Dante’s Divine Comedy

Introduction to Dante Dante Aligheri ( ), of Florence, Italy. Dante Aligheri ( ), of Florence, Italy. One of the 5 greatest poets of the Western tradition (with Homer, Virgil, Milton, Goethe). One of the 5 greatest poets of the Western tradition (with Homer, Virgil, Milton, Goethe). His masterpiece (The Divine Comedy) embodies the Thomistic synthesis of Greek philosophy & the Biblical worldview. His masterpiece (The Divine Comedy) embodies the Thomistic synthesis of Greek philosophy & the Biblical worldview.

Introduction to Dante His great love seems to have been Beatrice Portinari.His great love seems to have been Beatrice Portinari. They met when they were children.They met when they were children. Dante worshipped her.Dante worshipped her. Beatrice was Dante’s inspiration for The Divine Comedy.Beatrice was Dante’s inspiration for The Divine Comedy. After her death in 1290, he dedicated a book of verse, La Vita Nuova, or “The New Life,” to her.After her death in 1290, he dedicated a book of verse, La Vita Nuova, or “The New Life,” to her. Though each married, they did not marry each other.Though each married, they did not marry each other.

Introduction to Dante Dante entered an arranged marriage in 1291 with Gemma Donati, a noblewoman.Dante entered an arranged marriage in 1291 with Gemma Donati, a noblewoman. They had four children—Jacopo, Pietro, Giovanni, and Antonia.They had four children—Jacopo, Pietro, Giovanni, and Antonia. Records contain little else about their life together.Records contain little else about their life together.

Political Climate Church (Pope) vs. State (Holy Roman Emperor) Church (Pope) vs. State (Holy Roman Emperor) After the collapse of the Roman Empire, there were attempts to recreate the “Holy Roman Empire.” After the collapse of the Roman Empire, there were attempts to recreate the “Holy Roman Empire.” Conflicts between various Popes and emperors continued for hundreds of years. Conflicts between various Popes and emperors continued for hundreds of years. In Dante’s time, both the Pope and the emperor claimed political authority In Dante’s time, both the Pope and the emperor claimed political authority Dante wanted to separate the two forms of authority and have the church deal only with spiritual matters while the empire dealt with earthly ones. Dante wanted to separate the two forms of authority and have the church deal only with spiritual matters while the empire dealt with earthly ones.

Dante’s Banishment In Florence, Italy, there were two political parties: The Guelphs – supported the Pope The Ghibellines – supported the Emperor Due to opposing local, papal, national, and political politics, the Guelphs split into two subparties: Blacks and Whites Pope Boniface VIII sided with the Blacks – Whites were then persecuted. Dante (a White Guelph) was banished from Florence and never returned. He wrote The Divine Comedy after he was banished.

The Divine Comedy Written between 1308 and 1321 Written between 1308 and 1321 Begins on Good Friday in the year 1300 Begins on Good Friday in the year 1300 An imaginary journey that takes Dante through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise An imaginary journey that takes Dante through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise An allegory—the journey is symbolic of the spiritual quest for salvation Three parts: The Inferno, Pergatorio, and Paradisio

Comedy Although it may not seem "funny" to us, The Divine Comedy is classified as a comedy because it has a “happy” ending. It is “divine” because it deals with heaven, hell, and God – divinity. Although it may not seem "funny" to us, The Divine Comedy is classified as a comedy because it has a “happy” ending. It is “divine” because it deals with heaven, hell, and God – divinity. This was the old definition of comedy, as opposed to our current notion that a comedy should keep us laughing. This was the old definition of comedy, as opposed to our current notion that a comedy should keep us laughing.

Vernacular Dante’s use of the local (Tuscan) dialect of Italian rather than Latin in writing The Divine Comedy was a daring gamble at the time; most serious writing was done in Latin because the vernacular languages kept changing and people were afraid that no one would be able to read them in a few years. Dante’s use of the local (Tuscan) dialect of Italian rather than Latin in writing The Divine Comedy was a daring gamble at the time; most serious writing was done in Latin because the vernacular languages kept changing and people were afraid that no one would be able to read them in a few years.

Retribution in Hell Punishments in the tours of hell consists of those based on the principle of “Eye for an eye” Punishments in the tours of hell consists of those based on the principle of “Eye for an eye” Punishment equal to the crime Punishment equal to the crime Example: Fortunetellers pretend to know future, so in hell, their heads are fastened on backwards so they must always look behind themselves.

Circles The sinners in the circles include:The sinners in the circles include: Circle One —Those in limbo (basically innocent people; unbaptized and unbelievers) Circle One —Those in limbo (basically innocent people; unbaptized and unbelievers) Circle Two —The lustful Circle Two —The lustful Circle Three —The gluttonous (food, drink, other addictions) Circle Three —The gluttonous (food, drink, other addictions) Circle Four —The hoarders (greed as sin) Circle Four —The hoarders (greed as sin) Circle Five —The wrathful Circle Five —The wrathful

Circles Circle Six —The heretics Circle Six —The heretics Circle Seven — The violent Circle Seven — The violent Ring 1 : Violence Against Others Ring 1 : Violence Against Others Ring 2 : Violence Against Self Ring 2 : Violence Against Self Ring 3 : Violence against God, Nature, and Art Ring 3 : Violence against God, Nature, and Art

Circles Circle Eight – the fraudulent. Circle Eight – the fraudulent. Has 10 levels Has 10 levels Seducers Seducers Flatterers Flatterers Simonists (buy/sell pardons) Simonists (buy/sell pardons) Fortune tellers Fortune tellers Barrators (frivolous lawsuits) Barrators (frivolous lawsuits) Hypocrites Hypocrites Thieves Thieves Fraudulent counselors Fraudulent counselors Sowers of discord Sowers of discord Falsifiers Falsifiers

Circles Circle Nine —Traitors Circle Nine —Traitors Region 1 : Traitors to their kindred Region 1 : Traitors to their kindred Region 2 : Traitors to their country Region 2 : Traitors to their country Region 3 : Traitors to their guests Region 3 : Traitors to their guests Region 4 : Traitors to their lords/benefactors Region 4 : Traitors to their lords/benefactors

Themes to Consider Love as the source of both good and evil. Love as the source of both good and evil. The paradox of free will The paradox of free will The relationship between body and soul. The relationship between body and soul. Faith and Reason and the limits of each Faith and Reason and the limits of each

Love as the source of Good and Evil Virgil distinguishes between animal- like love and mind-directed love. Virgil distinguishes between animal- like love and mind-directed love. The second is imperfect both in respect of its object and its intensity. The second is imperfect both in respect of its object and its intensity. Wrong object: Pride, Envy, Wrath Wrong object: Pride, Envy, Wrath Too weak: Sloth Too weak: Sloth Too strong: Avarice, Gluttony, Lust Too strong: Avarice, Gluttony, Lust

The Paradox of Free Will If God is omnipotent (all-knowing) and knows what we will do before he created us, how can we have free will?If God is omnipotent (all-knowing) and knows what we will do before he created us, how can we have free will?

The Paradox of Evil Paradox: If God is “good” and omnipotent, why does He allow evil in the world? Paradox: If God is “good” and omnipotent, why does He allow evil in the world? Dante maintains that God allows evil because of free will. Man is to have free will, the ability to choose, and without good and evil, man has nothing to choose between. Dante maintains that God allows evil because of free will. Man is to have free will, the ability to choose, and without good and evil, man has nothing to choose between.

Relationship between Body & Soul For medieval Christians, the soul was separated from the body at death and then judged based on the life it lived in the body while on earth. For medieval Christians, the soul was separated from the body at death and then judged based on the life it lived in the body while on earth. Vision literature describes life after death in terms of other worlds, heaven and hell for medieval Christians. Vision literature describes life after death in terms of other worlds, heaven and hell for medieval Christians.

Faith & Reason Dante gives a high status to natural reason. Dante gives a high status to natural reason. Virgil, Dante’s guide through hell and purgatory, was a pre-Christian Roman poet. Virgil, Dante’s guide through hell and purgatory, was a pre-Christian Roman poet. The philosophers and poets (ones who rely entirely on reason) are in limbo, because they were born before Christ, or were not baptized. They are treated with great respect, and suffer only the sadness of the loss of heaven. The philosophers and poets (ones who rely entirely on reason) are in limbo, because they were born before Christ, or were not baptized. They are treated with great respect, and suffer only the sadness of the loss of heaven.

Three Medieval Theories Dante endorses “creationism”: that each individual human soul is specially created by God. Dante endorses “creationism”: that each individual human soul is specially created by God. Augustine and others endorsed “traducianism”: the human soul is formed by natural powers possessed by the sperm & egg. Augustine and others endorsed “traducianism”: the human soul is formed by natural powers possessed by the sperm & egg. Dante clearly rejects Averroism: that all human beings share a single soul. Dante clearly rejects Averroism: that all human beings share a single soul.

Allegory A method of expressing ideas by using a parallel story or images; A method of expressing ideas by using a parallel story or images; Examples: Dante wandering in the woods in the midpoint of his life; the situation is an allegory for his personal confusion and lack of direction, his mid-life spiritual crisis Examples: Dante wandering in the woods in the midpoint of his life; the situation is an allegory for his personal confusion and lack of direction, his mid-life spiritual crisis The leopard, wolf and lion are allegorical beasts; each represents a sin which keeps Dante from getting to heaven. The leopard, wolf and lion are allegorical beasts; each represents a sin which keeps Dante from getting to heaven.

The Divine Comedy as an Epic The Divine Comedy as an Epic A long, narrative poem A long, narrative poem Reflects universal themes: Reflects universal themes: Life and Death Life and Death Good and evil Good and evil Faith and Reason (represented by Beatrice and Virgil) Faith and Reason (represented by Beatrice and Virgil) Plot is complicated by supernatural beings/events and involves long and dangerous journeys through foreign lands. Plot is complicated by supernatural beings/events and involves long and dangerous journeys through foreign lands. Vast scale (includes heaven, hell, and earth) Vast scale (includes heaven, hell, and earth)