Looking back on this book, it reminds me a lot of Lord of the Rings. In fact: it is the Lord of the Rings antithesis in many ways.
First, the obvious similarities:
Both Dante and Tolkien have an obsession with imagery. Dante describes every level of hell in a matter of fact way: detailing the punishments, the surroundings, the people within. Tolkien does likewise, describing every tree and mountain. Both make you feel as though you could be walking through the world they describe. In retrospect, this is the most stunning thing about the book, and what engaged me most as a reader. The world Dante creates on the page is what matters, not the Dante wondering around in it.
In addition to this, in both Tolkien and Dante do the protagonists encounter people on their journey. The way many of these people are approached is very similar between the pieces. Dante talks to them; asks their name; asks what they did; (usually) feels pity; and then goes on his way. That person has no significant effect on the plot at all. Similarly, Tolkien often had encounters with minor characters which dragged on. Their names were always spoken, no matter their significance, and usually some back story was given. If you want examples, ask me. I wont waste more space. Minor characters matter to both Tolkien and Dante.
The final obvious similarity is the journey which is made. Frodo is headed towards mount Doom. Dante is headed towards the center of hell. Center of Hell. Mount Doom. Center of Hell. Mount Doom. Pretty similar. However, one is the hottest place on Middle Earth, and the other is cold as hell (pardon my french). Thats a very obvious example of their opposite-ness, their antithetical nature.
This brings me to some deeper differances. These differances are differances in religion any philosophy. Sauron is the Devil in LOTR, if you consider just LOTR (not the Simirillian- which I will get to later). The Devil is the Devil in Dante. The devil and Sauron operate in entirely differant ways; illustrating a fundimental differance between Dante's devil and the devil found in other christain literature (the bible/Lotr). Dante's Devil is being punished. He is sitting in the bottom of hell chewing on some nasty man-flesh. He is up to his waist in ice, and by trying to flap his wings he keeps things nice and freezing. The devil isnt sitting on some throne punishing criminals because he enjoys it in Dante: the Devil is the ultimate betrayer. He is suffering the worst punishment of everyone in Dante.
Compare this to Lord of the Rings. Sauron too is a betrayer. However, he is a suducer with his words, a temptor. He is the devil from within the bible. He is the voice in the back of your head telling you to do bad things. This is illustrated whenever Frodo puts on the ring. He made his object of evil (the ring) in the hottest place on earth (Mt Doom).
Looking back, this was another significant thing the book gave to me. It gave me another look at the idea of Satan. Dante's version was much more grounded in mythology.
Another things which was opposite was their journeys. In LOTR, Frodo travels through the good places on the way to the bad place (although the bad is always with him in the ring). In Dante, its all bad places. The inferno is very dark.
Another difference is the ending. Dante goes on to go to heaven, happy as can be. At least, not visibly scarred by his experiences. He emerges from the depths of hell as a whole being. Compare this to Frodo, who also emerges from the depths of hell. Frodo is missing a finger, and is never whole again. While other characters end up satisfied in Middle Earth, Frodo feels that he must leave, that he is scarred and broken. Frodo's interaction with hell left a far more profound and human impact upon him. Dante didnt seem to truely mind. This also goes back to the differance between the huge physical devil being punished, and the devious Sauron seducing your soul.
This list could go on and on. However, I think that examining the Simirilian (a book Tolkien wrote about the mythology of Middle Earth and the history of middle earth). In it, it is revealed that Sauron is not the real big baddie. He is merely a Leautenant. The real big bady betrayed the Gods (and main god), and is now being punished for an eternity. This is very similar to Dante. It has christian overtones, but is grounded in mythology. So perhaps they arent such antithesises of each other. I cant make up my mind.
Anyways, I got a lot out of Dante. It made me examine Christianity's relationship with ancient mythology. It made me examine corruption in the church. I was also morbidly fascinated with Dante's descriptions of hell. It certainly captured my imagination. Looking back, I think I liked the lack of twisting plot. The world is what truely made Dante's Inferno special. As a human, I also liked its matter of fact tone when dealing with the unknowable. If you go back to my last blog post and read the 1000 words on why it captured imaginations, you will find my reaction to the piece as a whole. All in all: it was a worthy read. It meant much more than the pages contained, and gave me more perspective than a simple story could.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Level 9, Code Red
Why has Dante's Inferno has captured our imagination for centuries?
One of the reasons Dante has captured our imagination for so long is that Dante has always been a part of our culture. It has always been available to be read, to be taught to us. If it was obscure, it certainly wouldnt be so well known. However, many many people know of it/read it.
One thing which helps this is that Dante's Inferno is a large work of literature. Even without its subject matter, it is lyrical and poetic (or so I gather from criticisms of the original Italian). It goes into great detail with horrific descriptions. And it is really really long. The divine comedy is huge, the Inferno is just one part. This epic-ness appeals to humans, and it helps the Inferno stand the test of time the way that the epics told by Homer have lasted this long. Its merits due to its epic nature and its lyrical poetry certainly put it up on a pedestal.
Another reason Dante has been so widespread and available is its religious nature. The church was a political force at the time of its writing. It ruled Europe. This caused a lot of the crap that Dante complains about, but it also meant that Dante was writing for a HUGE audience. And the people who were educated, and could read were the religious. So a book practically had to be religious for them to dig it. Fortunately, it was. Therefore, it was remembered, and could be there to capture our imagination.
Another thing which Dante's inferno had going for it was the fact that it was Italian. This means that it came from a very Roman place. The Romans were very good about spreading their culture across Europe, so Italian was a good language to choose.
Dante's inferno was also written after the dark ages. Historically speaking, this time period was a sort of coming out party for literature. Dante wasnt stuck in the middle of some prolific century of literature. Thus, he occupies a space in history, which also helps his widespreadness.
Dante's inferno is very very well known. It has lasted through history for many reasons other than its subject matter and imagination. It has a wide following, many people know of it or have read it because of this. This helps it get into new hands, and helps it capture new imaginations. Without the above, Dante's Inferno might just be some obscure, non-imagination-capturing literary critics book.
However, the above doesnt explain why Dante actually captures our imaginations.
I believe that Dante deals with issues which have always fascinated humankind. Life after death? Justice? Punishment? These subject draw humans like bugs to those bug zapper light things.
Every culture/religion deals with life after death. Everyone has an answer. In fact, a recent study has shown that most everyone behaves as though there is a life after death: even athiests. As humans, we like to believe that we go on after our deaths. Perhaps it is hardwired into our brains? Regardless, the subject has lain at the center or many religions. Reincarnation? Christ rising from Death? Heaven? Hell? Becoming one with the earth? Xenu? The idea of life after death plays a central role in every religion. This indicates its universal nature, and the way it attracts human intrest. Dante's Inferno deals with life after death. It gives answers in very matter of fact ways. This is what its like here. Always. Forever. Answering this question satisfies the human curiousity about life after death, and captures our imagination.
Another subject Dante covers heavily is justice. If someone sins, they will be punished. As a human being, I certainly see my fair share of sinning every day. And on the by and large, it is never punished. No justice is administered. No one cares, or no one sees. This is similar to the corruption in the church at the time of Dante, which I imagine made Dante very angry. The Inferno is filled with talk of Justice. Even if something seen is not punished in real life; even if you are helpless to give retribution; retribution will be given. There is an ultimate justice, and it is direct and cruel. This appeals to a part of me, at least. Even if I am helpless to "get back at someone," even if I am too weak or too scared, they will still be punished. Justice is real and it is always. It is not an abstract concept enforced sometimes when the political conditions are ripe.
Another thing which has always fascinated humans is blood and gore. Pain has always captured imaginations in a morbid way. In the same way that some people cant take their eyes away from road killed squirrel they find in the road, or the mouse the cat drags home, Dante appeals to us. Yes, it is absolutely disgusting. Yes, it repels us, and we want to look away. But, for some reason, we don't. There's something fascinating about suffering. There's something that keeps my eyes glued to the page when I read about people walking around in a circle getting decapitated by a demon every revolution. We can see this in modern culture as well. Look at slasher movies. Look at the Saw series of movies for God's sake. They are filled with nothing but paper thin plot/characters, and scenes filled with maximum gore and suffering. And there are what; five of those movies. Its not the characters and plot carrying the series. Its the same draw as Dante, the gore and the suffering. However, part of the universal appeal of Dante is his creative ideas. This isn't your average torture. It turns it to an art. Torture by becoming a tree and having stuff crap on you and tear off your leaves? Also, some of the tortures fit the crimes perfectly. Dante does torture very effectively, and this captures our imaginations. It is a step above Saw. And, above all, it is delivered in this lyrical poetic style, and is mixed in with these ideas of justice, life after death, and religion. This is an unbeatable combination for most humans.
This is also shown in the quote below:
"My master: "Stare a little longer," he said,
"And i will quarrel with you!" When I heard him
Speaking to me in anger as he had,
I turned to him with such a feeling of shame
That it still circles through my memory.
As one who dreams he is harmed may in the dream
Wish it were a dream-and therefore he
Longs for the thing that is, as it were not:
So I, unable to speak, was yearning to say
Something to excuse myself-and by doing that
I did excuse myself, at the same time
As I was failing to do in my thought."
---(Cantos XXX)
In this situation, Dante is fascinated by an argument between two sinners about whose sin is worse. These sinners are also being punished (surprise surprise) These is something dirty, something vulgar, something which is bad. And Dante is fascinated by it. Virgil admonishes him because of this fascination, and Dante feels shame. I think that this represents the readers reaction as well. Dante is a channel for the reader to react.
This is another reason Dante's inferno has lasted the test of time. Dante isn't truly a character. The story isn't driven by him, he is paper thin. However, this paper-thin-ness serves as an asset to the writing. Instead of all of these wonderful images/ideas of suffering, torture, justice, religion, and life after death being masked by a plot of characters, Dante makes them the center of the story. The things which capture human imagination come to the front. Most of Dante's inferno is spent describing images of hell, or the stories of those being punished. Dante as a character, just serves as a vessel. He rarely reacts beyond pity (which we all would feel) or fascination. He is a pathway for the reader to get into the story, to get involved in the world of hell. Virgil isnt just telling Dante off in the passage above, he is telling off the reader. This immersion Dante creates helps the story grab us and pull us all the way in. It gets the images into our imagination, and forces us to face them.
All this would be useless however, if the images sucked. Dante has a surefire way to deal with this problem. He doesnt make it up. He steals from past mythologies like a felon. For instance:
"All round the bank encompassing the pit
With half their bulk like towers above it, stood
Horrible giants, whom Jove still rumbles at
With menace when he thunders.....
Nature indeed,
When she abandoned making these animals,
Did well to keep such instruments from Mars"
---(Cantos XXXI)
In this situation, Dante is describing Giants in hell. However, he brings in Jove and Mars. These are not Christian dieties at all. However, Dante uses them in his book describing a Christian hell. It takes the ideas and puts a fresh coat of paint on them, makes them suitable for the religion of the times. Look throughout the novel. Cerebus. The River Styx. Giants. Jove. Mars. The list goes on and on. I mean, all Dante really did was add a Devil to the bottom of Hades, and plug some fallen angels in here and there. This isnt to say that he wasnt wonderfully imaginative. He simply did not make up the entire thing from scratch.
This is a huge asset for the Inferno. Greek mythology had centuries to evolve and develop. The Romans then took it on and modified it further. Its cast of characters were created and modified to catch human intrest. Many many people worked under that unbrella of mythology. Their work has lasted until modern day. I know who Jupiter and Mars are. I know who Pluto is. "By Jove!" is still and expression. The work put into mythology has made it last and put it in our imaginations.
Dante takes from these works as he pleases. Then, he adds his twists to them (such as Cerebus's appearance). Dante builds off of this already hugely successful body of work. And he makes it Christian, so it became politically correct. Most of our modern ideas of hell come from Dante, so it obviously worked. He took those mythologies and made them accessible to the middle aged/modern wo/man. They already grabbed imaginations before he took them, and they continued to do so in his work. Dante stole from the ancient mythologies, which gave him their universal appeal. His cast of characters were already vetted throughly, nothing stands out as wrong because everything wrong had been taken out long before Dante.
Dante also has historical intrests, which capture some peoples imaginations. Caesar is still a name known to us today. The pope is still a world figure. Dante's historical commentary does not fall on deaf ears, or blind eyes. The book is not strickly religious (in both the mythology-stealing and the christian-justice senses of the word). Look at who Lucifer is eating. Along with Judas sit Brutus and Cassius. While they do sit second fiddle to Judas, their betrayl of Julius Caeser brings them to the lowest level of hell. Julias Caeser, as a product of this, seems to sit second fiddle to Jesus. Caeser was not a religious figure at all. Therefore, his historical importance is what places him in the Inferno. This captures many people's imagination: it gives the Inferno the feeling of something which truely applies to the real world. This isnt an abstract punishment only concerned with the religious. It is real. This idea also feeds back into the immersion into Dante's Inferno.
Above all. Dante's Inferno also gives answers. This is something which humans have a craving for. Answers and their implications always capture our imaginations.
So to cap it all off:
Dante has captured our imaginations through the ages partly because it has lasted through the ages. It is an epic work of Italian poetic literature which has roots in the Christian faith. This has put it in many many hands. It also holds a place in history because of the time in which it was written. It deal with issues like life after death, justice, punishment. Humans have always faced these issues; they are very important to us. It feeds our morbid curiosities in numerous creative ways. Dante does these things flawlessly by taking from a wealth of ancient religion. These scenes and characters have already been proven to capture imaginations. It also takes from real world history and situations, grounding the story in reality. Imaginations are much more stimulated by things which may be real and affect them. Dante as a character acts as a vessel for the reader to get to the world of hell. The Inferno is not distracted by plots or characters. Dante's Inferno has stood the test of time, and has continuously captured our imaginations, no matter our religious beliefs.
One of the reasons Dante has captured our imagination for so long is that Dante has always been a part of our culture. It has always been available to be read, to be taught to us. If it was obscure, it certainly wouldnt be so well known. However, many many people know of it/read it.
One thing which helps this is that Dante's Inferno is a large work of literature. Even without its subject matter, it is lyrical and poetic (or so I gather from criticisms of the original Italian). It goes into great detail with horrific descriptions. And it is really really long. The divine comedy is huge, the Inferno is just one part. This epic-ness appeals to humans, and it helps the Inferno stand the test of time the way that the epics told by Homer have lasted this long. Its merits due to its epic nature and its lyrical poetry certainly put it up on a pedestal.
Another reason Dante has been so widespread and available is its religious nature. The church was a political force at the time of its writing. It ruled Europe. This caused a lot of the crap that Dante complains about, but it also meant that Dante was writing for a HUGE audience. And the people who were educated, and could read were the religious. So a book practically had to be religious for them to dig it. Fortunately, it was. Therefore, it was remembered, and could be there to capture our imagination.
Another thing which Dante's inferno had going for it was the fact that it was Italian. This means that it came from a very Roman place. The Romans were very good about spreading their culture across Europe, so Italian was a good language to choose.
Dante's inferno was also written after the dark ages. Historically speaking, this time period was a sort of coming out party for literature. Dante wasnt stuck in the middle of some prolific century of literature. Thus, he occupies a space in history, which also helps his widespreadness.
Dante's inferno is very very well known. It has lasted through history for many reasons other than its subject matter and imagination. It has a wide following, many people know of it or have read it because of this. This helps it get into new hands, and helps it capture new imaginations. Without the above, Dante's Inferno might just be some obscure, non-imagination-capturing literary critics book.
However, the above doesnt explain why Dante actually captures our imaginations.
I believe that Dante deals with issues which have always fascinated humankind. Life after death? Justice? Punishment? These subject draw humans like bugs to those bug zapper light things.
Every culture/religion deals with life after death. Everyone has an answer. In fact, a recent study has shown that most everyone behaves as though there is a life after death: even athiests. As humans, we like to believe that we go on after our deaths. Perhaps it is hardwired into our brains? Regardless, the subject has lain at the center or many religions. Reincarnation? Christ rising from Death? Heaven? Hell? Becoming one with the earth? Xenu? The idea of life after death plays a central role in every religion. This indicates its universal nature, and the way it attracts human intrest. Dante's Inferno deals with life after death. It gives answers in very matter of fact ways. This is what its like here. Always. Forever. Answering this question satisfies the human curiousity about life after death, and captures our imagination.
Another subject Dante covers heavily is justice. If someone sins, they will be punished. As a human being, I certainly see my fair share of sinning every day. And on the by and large, it is never punished. No justice is administered. No one cares, or no one sees. This is similar to the corruption in the church at the time of Dante, which I imagine made Dante very angry. The Inferno is filled with talk of Justice. Even if something seen is not punished in real life; even if you are helpless to give retribution; retribution will be given. There is an ultimate justice, and it is direct and cruel. This appeals to a part of me, at least. Even if I am helpless to "get back at someone," even if I am too weak or too scared, they will still be punished. Justice is real and it is always. It is not an abstract concept enforced sometimes when the political conditions are ripe.
Another thing which has always fascinated humans is blood and gore. Pain has always captured imaginations in a morbid way. In the same way that some people cant take their eyes away from road killed squirrel they find in the road, or the mouse the cat drags home, Dante appeals to us. Yes, it is absolutely disgusting. Yes, it repels us, and we want to look away. But, for some reason, we don't. There's something fascinating about suffering. There's something that keeps my eyes glued to the page when I read about people walking around in a circle getting decapitated by a demon every revolution. We can see this in modern culture as well. Look at slasher movies. Look at the Saw series of movies for God's sake. They are filled with nothing but paper thin plot/characters, and scenes filled with maximum gore and suffering. And there are what; five of those movies. Its not the characters and plot carrying the series. Its the same draw as Dante, the gore and the suffering. However, part of the universal appeal of Dante is his creative ideas. This isn't your average torture. It turns it to an art. Torture by becoming a tree and having stuff crap on you and tear off your leaves? Also, some of the tortures fit the crimes perfectly. Dante does torture very effectively, and this captures our imaginations. It is a step above Saw. And, above all, it is delivered in this lyrical poetic style, and is mixed in with these ideas of justice, life after death, and religion. This is an unbeatable combination for most humans.
This is also shown in the quote below:
"My master: "Stare a little longer," he said,
"And i will quarrel with you!" When I heard him
Speaking to me in anger as he had,
I turned to him with such a feeling of shame
That it still circles through my memory.
As one who dreams he is harmed may in the dream
Wish it were a dream-and therefore he
Longs for the thing that is, as it were not:
So I, unable to speak, was yearning to say
Something to excuse myself-and by doing that
I did excuse myself, at the same time
As I was failing to do in my thought."
---(Cantos XXX)
In this situation, Dante is fascinated by an argument between two sinners about whose sin is worse. These sinners are also being punished (surprise surprise) These is something dirty, something vulgar, something which is bad. And Dante is fascinated by it. Virgil admonishes him because of this fascination, and Dante feels shame. I think that this represents the readers reaction as well. Dante is a channel for the reader to react.
This is another reason Dante's inferno has lasted the test of time. Dante isn't truly a character. The story isn't driven by him, he is paper thin. However, this paper-thin-ness serves as an asset to the writing. Instead of all of these wonderful images/ideas of suffering, torture, justice, religion, and life after death being masked by a plot of characters, Dante makes them the center of the story. The things which capture human imagination come to the front. Most of Dante's inferno is spent describing images of hell, or the stories of those being punished. Dante as a character, just serves as a vessel. He rarely reacts beyond pity (which we all would feel) or fascination. He is a pathway for the reader to get into the story, to get involved in the world of hell. Virgil isnt just telling Dante off in the passage above, he is telling off the reader. This immersion Dante creates helps the story grab us and pull us all the way in. It gets the images into our imagination, and forces us to face them.
All this would be useless however, if the images sucked. Dante has a surefire way to deal with this problem. He doesnt make it up. He steals from past mythologies like a felon. For instance:
"All round the bank encompassing the pit
With half their bulk like towers above it, stood
Horrible giants, whom Jove still rumbles at
With menace when he thunders.....
Nature indeed,
When she abandoned making these animals,
Did well to keep such instruments from Mars"
---(Cantos XXXI)
In this situation, Dante is describing Giants in hell. However, he brings in Jove and Mars. These are not Christian dieties at all. However, Dante uses them in his book describing a Christian hell. It takes the ideas and puts a fresh coat of paint on them, makes them suitable for the religion of the times. Look throughout the novel. Cerebus. The River Styx. Giants. Jove. Mars. The list goes on and on. I mean, all Dante really did was add a Devil to the bottom of Hades, and plug some fallen angels in here and there. This isnt to say that he wasnt wonderfully imaginative. He simply did not make up the entire thing from scratch.
This is a huge asset for the Inferno. Greek mythology had centuries to evolve and develop. The Romans then took it on and modified it further. Its cast of characters were created and modified to catch human intrest. Many many people worked under that unbrella of mythology. Their work has lasted until modern day. I know who Jupiter and Mars are. I know who Pluto is. "By Jove!" is still and expression. The work put into mythology has made it last and put it in our imaginations.
Dante takes from these works as he pleases. Then, he adds his twists to them (such as Cerebus's appearance). Dante builds off of this already hugely successful body of work. And he makes it Christian, so it became politically correct. Most of our modern ideas of hell come from Dante, so it obviously worked. He took those mythologies and made them accessible to the middle aged/modern wo/man. They already grabbed imaginations before he took them, and they continued to do so in his work. Dante stole from the ancient mythologies, which gave him their universal appeal. His cast of characters were already vetted throughly, nothing stands out as wrong because everything wrong had been taken out long before Dante.
Dante also has historical intrests, which capture some peoples imaginations. Caesar is still a name known to us today. The pope is still a world figure. Dante's historical commentary does not fall on deaf ears, or blind eyes. The book is not strickly religious (in both the mythology-stealing and the christian-justice senses of the word). Look at who Lucifer is eating. Along with Judas sit Brutus and Cassius. While they do sit second fiddle to Judas, their betrayl of Julius Caeser brings them to the lowest level of hell. Julias Caeser, as a product of this, seems to sit second fiddle to Jesus. Caeser was not a religious figure at all. Therefore, his historical importance is what places him in the Inferno. This captures many people's imagination: it gives the Inferno the feeling of something which truely applies to the real world. This isnt an abstract punishment only concerned with the religious. It is real. This idea also feeds back into the immersion into Dante's Inferno.
Above all. Dante's Inferno also gives answers. This is something which humans have a craving for. Answers and their implications always capture our imaginations.
So to cap it all off:
Dante has captured our imaginations through the ages partly because it has lasted through the ages. It is an epic work of Italian poetic literature which has roots in the Christian faith. This has put it in many many hands. It also holds a place in history because of the time in which it was written. It deal with issues like life after death, justice, punishment. Humans have always faced these issues; they are very important to us. It feeds our morbid curiosities in numerous creative ways. Dante does these things flawlessly by taking from a wealth of ancient religion. These scenes and characters have already been proven to capture imaginations. It also takes from real world history and situations, grounding the story in reality. Imaginations are much more stimulated by things which may be real and affect them. Dante as a character acts as a vessel for the reader to get to the world of hell. The Inferno is not distracted by plots or characters. Dante's Inferno has stood the test of time, and has continuously captured our imaginations, no matter our religious beliefs.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
"And the leader made a trumpet of his ass."
---(Canto XXI, 219)
Is this an attempt at humor? Actually, I believe that this a departure from Dante's writing style. In the past 20 Cantos, the tone has been very sober. The book begins with a midlife crisis. People are being tortured for an eternity. There is not much fun to be found in hell. But, somehow, there is a hint of humor at the end of this Cantos. I thought that that was great.
I also thought that it was very fitting that it was a vulgar joke. What sort of joke would a fallen angel make? What would he do? He would fart, a very crude sort of humor. I also thought that this showed the Greek influences on Dante. The angel definitely has human properties. He farts, and he lies (next quote). This does not exactly fit with our modern idea of angels.
"Then, 'He who hooks the sinners, back that way,
Supplied a bad account of this,' he said."
---(Canto XXIII, 243)
A plot twist? What madness is this? Dante is pulling out all of the stops. Another radical departure: actual narrative. In the past 22 Cantos, the poem has been all about describing hell. This river is here, these people are there. Its basically a tour of hell. This does not make very good narrative, even if Virgil is your tour guide. Dante may have realized this. Or perhaps he just got bored. Whatever the reason, Dante has suddenly began injecting new elements to the inferno. Humor (albeit toilet humor) and Plot twists are the new additions. A demon deceives him! This conflict is not straightforward. It makes the narrative much more interesting, and moves moves the story along. I also find this ironic. Dante is adding these lighter, more story like elements into the poem at the deeper levels. These are the places where the truly sinful exist. This is where the most heinous of crimes are punished, where the tortures are most cruel. And yet, somehow, Dante chose this time and place to add plot twists and toilet humor?
---(Canto XXI, 219)
Is this an attempt at humor? Actually, I believe that this a departure from Dante's writing style. In the past 20 Cantos, the tone has been very sober. The book begins with a midlife crisis. People are being tortured for an eternity. There is not much fun to be found in hell. But, somehow, there is a hint of humor at the end of this Cantos. I thought that that was great.
I also thought that it was very fitting that it was a vulgar joke. What sort of joke would a fallen angel make? What would he do? He would fart, a very crude sort of humor. I also thought that this showed the Greek influences on Dante. The angel definitely has human properties. He farts, and he lies (next quote). This does not exactly fit with our modern idea of angels.
"Then, 'He who hooks the sinners, back that way,
Supplied a bad account of this,' he said."
---(Canto XXIII, 243)
A plot twist? What madness is this? Dante is pulling out all of the stops. Another radical departure: actual narrative. In the past 22 Cantos, the poem has been all about describing hell. This river is here, these people are there. Its basically a tour of hell. This does not make very good narrative, even if Virgil is your tour guide. Dante may have realized this. Or perhaps he just got bored. Whatever the reason, Dante has suddenly began injecting new elements to the inferno. Humor (albeit toilet humor) and Plot twists are the new additions. A demon deceives him! This conflict is not straightforward. It makes the narrative much more interesting, and moves moves the story along. I also find this ironic. Dante is adding these lighter, more story like elements into the poem at the deeper levels. These are the places where the truly sinful exist. This is where the most heinous of crimes are punished, where the tortures are most cruel. And yet, somehow, Dante chose this time and place to add plot twists and toilet humor?
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
"His deceitful girts and fair words overcame
The young Hypsipyle there, who'd had the skill
To deceive the rest. He left her great with child,
Forlorn; and such guilt brings him torment in Hell"
(Canto XVIII, 185)
This passage describes Jason, who was a hero in Greek myth. He lead the Argonauts in the quest for the golden fleece. He was also, apparently, a player. He knocked up some strong willed/awesome chick and left her to have her baby on her own. "The young Hypsipyle there, who'd had the skill/To deceive the rest. He left her great with child,/Forlorn" First off... this is incredibly sexist. But thats not my point.
Dante is the example of courtly love. He loves a woman who he barely knows, idolizes her, even writes with her as his inspiration years after she dies. Even though he marries another woman, he still worships this flawless woman with the utmost respect. He does not impose on her in any way-- he even pretends to write poetry about another woman to hide/mask his love. Dante lives for this unrequited love, he idolizes it. It is his source of writing.
Perhaps this is why he writes so scathingly of Jason- the ultimate player. Jason's actions directly oppose the ideas of courtly love. Where Dante goes years without seeing his love, and loves her from a distance, Jason openly walks up and seduces a woman who he (apparently) does not love. Where Dante has no hope of getting anything physical from his love, and does not expect anything, Jason knocks up his chick thoughtlessly. Where Dante holds his love in the highest light, where Dante finds his love a sinless being, where Dante uses his love as a muse, as source for his writing and his fame, where Dante idolizes and respects his love, Jason discards his woman without a thought. Dante loves Beatrice in a profoundly deep way. Jason feels no love for Hypsipyle at all. He abuses her. He leaves her "forlorn." This is not the way Dante feels women should be treated at all judging by his background in Courtly love. He would find this treatment of Hypsipyle offensive to the idea of love. So what does he do? He sends Jason down to the eighth circle of hell and points him out. Don't do this, Dante says. I do not think this Cantos has anything to do with politics. It has everything to do with love.
"When I grew closer to the people grieved
By the flames falling on them, I did not find
any I recognized, but I perceived
Each had a purse hung around his neck--adorned
With certain colors and a certain device,
Which each of them with hungry eyes consumed."
(Canto XVII, 173)
This comment is shorter. It concerns the entire sequince with the Usurers. In the past, Dante has repeatedly felt horror and pity for those in hell. He always seems to empathize with indeviduals, at the least. However, at this point, he feels no pity for the usurers. He walks up, looks at them, listens to one of them, and walks away because he is afraid of Virgil. At no time does he think, "poor Usurers," or, "My heart filled with pity." I think that this might be a turning point for Dante as a character. However, I must admit that I have not looked through every other Cantos to see if he showed pity in all of them. If I do, and I hope I will, then I will edit this blog to include that information. Anyways, I think that this marks a transformation in Dante's character. Perhaps he is becoming acclimated to hell, perhaps he has become desensitized.
On the other hand, it is also possible that this is simply a reflection on the Usurer's themselves. They lack indeviduality in life, therefore they lack indeviduality in death. They are defined by their families and by their money in life and death. This is their sin, after all. Maybe Dante simply felt no pity for them in life, unlike everyone else in hell? Nevertheless, the way that they were approached was much more buisnesslike than in the past. Short, curt, to the point. Dante as a character is definatly no longer as wowed by punishment/criminals.
The young Hypsipyle there, who'd had the skill
To deceive the rest. He left her great with child,
Forlorn; and such guilt brings him torment in Hell"
(Canto XVIII, 185)
This passage describes Jason, who was a hero in Greek myth. He lead the Argonauts in the quest for the golden fleece. He was also, apparently, a player. He knocked up some strong willed/awesome chick and left her to have her baby on her own. "The young Hypsipyle there, who'd had the skill/To deceive the rest. He left her great with child,/Forlorn" First off... this is incredibly sexist. But thats not my point.
Dante is the example of courtly love. He loves a woman who he barely knows, idolizes her, even writes with her as his inspiration years after she dies. Even though he marries another woman, he still worships this flawless woman with the utmost respect. He does not impose on her in any way-- he even pretends to write poetry about another woman to hide/mask his love. Dante lives for this unrequited love, he idolizes it. It is his source of writing.
Perhaps this is why he writes so scathingly of Jason- the ultimate player. Jason's actions directly oppose the ideas of courtly love. Where Dante goes years without seeing his love, and loves her from a distance, Jason openly walks up and seduces a woman who he (apparently) does not love. Where Dante has no hope of getting anything physical from his love, and does not expect anything, Jason knocks up his chick thoughtlessly. Where Dante holds his love in the highest light, where Dante finds his love a sinless being, where Dante uses his love as a muse, as source for his writing and his fame, where Dante idolizes and respects his love, Jason discards his woman without a thought. Dante loves Beatrice in a profoundly deep way. Jason feels no love for Hypsipyle at all. He abuses her. He leaves her "forlorn." This is not the way Dante feels women should be treated at all judging by his background in Courtly love. He would find this treatment of Hypsipyle offensive to the idea of love. So what does he do? He sends Jason down to the eighth circle of hell and points him out. Don't do this, Dante says. I do not think this Cantos has anything to do with politics. It has everything to do with love.
"When I grew closer to the people grieved
By the flames falling on them, I did not find
any I recognized, but I perceived
Each had a purse hung around his neck--adorned
With certain colors and a certain device,
Which each of them with hungry eyes consumed."
(Canto XVII, 173)
This comment is shorter. It concerns the entire sequince with the Usurers. In the past, Dante has repeatedly felt horror and pity for those in hell. He always seems to empathize with indeviduals, at the least. However, at this point, he feels no pity for the usurers. He walks up, looks at them, listens to one of them, and walks away because he is afraid of Virgil. At no time does he think, "poor Usurers," or, "My heart filled with pity." I think that this might be a turning point for Dante as a character. However, I must admit that I have not looked through every other Cantos to see if he showed pity in all of them. If I do, and I hope I will, then I will edit this blog to include that information. Anyways, I think that this marks a transformation in Dante's character. Perhaps he is becoming acclimated to hell, perhaps he has become desensitized.
On the other hand, it is also possible that this is simply a reflection on the Usurer's themselves. They lack indeviduality in life, therefore they lack indeviduality in death. They are defined by their families and by their money in life and death. This is their sin, after all. Maybe Dante simply felt no pity for them in life, unlike everyone else in hell? Nevertheless, the way that they were approached was much more buisnesslike than in the past. Short, curt, to the point. Dante as a character is definatly no longer as wowed by punishment/criminals.
Monday, March 9, 2009
"...I am in the third
Circle, a realm of cold and heavy rain--
A dark accursed torrent eternally poured
With changeless measure and nature. Enormous hail
And tainted water mixed with snow are showered
Steadily through the shadowy air of hell;"
(Canto VI, 57)
"...Here arch-heretics lie--and groan
Along with all the converts that they made,
The followers of every sect, with like
Entombed with like. A greater multitude
Crowds into these graves than you may thing they take."
---(Canto IX, 93)
These two quotes deal with the size and uniformity of hell. The first really encompasses the feel I get from many passages. Phrases like " eternally poured," "changeless measure," and "Steadily" all contribute to this feeling of changeless-ness. Hell is eternal, it is huge, it is changeless. It rains down for ever and ever. And- it sucks. How would you like to have that as your weather forever and ever? But thats not the point. Hell is huge, massive beyond belief, and UNIFORM.
This brings me to my second passage. There is a great multitude in these tombs. In my mind, they stretch as far as the eye can see. Dante actually doesn't bother explaining them, so I will refer back to other passages. For example, on the river's banks, there was a huge multitude of people. They too stretched as far as the eye could see.
This isnt, in and of itself, too remarkable. A lot of people have died in human history. It makes sense that a lot of people would be taking up space in hell. However, this is not all. In these passages, I get feelings that the people in the Inferno were as eternal and changless as the rain in the first passage. They weren't unique or special. They were statistics.
Of course, this feeling is contradicted by the way Dante deals individually with many many spirits throughout todays reading. But at the same time, all of the people Dante interacts with, he knows. Everyone else is just a face to him, just a part of the hoarde. This makes sense. It also makes it easy for him to talk about his political stuff.
I actually had trouble finding a good second quote. Dante doesnt bother describing the hordes of people. He spends much more time on the demons and the indeviduals. The quote from Canto IX actually comes at the end of the Canto. It feels almost like an afterthought. The Furies and the being from Heaven steal the show, and garder much more attention. The focus of the story is not on the hordes. It is on the demons, and on indeviduals Dante once knew. That is my point. These two quotes show the endless repitition of hell, and the faceless horde which does not garder such attention.
Circle, a realm of cold and heavy rain--
A dark accursed torrent eternally poured
With changeless measure and nature. Enormous hail
And tainted water mixed with snow are showered
Steadily through the shadowy air of hell;"
(Canto VI, 57)
"...Here arch-heretics lie--and groan
Along with all the converts that they made,
The followers of every sect, with like
Entombed with like. A greater multitude
Crowds into these graves than you may thing they take."
---(Canto IX, 93)
These two quotes deal with the size and uniformity of hell. The first really encompasses the feel I get from many passages. Phrases like " eternally poured," "changeless measure," and "Steadily" all contribute to this feeling of changeless-ness. Hell is eternal, it is huge, it is changeless. It rains down for ever and ever. And- it sucks. How would you like to have that as your weather forever and ever? But thats not the point. Hell is huge, massive beyond belief, and UNIFORM.
This brings me to my second passage. There is a great multitude in these tombs. In my mind, they stretch as far as the eye can see. Dante actually doesn't bother explaining them, so I will refer back to other passages. For example, on the river's banks, there was a huge multitude of people. They too stretched as far as the eye could see.
This isnt, in and of itself, too remarkable. A lot of people have died in human history. It makes sense that a lot of people would be taking up space in hell. However, this is not all. In these passages, I get feelings that the people in the Inferno were as eternal and changless as the rain in the first passage. They weren't unique or special. They were statistics.
Of course, this feeling is contradicted by the way Dante deals individually with many many spirits throughout todays reading. But at the same time, all of the people Dante interacts with, he knows. Everyone else is just a face to him, just a part of the hoarde. This makes sense. It also makes it easy for him to talk about his political stuff.
I actually had trouble finding a good second quote. Dante doesnt bother describing the hordes of people. He spends much more time on the demons and the indeviduals. The quote from Canto IX actually comes at the end of the Canto. It feels almost like an afterthought. The Furies and the being from Heaven steal the show, and garder much more attention. The focus of the story is not on the hordes. It is on the demons, and on indeviduals Dante once knew. That is my point. These two quotes show the endless repitition of hell, and the faceless horde which does not garder such attention.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Crime (or lack thereof) and Punishment
Before you go on, I tell you: they did not sin;
If they have merit, it can't suffice without
Babtism, portal to the faith you maintain
Some lived before the Christian faith, so that
they did not worship God aright-- and I
Am one of those. Through this, and no other fault
We are lost, afflicted only this one way:
That having no hope, we live in longing." I heard
These words with heartfelt grief that seized on me.
---Pages 36-37
THROUGH ME YOU ENTER THE CITY OF WOES,
THROUGH ME YOU ENTER THE ETERNAL PAIN,
THROUGH ME YOU ENTER THE POPULATION OF LOSS.
JUSTICE MOVED MY HIGH MAKER, IN POWER DIVINE,
WISDOM SUPREME, LOVE PRIMORDAL. NO THINGS WERE
BEFORE ME NOT ETERNAL; ETERNAL I REMAIN
ABANDON ALL HOPE, YOU WHO ENTER HERE
---Page 25
We live in a world of political correctness. No belief is to be not respected. Whether you are Hindi, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Pagan, or Bhuddist, you are (supposed to be) treated equally under the law. Through our politically correct lenses, we are supposed to view everyone equally, give everyone respect.
Compare this modern liberal viewpoint to the passage above from pages 36 and 37. People are being punished for simply living at the wrong time and not being Christian. They have no other sin. There is a part of me that says, "What the hell," to that idea. That part of me is channeling the modern viewpoint of equality. There was no way for these poor to make it to heaven. This seems profoundly unjust, but at the same time, it is the way that Dante looked at the world. There are no second chances, there is a eternity of longing waiting for you if you don't do enough. That is the most interesting thing about looking at this work to me. I enjoy trying to figure out the way that Dante looked at the world. It was a whole different world back then, with entirely different ideas about religion.
For example, most churchgoers today would say that they are going to heaven simply for showing up to church. Compare this the Dante. Canto III is all about the people whose lives neither honor nor bad fame, as well as angels who are neither rebellious nor faithful to God. The souls in purgatory were judged simply upon merit, not simply upon faithfulness. In fact, it is only angels which are judged upon faithfulness. Today, we think we are judged for showing up. To Dante, you were judged upon what work you did upon the earth; you were judged upon what action you took. Heaven was not a guarantee. It was something to be earned. Something which many people don't earn. Perhaps this is why people are less involved in religion nowadays? Who knows. Theres been a lot of... evolution since the 1500s.
Another thing which I found profoundly interesting was the way which Dante used characters. As in, many of the people he mentions (such as the lovers in Canto V) are not real. They are fictional characters. Perhaps he did this so that the story would have impact which everyone could recognize (everyone had heard of the stories?)
I also thought that Dante was pretty full of himself. This thought goes along with the idea of getting inside Dante's head. I mean, Dante puts himself in pretty elite company. He becomes buddy buddy with Virgil and Homer. He "makes the sixth." That seems pretty arrogant to me. I'm interested to see if this arrogance will come out later in the book.
The second quote I selected was really just selected for its quotability. "Abandon all hope, you who enter here." How great is that line?
However, the quote as a whole raises some interesting questions about hell, and Dante's ideas of hell. Specifically, it raises questions about the Devil. I have this modern conception of the devil, a red dude with a pitchfork. He is supposed to be God's eternal enemy, doing eternal battle over our hearts and minds. However, God created hell/death (the door). And God can apparently come down and snatch some people out of purgatory. It feels like God is in control throughout the entire play. The devil just does his dirty work. I mean, why would the devil care how bad you were or how much your sinned? He's the freaking devil! Wouldn't he just punish everyone? The entire idea of punishing people by standards God sets seems to go against the idea of the Devil battling God. If the Devil does use God's standards for punishment, it just makes him God's hitman, does it not. This too is supported by the fact that Dante can apparently walk through hell and somehow end up in heaven. If the Devil had a pair, would he really allow that to happen? I mean, give a good soul to God? Do God's bidding? It just seems a bit wrong to me. I want to figure out who the Devil is to Dante. I mean, the entire underworld seems more pagan than Christian to me, with Cerberus and the River. Seems to take a lot from other mythologies.
If they have merit, it can't suffice without
Babtism, portal to the faith you maintain
Some lived before the Christian faith, so that
they did not worship God aright-- and I
Am one of those. Through this, and no other fault
We are lost, afflicted only this one way:
That having no hope, we live in longing." I heard
These words with heartfelt grief that seized on me.
---Pages 36-37
THROUGH ME YOU ENTER THE CITY OF WOES,
THROUGH ME YOU ENTER THE ETERNAL PAIN,
THROUGH ME YOU ENTER THE POPULATION OF LOSS.
JUSTICE MOVED MY HIGH MAKER, IN POWER DIVINE,
WISDOM SUPREME, LOVE PRIMORDAL. NO THINGS WERE
BEFORE ME NOT ETERNAL; ETERNAL I REMAIN
ABANDON ALL HOPE, YOU WHO ENTER HERE
---Page 25
We live in a world of political correctness. No belief is to be not respected. Whether you are Hindi, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Pagan, or Bhuddist, you are (supposed to be) treated equally under the law. Through our politically correct lenses, we are supposed to view everyone equally, give everyone respect.
Compare this modern liberal viewpoint to the passage above from pages 36 and 37. People are being punished for simply living at the wrong time and not being Christian. They have no other sin. There is a part of me that says, "What the hell," to that idea. That part of me is channeling the modern viewpoint of equality. There was no way for these poor to make it to heaven. This seems profoundly unjust, but at the same time, it is the way that Dante looked at the world. There are no second chances, there is a eternity of longing waiting for you if you don't do enough. That is the most interesting thing about looking at this work to me. I enjoy trying to figure out the way that Dante looked at the world. It was a whole different world back then, with entirely different ideas about religion.
For example, most churchgoers today would say that they are going to heaven simply for showing up to church. Compare this the Dante. Canto III is all about the people whose lives neither honor nor bad fame, as well as angels who are neither rebellious nor faithful to God. The souls in purgatory were judged simply upon merit, not simply upon faithfulness. In fact, it is only angels which are judged upon faithfulness. Today, we think we are judged for showing up. To Dante, you were judged upon what work you did upon the earth; you were judged upon what action you took. Heaven was not a guarantee. It was something to be earned. Something which many people don't earn. Perhaps this is why people are less involved in religion nowadays? Who knows. Theres been a lot of... evolution since the 1500s.
Another thing which I found profoundly interesting was the way which Dante used characters. As in, many of the people he mentions (such as the lovers in Canto V) are not real. They are fictional characters. Perhaps he did this so that the story would have impact which everyone could recognize (everyone had heard of the stories?)
I also thought that Dante was pretty full of himself. This thought goes along with the idea of getting inside Dante's head. I mean, Dante puts himself in pretty elite company. He becomes buddy buddy with Virgil and Homer. He "makes the sixth." That seems pretty arrogant to me. I'm interested to see if this arrogance will come out later in the book.
The second quote I selected was really just selected for its quotability. "Abandon all hope, you who enter here." How great is that line?
However, the quote as a whole raises some interesting questions about hell, and Dante's ideas of hell. Specifically, it raises questions about the Devil. I have this modern conception of the devil, a red dude with a pitchfork. He is supposed to be God's eternal enemy, doing eternal battle over our hearts and minds. However, God created hell/death (the door). And God can apparently come down and snatch some people out of purgatory. It feels like God is in control throughout the entire play. The devil just does his dirty work. I mean, why would the devil care how bad you were or how much your sinned? He's the freaking devil! Wouldn't he just punish everyone? The entire idea of punishing people by standards God sets seems to go against the idea of the Devil battling God. If the Devil does use God's standards for punishment, it just makes him God's hitman, does it not. This too is supported by the fact that Dante can apparently walk through hell and somehow end up in heaven. If the Devil had a pair, would he really allow that to happen? I mean, give a good soul to God? Do God's bidding? It just seems a bit wrong to me. I want to figure out who the Devil is to Dante. I mean, the entire underworld seems more pagan than Christian to me, with Cerberus and the River. Seems to take a lot from other mythologies.
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