the divine comedy of dante the inferno dante alighieri

Dante, however, chooses to speak to Paolo and Francesca, famous lovers from Rimini.įrancesca had been married to the brave, but physically deformed Gianciotto. Among those being blown about are mythic and historical queens such as Helen of Troy and Cleopatra of Egypt. The storm, of course, represents irresistible passion. In this circle people guilty of the sin of lust are whirled round and round in an unending storm. (Compare, for example, the tiger in Songs of Experience). Blake, in fact, seemed to have difficulties depicting wild animals. Notice also that the three beasts hardly look terrifying at all. Notice the Christ-like pose and appearance (diaphanous robes, flowing locks) of Virgil, and the exaggerated ‘terror pose’ of the fleeing Dante. Virgil, who represents reason, has come to lead Dante to Beatrice, who represents Divine revelation and the state of grace. He tries to find the path back but is diverted by worldly pleasure (the leopard), worldly ambition (the lion), and by avarice (the she-wolf). To explain the allegory: Dante, busied about the affairs of the world, has wandered from the path of righteousness. He has been sent by Beatrice (the woman Dante loved and who inspired him to write) to lead him on a journey of discovery through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise. Dante is terrified and is losing all hope of climbing the hill when a man appears. Then comes a ferocious, ravenous lion followed by a she-wolf. But as he starts his climb, he is confronted by three beasts.įirst comes a leopard, that, while not really frightening him, does block his path. Finally he sees a hill on which the sun is shining, and his heart fills with hope. The Divine Comedy opens with Dante lost in a dark wood in a fearful valley. She with such fear O’erwhelm’d me, at the sight of her appall’d, That of the height all hope I lost. A she-wolf Was at his heels, who in her leanness seem’d Full of all wants, and many a land hath made Disconsolate ere now. And by new dread succeeded, when in view A lion came, ’gainst me as it appear’d, With his head held aloft and hunger-mad, That e’en the air was fear-struck. The hour was morning’s prime, and on his way Aloft the sun ascended with those stars, That with him rose when Love Divine first moved Those its fair works: so with joyous hope All things conspired to fill me, the gay skin Of that swift animal, the matin dawn, And the sweet season. Scarce the ascent Began, when, lo! a panther, nimble, light, And cover’d with a speckled skin, appear’d Nor, when it saw me, vanish’d rather strove To check my onward going that oft-times, With purpose to retrace my steps, I turn’d. …My weary frame After short pause recomforted, again I journey’d on over that lonely steep, The hinder foot still firmer.

The divine comedy of dante the inferno dante alighieri