts the lion.

Illustration by Gustave DoréIllustration by Gustave Doré

Canto 1Canto 1

The dark forest of human life, with its The dark forest of human life, with its passions, vices, and perplexities of all passions, vices, and perplexities of all kinds; politically the state of Florence with kinds; politically the state of Florence with its fractions Guelf and Ghibelline. its fractions Guelf and Ghibelline.

Dante as pro-Ghibelline and Imperialist is Dante as pro-Ghibelline and Imperialist is in opposition to the Guelfs, Papal Party: in opposition to the Guelfs, Papal Party: Boniface VIII., and the King of France, Boniface VIII., and the King of France, Philip the Fair, and is banished from Philip the Fair, and is banished from Florence, out of the sunshine, and into the Florence, out of the sunshine, and into the dark. dark.

Canto 4: The Unbaptized Canto 4: The Unbaptized Dante is borne across the Dante is borne across the

river Acheron in his sleep, and river Acheron in his sleep, and awakes on the brink of the sad awakes on the brink of the sad valley of the abyss.valley of the abyss.

He now enters the First He now enters the First Circle of the Inferno; the Limbo Circle of the Inferno; the Limbo of the Unbaptized and those of the Unbaptized and those born before Christianity. born before Christianity.

Here he finds the Here he finds the Philosophers (Aristotle, Plato), Philosophers (Aristotle, Plato), classical writers and Avicenna classical writers and Avicenna and Averroes. and Averroes.

Illustration by Gustave DoréIllustration by Gustave Doré

Canto 5: The LustfulCanto 5: The LustfulPaolo and FrancescaPaolo and Francesca

Francesca, daughter of Francesca, daughter of Guido da Polenta, Lord of Guido da Polenta, Lord of Ravenna, and wife of Ravenna, and wife of Gianciotto Malatesta, son Gianciotto Malatesta, son of the Lord of Rimini. The of the Lord of Rimini. The lover, Paul Malatesta, was lover, Paul Malatesta, was the brother of the the brother of the husband, who, discovering husband, who, discovering their love, put them both their love, put them both to death with his own to death with his own hand. They are condemned hand. They are condemned to be whirled around in a to be whirled around in a violent wind.violent wind.

Illustration by GustaveIllustration by Gustave DoréDoré

Paolo and FrancescaPaolo and Francesca

By J.A. Ingres By Amos Cassioli

Canto 10: FarinataCanto 10: Farinata Farinata degli Uberti was Farinata degli Uberti was

the valiant and renowned the valiant and renowned leader of the Ghibellines leader of the Ghibellines in Florence. He believed in Florence. He believed like Epicurus, that the like Epicurus, that the soul dies with the body, soul dies with the body, and that human and that human happiness consisted in happiness consisted in temporal pleasures; and temporal pleasures; and for this sin he is damned for this sin he is damned as a Heretic as is as a Heretic as is Cavalcante, a Guelph. Cavalcante, a Guelph.

Farinata addresses DanteFarinata addresses Dantellustration by Gustave Doréllustration by Gustave Doré

Farinata (con’t)Farinata (con’t)

Farinata led the Ghibellines at the Farinata led the Ghibellines at the famous battle of Monte Aperto in famous battle of Monte Aperto in 1260, where the Guelfs were routed, 1260, where the Guelfs were routed, and driven out of Florence. He died in and driven out of Florence. He died in 1264.1264.

Guelphs- Papal PartyGuelphs- Papal Party

Ghibellines- Imperial PartyGhibellines- Imperial Party

The Ninth CircleThe Ninth Circle

Symbolic of the ultimate cold-Symbolic of the ultimate cold-heartedness, lack of feeling for othersheartedness, lack of feeling for others

Dante feels half-dead as he Dante feels half-dead as he experiences the cold blast of Lucifer's experiences the cold blast of Lucifer's beating wingsbeating wings

then Dante kicks heads, pulls hair, and then Dante kicks heads, pulls hair, and abuses the souls embedded in the iceabuses the souls embedded in the ice

Dante promises Fra Alberigo to clear Dante promises Fra Alberigo to clear the ice from his eyes if he reveals his the ice from his eyes if he reveals his identity, then goes back on his promiseidentity, then goes back on his promise

Gravest danger as he becomes treacherous Gravest danger as he becomes treacherous in circle of treachery in circle of treachery

Dante ensnared in his own sins and Dante ensnared in his own sins and contradictionscontradictions

at this point Dante is effectively entrapped at this point Dante is effectively entrapped in hell, his heart frozen, his actions identical in hell, his heart frozen, his actions identical with those of the treacherous at the bottom with those of the treacherous at the bottom of hellof hell

the only way for him to get out: recognizing the only way for him to get out: recognizing the sin in himself, seeing the absurdity of the sin in himself, seeing the absurdity of his self-righteousness, forgiving and his self-righteousness, forgiving and accepting what he hates the most accepting what he hates the most

only way out: to look into the spiritual only way out: to look into the spiritual mirror, to embrace the body of Satan mirror, to embrace the body of Satan

The Ninth Circle of HellThe Ninth Circle of Hell:: the frozen, circular lake of ice at the the frozen, circular lake of ice at the

bottom of hell and the home of Satanbottom of hell and the home of Satan

Lucifer, King of Hell Illustrated by Gustave Doré

SatanSatan

Description of SatanDescription of SatanSatan has three heads—red, black, and yellow—and Satan has three heads—red, black, and yellow—and

from his six eyes streams continuous tears.  In from his six eyes streams continuous tears.  In each of its mouths, Satan gnaws on the worst of each of its mouths, Satan gnaws on the worst of the traitors: Judas, Brutus, and Cassius.  Virgil the traitors: Judas, Brutus, and Cassius.  Virgil abruptly tells Dante that they must leave.  Virgil abruptly tells Dante that they must leave.  Virgil pulls his pupil onto his back and begins to climb pulls his pupil onto his back and begins to climb down Satan’s hairy body.  Virgil continues to climb down Satan’s hairy body.  Virgil continues to climb until they come to a point where Satan’s legs stand until they come to a point where Satan’s legs stand upright in a dark cave.  Virgil explains that when upright in a dark cave.  Virgil explains that when they climbed down Satan’s side, they passed the they climbed down Satan’s side, they passed the center of the center of the earth so that they now center of the center of the earth so that they now stand just below the Southern Hemisphere.  Satan stand just below the Southern Hemisphere.  Satan stands where he was planted when he originally stands where he was planted when he originally fell from Heaven.  Dante quickly scrambles to climb fell from Heaven.  Dante quickly scrambles to climb back to Earth and as he does he sees stars above back to Earth and as he does he sees stars above him for the first time since his journey began. him for the first time since his journey began.

Dante-SatanDante-Satan embrace as symbol of forgiveness of sin, need to embrace as symbol of forgiveness of sin, need to

sympathize with the suffering (the tears) of the sympathize with the suffering (the tears) of the greatest sinnergreatest sinner

introspection and self-recognition: need to look introspection and self-recognition: need to look into the center of the mirror-like surface of the into the center of the mirror-like surface of the frozen lake; what Dante sees there is just himselffrozen lake; what Dante sees there is just himself

Dante = SatanDante = Satan that insight and his capacity to forgive set him that insight and his capacity to forgive set him

freefree implication of the impossibility of escaping hell implication of the impossibility of escaping hell

while his soul is tainted with anger, hate, while his soul is tainted with anger, hate, vengefulness, and self-righteousnessvengefulness, and self-righteousness

Purgatory

Purgatorio

PurgatorioPurgatorio

Seven circles for Seven circles for the seven deadly the seven deadly sins: pride, envy, sins: pride, envy, anger, sloth, anger, sloth, avarice, gluttony avarice, gluttony and incontinence.and incontinence.

Second illustrated ed.

Brescia, 1487

ParadisoParadiso The Paradiso is a

place of reward. It is structured on the

Seven Cardinal Virtues: Faith, Hope, Love, Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance.

Each virtue is rewarded in one of the spheres that were thought to surround the earth.

Canto 33 ParadisoCanto 33 Paradiso

The Visible The Visible PresencePresence

In this new light of In this new light of God's grace, the God's grace, the mystery of the mystery of the union of the union of the Divine and human Divine and human nature in Christ is nature in Christ is revealed to Dante. revealed to Dante.

Canto 33 Paradiso

Dante looks up into the light and receives a glorious vision of which he feels the emotion of the experience but he cannot recall the details of the encounter. 

He invokes God to help him recall the scene so that he can tell the world about it. 

Dante reveals that he saw within the Eternal Light: three circles of different colors reflecting each other. 

Canto 33 ParadisoCanto 33 Paradiso

Dante sees a vision of Christ. The three Dante sees a vision of Christ. The three orbs “of triple hue” reveals the mystery of orbs “of triple hue” reveals the mystery of the Trinity in human nature in the Being of the Trinity in human nature in the Being of God, the Son mirroring the Father and the God, the Son mirroring the Father and the Love of the Holy Spirit between them both. Love of the Holy Spirit between them both.

In the last lines, Dante moves in harmony In the last lines, Dante moves in harmony with the spheres, with God, and with with the spheres, with God, and with himself, impelled by divine love. himself, impelled by divine love.

ParadisoParadiso

ParadisoParadiso

Florentine Mss 15th century

Paradiso XVIIParadiso XVII

Dante’s Exegetical Method: Dante’s Exegetical Method: From Dante’s From Dante’s Letter to Can GrandeLetter to Can Grande selection taken from the selection taken from the Geoffrey Geoffrey Chaucer PageChaucer Page

““To elucidate, then, what we have to say, To elucidate, then, what we have to say, be it known that the sense of this work is be it known that the sense of this work is not simple, but on the contrary it may be not simple, but on the contrary it may be called polysemous, that is to say, 'of called polysemous, that is to say, 'of more senses than one'; for it is one more senses than one'; for it is one sense which we get through the letter, sense which we get through the letter, and another which we get through the and another which we get through the thing the thing the letterletter signifies; and the first is signifies; and the first is called called literalliteral, but the second , but the second allegoricalallegorical or mystic. or mystic.

And this mode of treatment, for its better And this mode of treatment, for its better manifestation, may be considered in this manifestation, may be considered in this verse:verse:

'When lsrael came out of Egypt, and the house 'When lsrael came out of Egypt, and the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech, of Jacob from a people of strange speech, Judaea became his sanctification, Israel his Judaea became his sanctification, Israel his power.'power.'

For if we inspect the For if we inspect the letterletter alone the departure alone the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt in the time of the children of Israel from Egypt in the time of Moses is presented to us; if the of Moses is presented to us; if the allegoryallegory, , our redemption wrought by Christ; if the our redemption wrought by Christ; if the moral sensemoral sense, the conversion of the soul from , the conversion of the soul from the grief and misery of sin to the state of the grief and misery of sin to the state of grace is presented to us; if the grace is presented to us; if the anagogicalanagogical, , the departure of the holy soul from the slavery the departure of the holy soul from the slavery of this corruption to the liberty of eternal glory of this corruption to the liberty of eternal glory is presented to us. Con’t next page..}is presented to us. Con’t next page..}

……When we understand this we see clearly When we understand this we see clearly that the that the subjectsubject round which the alternative round which the alternative senses play must be twofold. And we must senses play must be twofold. And we must therefore consider the subject of this work therefore consider the subject of this work as as literallyliterally understood, and then its understood, and then its subject as subject as allegoricallyallegorically intended. The intended. The subject of the whole work, then, taken in subject of the whole work, then, taken in the the literal senseliteral sense only, is 'the state of souls only, is 'the state of souls after death,' without qualification, for the after death,' without qualification, for the whole progress of the work hinges on it and whole progress of the work hinges on it and about it. Whereas if the work be taken about it. Whereas if the work be taken allegoricallyallegorically the subject is 'man, as by the subject is 'man, as by good or ill desserts, in the exercise of the good or ill desserts, in the exercise of the freedom of his choice, he becomes liable to freedom of his choice, he becomes liable to rewarding or punishing justice.‘”rewarding or punishing justice.‘”

http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~chaucer/special/authors/dante/cangrand.hhttp://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~chaucer/special/authors/dante/cangrand.htmltml

based on based on FromFrom The Latin Works of DanteThe Latin Works of Dante, Temple Classics, London, 1904, , Temple Classics, London, 1904, Epistola X, pp. 346-52.Epistola X, pp. 346-52.

Summary: a modification and adaptation of the Summary: a modification and adaptation of the traditional four-fold method of interpretation of traditional four-fold method of interpretation of

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274):Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274):

LITERAL -- the everyday meaningLITERAL -- the everyday meaning MORAL -- educational lessonsMORAL -- educational lessons ALLEGORICAL -- abstract, intellectual, ALLEGORICAL -- abstract, intellectual,

conceptual symbolsconceptual symbols ANAGOGICAL -- the deepest ANAGOGICAL -- the deepest

mysteries of the afterlifemysteries of the afterlife