"...and once more saw the stars." (Canto XXXIV. 140)
Dante's last words are ones of hope. After speaking solely of a dark physical and metaphorical journey through Hell, he ends the book knockin' on Heaven's door.
I was struck by the literary brilliance and creativity of this book. With the Inferno Dante has done what all fiction writer's strive to do - tell a true, personal story through symbolic characters and outright symbols. With this book Dante has given us a clear picture of how his world was like at the time. He speaks of the rampant sin and alludes to the abundant corruption of the church. He rejects what was than the common practice of "buying your way into Heaven," and instead asserts that it is only those who are truly faithful that ever make it to Heaven.
I was of course amazed at the sheer literary mastery of Dante, from his imagery and symbolism to his incorporation of other cultures and religions to his unbelievable ability to tell a compelling and emotionally evoking story. However, what truly hoarded the attention of my thoughts was the concept of eternity. That is undoubtedly the worst part of any and all of the sinners' punishment - the fact that it lasts forever. In all cases the souls of the sinners were condemned to their punishment for all eternity. This is an idea that transcends culture, religion, and time period in history. Through The Inferno Dante asserts that whatever we do in our time here on earth is merely an audition, a foundation, for what will happen to us for all eternity.
Even though I am not making an Oscar acceptance speech, I do feel compelled to thank Robert Pinsky for his brilliant translation. I have read several online translations, and none of them came close to matching Pinsky's effect. Through his translation, Pinsky for the most part maintains Dante's complex rhyme and meter scheme, and more importantly he re-creates Dante's vivid imagery and mastery of language to allow us to truly have our own vicarious journey through Hell.
As a final note, after traveling through Hell myself, I would just like to say, did Dante EVER EAT? Or SLEEP? I guess there wasn't much to eat, or many places to rest, but still, it seems kind of necessary. But anyways, after a healthy diet of metaphors and several nights dreaming about demons and punishments, I can proudly say I have survived to reach Heaven. Which in this case is poems about DEATH. Oh well....
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Why Not His Brother Keith?
"All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened and after you are finished reading one you will feel that all that happened to you and afterwards it all belongs to you; the good and the bad, the ecstasy, the remorse, and sorrow, the people and the places and how the weather was."
- Ernest Hemingway
Above all else, Dante's Inferno has stood the test of time because it is a literary masterpiece. He uses stunning imagery and purposeful detail hand in hand with unmatched creativity and brilliance. Just as Hemingway asserts above, when you finish Dante's Inferno you truly feel as if you have been through Hell, seen its gruesome horror, reacted emotionally to its sinners, and felt how dank the weather was. This great piece of literature allows us as readers to live vicariously through Dante and in fact go on a concrete as well as metaphorical journey ourselves.
To survive as a literary classic, Dante's inferno had to first pass the test of its own time. It did so in several ways. First, it was written in Italian (most of the other works of the time were in fact written in Latin), which was accessible to everyone. In this sense Dante is like Shakespeare, who also wrote all his plays in the common tongue of his people. Furthermore, elements of The Inferno had (and still have) a broad appeal as literary themes. The violence and disturbingly gruesome events and images have a broad if somewhat crude appeal, and the controversial topic(s) (Hell, the afterlife, and in a broader sense, the corruption of the church) attracted great attention. Therefore even back in the 13th and 14th centuries The Inferno was widely read.
Dante's Inferno of course lasted well beyond his time, to become one of the greatest works of literature in any time. This is of course also due to the factors explained above, namely its accessibility, its gruesomeness, and the controversy it creates. However, what truly places it in a rare pantheon of literary excellence is its sheer complexity and literary greatness. The work is as detailed and organized as an ant colony, which allows the reader to easily follow a storyline and plot. It is furthermore loaded with complex layers of stories and influences from Greek and Roman mythology, the Christian and other religions, which all relate to each other in a beautifully spun web of connections and allusions.
Finally, as any great piece of literature is, The Inferno is a direct reflection of Dante's time, and the world that he lived in. In his time the church was corrupt and sin was rampant throughout the land. Also, without the same jail and prison systems we have today, punishment of these sinners was strictly related to the crimes they committed. Finally, in Dante's personal case he had been exiled from Florence and was obviously not thrilled about it. In his Hell he showed clearly that true faith was rare, and that the world was absolutely teeming with sin. He also deliberately and meticulously described every sinner's punishment as one that fits the crime they committed. Through our vicarious journey through Hell we are given a metaphorical glimpse at what Dante's world was truly like.
- Ernest Hemingway
Above all else, Dante's Inferno has stood the test of time because it is a literary masterpiece. He uses stunning imagery and purposeful detail hand in hand with unmatched creativity and brilliance. Just as Hemingway asserts above, when you finish Dante's Inferno you truly feel as if you have been through Hell, seen its gruesome horror, reacted emotionally to its sinners, and felt how dank the weather was. This great piece of literature allows us as readers to live vicariously through Dante and in fact go on a concrete as well as metaphorical journey ourselves.
To survive as a literary classic, Dante's inferno had to first pass the test of its own time. It did so in several ways. First, it was written in Italian (most of the other works of the time were in fact written in Latin), which was accessible to everyone. In this sense Dante is like Shakespeare, who also wrote all his plays in the common tongue of his people. Furthermore, elements of The Inferno had (and still have) a broad appeal as literary themes. The violence and disturbingly gruesome events and images have a broad if somewhat crude appeal, and the controversial topic(s) (Hell, the afterlife, and in a broader sense, the corruption of the church) attracted great attention. Therefore even back in the 13th and 14th centuries The Inferno was widely read.
Dante's Inferno of course lasted well beyond his time, to become one of the greatest works of literature in any time. This is of course also due to the factors explained above, namely its accessibility, its gruesomeness, and the controversy it creates. However, what truly places it in a rare pantheon of literary excellence is its sheer complexity and literary greatness. The work is as detailed and organized as an ant colony, which allows the reader to easily follow a storyline and plot. It is furthermore loaded with complex layers of stories and influences from Greek and Roman mythology, the Christian and other religions, which all relate to each other in a beautifully spun web of connections and allusions.
Finally, as any great piece of literature is, The Inferno is a direct reflection of Dante's time, and the world that he lived in. In his time the church was corrupt and sin was rampant throughout the land. Also, without the same jail and prison systems we have today, punishment of these sinners was strictly related to the crimes they committed. Finally, in Dante's personal case he had been exiled from Florence and was obviously not thrilled about it. In his Hell he showed clearly that true faith was rare, and that the world was absolutely teeming with sin. He also deliberately and meticulously described every sinner's punishment as one that fits the crime they committed. Through our vicarious journey through Hell we are given a metaphorical glimpse at what Dante's world was truly like.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Haha he said "ASS." (3/11)
"And the leader made a trumpet of his ass." (Canto XXI. 139)
Can you say comic relief anyone? I found this sentence very interesting, and very appealing. It completely broke the monotonous darkness of Dante's description of Hell and his journey through it. He has just described an encounter with enraged demons who want to kill him, and then he tosses us a comedic anecdote to soften the desolation. Rather than saying the leader "beat him" or "whipped him", rather than continuing the pattern of repetitive description, he instead declares that he leader "made a trumpet of his ass." For me it was a brilliant use of comic relief. For a brief moment we are allowed a smile on our metaphoric journey through Hell.
"O reader, hear now Of a new sport: led by the very one Who first opposed it, all now turned their eyes To the other shore."
The part of this passage that truly captured my attention was the first two words: "O reader." With these words Dante reminds us that even though his extravagant imagery has allowed us to live through him vicariously, and journey through Hell ourselves, this is still a story. It is still a book. This is not the first time he has reminded us, but these reminders do not come frequently. In this case, the reminder signifies a plot change, a transition from one event to another. However it further represents a break in the story, and a jolt of reality for us. Even though this great work of literature allows us to visualize the story, it is after all still literature. By saying "O reader" he is simply reminding us of that.
Can you say comic relief anyone? I found this sentence very interesting, and very appealing. It completely broke the monotonous darkness of Dante's description of Hell and his journey through it. He has just described an encounter with enraged demons who want to kill him, and then he tosses us a comedic anecdote to soften the desolation. Rather than saying the leader "beat him" or "whipped him", rather than continuing the pattern of repetitive description, he instead declares that he leader "made a trumpet of his ass." For me it was a brilliant use of comic relief. For a brief moment we are allowed a smile on our metaphoric journey through Hell.
"O reader, hear now Of a new sport: led by the very one Who first opposed it, all now turned their eyes To the other shore."
The part of this passage that truly captured my attention was the first two words: "O reader." With these words Dante reminds us that even though his extravagant imagery has allowed us to live through him vicariously, and journey through Hell ourselves, this is still a story. It is still a book. This is not the first time he has reminded us, but these reminders do not come frequently. In this case, the reminder signifies a plot change, a transition from one event to another. However it further represents a break in the story, and a jolt of reality for us. Even though this great work of literature allows us to visualize the story, it is after all still literature. By saying "O reader" he is simply reminding us of that.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Imagery and Home: It Rhymes with Symmetry and Gnome. (3/10)
"When we moved forward into woods unmarked by any path. The leaves not green earth-hued; The boughs not smooth, knotted and crooked-forked; No fruit, but poisoned thorns." (Canto XIII. 2-5)
This passage is one of many passages in Dante's Inferno that utilize tremendous imagery in their description of Hell. In this tale Dante is illustrating for the viewer what Hell is. He is recounting his journey through Hell, and at the same time bringing us along for the ride. To accomplish this goal his description is almost saturated with imagery. Each new place he travels to is pictured through descriptions of vivid smells and shadowy images that allow us as the reader to live vicariously through him, and truly embark on our own journey through hell. In this passage above Dante could have kept his description succinct. He could have stated that they walked into a wild wilderness, or an untamed forest. Instead builds upon those primitive descriptions with fantastic imagery. He describes the woods as if we were walking through them, saying they are "unmarked by any path." The leaves are not simply brown, they are "not green [but] earth hued." The boughs are not simply rough but "not smooth, knotted and crooked-forked." There are not simply thorns, but the poisonous thorns in fact serve as the only fruit of the forest. This passage is a great example of Dante's use of imagery to tell the story of his journey through hell.
"...and this path is the way By which he leads me home." (Canto XV. 48-49)
Hell is the path by which Dante is returning home. This sentence for me stood in stark contrast to the purpose of the story as I had presumed it. With these words Dante broke up a long series of descriptions of Hell and his journey through it, and gave us a subtle reminder that he is still alive as we are, and that he is merely trying to return home. His initial reluctance at being offered a chance to go through Hell is realized; he simply wants to return home. The words of this passage throw his journey through Hell in a state of nonchalance. The journey is suddenly not as important as the destination. With his next few sentences Dante returns to his former descriptions of Hell. It is, after all, the basis of the story. However this small passage broke up the journey and reminded us all that Dante was distinctly not a part of Hell, but simply a human being as we are, that has a chance to travel through it. With these brief words Dante reminds us that we are not actually in Hell but in the real world, and that his journey through Hell should be something we learn from and adapt to our own lives, rather than something we treat as simple poetry. After all, all literature has a purpose...
This passage is one of many passages in Dante's Inferno that utilize tremendous imagery in their description of Hell. In this tale Dante is illustrating for the viewer what Hell is. He is recounting his journey through Hell, and at the same time bringing us along for the ride. To accomplish this goal his description is almost saturated with imagery. Each new place he travels to is pictured through descriptions of vivid smells and shadowy images that allow us as the reader to live vicariously through him, and truly embark on our own journey through hell. In this passage above Dante could have kept his description succinct. He could have stated that they walked into a wild wilderness, or an untamed forest. Instead builds upon those primitive descriptions with fantastic imagery. He describes the woods as if we were walking through them, saying they are "unmarked by any path." The leaves are not simply brown, they are "not green [but] earth hued." The boughs are not simply rough but "not smooth, knotted and crooked-forked." There are not simply thorns, but the poisonous thorns in fact serve as the only fruit of the forest. This passage is a great example of Dante's use of imagery to tell the story of his journey through hell.
"...and this path is the way By which he leads me home." (Canto XV. 48-49)
Hell is the path by which Dante is returning home. This sentence for me stood in stark contrast to the purpose of the story as I had presumed it. With these words Dante broke up a long series of descriptions of Hell and his journey through it, and gave us a subtle reminder that he is still alive as we are, and that he is merely trying to return home. His initial reluctance at being offered a chance to go through Hell is realized; he simply wants to return home. The words of this passage throw his journey through Hell in a state of nonchalance. The journey is suddenly not as important as the destination. With his next few sentences Dante returns to his former descriptions of Hell. It is, after all, the basis of the story. However this small passage broke up the journey and reminded us all that Dante was distinctly not a part of Hell, but simply a human being as we are, that has a chance to travel through it. With these brief words Dante reminds us that we are not actually in Hell but in the real world, and that his journey through Hell should be something we learn from and adapt to our own lives, rather than something we treat as simple poetry. After all, all literature has a purpose...
Hell's Bells (3/9)
"'Once we were grim And sullen in the sweet air above, that took A further gladness from the play of the sun; Inside us, we bore acedia's dismal smoke. We have this black mire now to be sullen in.' This canticle they gargle from the craw, Unable to speak whole words."
With this passage I began to realize the logic and organization of the vast darkness of Hell that Dante has created. He has grouped all souls together who have committed the same sins. He has ordered the sins into levels of Hell through which he is traveling through. Finally, every punishment, every trial that these souls endure is a direct reflection of the sin that they committed while still alive. Dante has created a system where the "punishment fits the crime", or the souls suffer in ways that relate directly to their sin.
This passage which sparked my realization also caused me to marvel at the vast scope of the world Dante has created. Through the influences of great cultures such as the Ancient Greeks and the Romans, as well as the influences of the blackness of his time, Dante has created a world unlike any that the world of literature has ever seen. As I travel this world, living vicariously through Dante's main character, I am amazed at how much of it makes sense. Even though in today's society the punishments seem absurd, and the concept of eternity is rarely thought about, Dante's Hell is portrayed in a way that is in fact very realistic. It makes sense. This stems from the order and organization of his world, and how every soul's punishment reflects the sin that soul is here for.
With this passage I began to realize the logic and organization of the vast darkness of Hell that Dante has created. He has grouped all souls together who have committed the same sins. He has ordered the sins into levels of Hell through which he is traveling through. Finally, every punishment, every trial that these souls endure is a direct reflection of the sin that they committed while still alive. Dante has created a system where the "punishment fits the crime", or the souls suffer in ways that relate directly to their sin.
This passage which sparked my realization also caused me to marvel at the vast scope of the world Dante has created. Through the influences of great cultures such as the Ancient Greeks and the Romans, as well as the influences of the blackness of his time, Dante has created a world unlike any that the world of literature has ever seen. As I travel this world, living vicariously through Dante's main character, I am amazed at how much of it makes sense. Even though in today's society the punishments seem absurd, and the concept of eternity is rarely thought about, Dante's Hell is portrayed in a way that is in fact very realistic. It makes sense. This stems from the order and organization of his world, and how every soul's punishment reflects the sin that soul is here for.
Oh God Who Did This, Who Did This? (3/9)
"Justice of God! Who is it that heaps together So much peculiar torture and travail?" (Canto VII. 17-18)
To me this line was almost paradoxical. He cries out a question, asking who is it that heaps the torture and travail. This question was however preceded with "Justice of God!" And to me it in fact is the justice of God that heaps together the torture and travail. It is God's wrath that brought the soul's to Hell. It is sin against God that determines where they are in Hell. Everything about Dante's Hell is based around souls that have in some way or another betrayed God. Therefore it is in fact due completely to God that they are there. Dante exclaims "Justice of God!" and then asks who heaps together the torture and travail. That is the paradox. He asks who it is right after he has stated the answer. It is in fact God who does this. God is the creator of the souls, and God is responsible for the plight they are in now.
To me this line was almost paradoxical. He cries out a question, asking who is it that heaps the torture and travail. This question was however preceded with "Justice of God!" And to me it in fact is the justice of God that heaps together the torture and travail. It is God's wrath that brought the soul's to Hell. It is sin against God that determines where they are in Hell. Everything about Dante's Hell is based around souls that have in some way or another betrayed God. Therefore it is in fact due completely to God that they are there. Dante exclaims "Justice of God!" and then asks who heaps together the torture and travail. That is the paradox. He asks who it is right after he has stated the answer. It is in fact God who does this. God is the creator of the souls, and God is responsible for the plight they are in now.
All You Need Is Love (3/8)
"He pointed out by name a thousand souls Whom love had parted from our life, or more." (Canto IV. 59-60)
In our society love is viewed as sacred, as the ultimate happiness and the ultimate expression of intimacy among human beings. However after reading this passage I was left with a concrete feeling that Dante viewed love as a sin. He does attribute love with lust. Therefore one could say that it is the lust, and not the love, that caused the sin and caused the souls to be in Hell. However Dante does not say "sin had parted from our life," he says "Love had parted from our life." To me that was a clear statement that no matter what when you love another, you will sin and go to Hell.
One thing I found interesting was that even though it is Dante himself who creates the word in which lovers go to Hell, he, through his character, finds himself sympathizing greatly with the poor souls around him. Even as the passionate human connection of love is condemned as sin, he expresses a great compassion for love's victims. Because of this I am left wondering what Dante himself thinks about love, and whether he himself has in fact been in love. In one sense, he implies that he has distanced himself from love, because he calls it a sin. However, in another sense he feels great compassion for those who have loved.
In our society love is viewed as sacred, as the ultimate happiness and the ultimate expression of intimacy among human beings. However after reading this passage I was left with a concrete feeling that Dante viewed love as a sin. He does attribute love with lust. Therefore one could say that it is the lust, and not the love, that caused the sin and caused the souls to be in Hell. However Dante does not say "sin had parted from our life," he says "Love had parted from our life." To me that was a clear statement that no matter what when you love another, you will sin and go to Hell.
One thing I found interesting was that even though it is Dante himself who creates the word in which lovers go to Hell, he, through his character, finds himself sympathizing greatly with the poor souls around him. Even as the passionate human connection of love is condemned as sin, he expresses a great compassion for love's victims. Because of this I am left wondering what Dante himself thinks about love, and whether he himself has in fact been in love. In one sense, he implies that he has distanced himself from love, because he calls it a sin. However, in another sense he feels great compassion for those who have loved.
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