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The Divine Comedy (The Divine Comedy #1-3)

by Dante Alighieri, Lawrence Grant White, Gustave Doré

4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 · rating details · 41,360 ratings · 1,300 reviews

Cento canti di altissima poesia: la Divina Commedia è il capolavoro della letteratura italiana, l'opera immortale del nostro sommo poeta, comentata in questa edizione —che riproduche il testo critico secondo l'ultima vulgata stabilita da Giorgio Petrocchi— da Giovanni Fallani e Silvio Zennaro. Il primo a definire "divina" la Commedia di Dante fu Boccaccio; il titolo Divina...more

Hardcover, 188 pages

Published 1948 by Pantheon Books (first published 1320)

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Dec 27, 2008 Manny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, why-not-call-it-poetry, transcendent-experiences, life-is-dante

"You can recognize a small truth because its opposite is a falsehood. The opposite of a great truth is another truth."

- Niels Bohr

I was thinking about Dante the other day and wondering how one could approach him from the angle of a GoodReads review. One of the obvious problems is that he lived a long time ago, and many of the cultural referents have changed. You're constantly having to think "Well, nowadays what he's saying would correspond to THAT". It isn't so bad in Hell, when there is plent...more "You can recognize a small truth because its opposite is a falsehood. The opposite of a great truth is another truth."

- Niels Bohr

I was thinking about Dante the other day and wondering how one could approach him from the angle of a GoodReads review. One of the obvious problems is that he lived a long time ago, and many of the cultural referents have changed. You're constantly having to think "Well, nowadays what he's saying would correspond to THAT". It isn't so bad in Hell, when there is plenty of entertainment to be had in seeing how the different sins are punished, and indulging your schadenfreude. Then Purgatory tells a moral story that's more or less timeless if you go for that sort of thing, but once you arrive in Paradise it starts getting seriously tricky. A lot of the stuff at first sight just seems irrelevant to the 21st century world... all these explanations about the mechanics of Ptolomaic astronomy, and Dante querying the inhabitants of Heaven on obscure theological points. It's notorious that readers most often give up somewhere in the third book. I started wondering if there was any modern-day author one could identify with Dante, and if that might help us connect to his concerns. And in fact, I do have a suggestion that some people will no doubt condemn out of hand as completely heretical: Richard Dawkins.

Now of course, I am aware that Dante was deeply immersed in the Christian world-view, and Dawkins is famous for being the world's most outspoken atheist. But it's not quite as crazy as it first may seem. Dante was a Christian to the core of his being, but he was furious with the way the Church was being run; he put several of its leaders, notably Pope Boniface VIII, in Hell. On the other side, I challenge anyone to read "The Ancestor's Tale" to the end, and not, at least for a moment, entertain the idea that Dawkins is in actual fact a deeply religious man. He admits as much himself: as he puts it, it's often not so much that he disagrees with conventionally religious people, more that "they are saying it wrong". Amen to that.

As noted, both Dante and Dawkins are extremely unhappy with the way mainstream religion is being organized. The other characteristic that unites them for me is this passionate love for science. One has to remember that, for Dante, Ptolomaic astronomy was state of the art stuff, and the details of the angelic hierarchy were a topic of vital importance; of course he cross-examines the hosts of the blessed to find out more. These days, I imagine he would be trying to get inside information on what happened during the Big Bang before spontaneous symmetry breaking occurred, whether or not the Higgs particle really exists, and how evolution produced human intelligence. For Dante, there didn't seem to be any opposition between religious faith and science - they were part of the same thing. I do wonder what he would have thought if he had been able to learn that many leading religious figures, even in the early 21st century, reject a large part of science as being somehow unreligious. It's wrong to spend your life dispassionately trying to understand God's Universe? I can see him getting quite angry about this, and deciding to rearrange the seating a little down in Hell.

I keep thinking that there's a book someone ought to write called "Five Atheists You'll Meet in Heaven". Please let me know when it comes out; I'll buy a copy at once.

**************************************

PS I couldn't help wondering what Paradise might have looked like if Dante had been writing today. Obviously we wouldn't have the old geocentric model of the Universe - it would be bang up to date. I think there is now far more material for an ambitious poet to work with than there was in the 14th century. For example, when we get to the Heaven of the Galaxy, I imagine him using this wonderful fact that all the heavy elements are made in supernova explosions. "We are all stardust", as some people like to put it. Then when we get to the Heaven of the Cosmos, we find that the light from the "Let there be light" moment at the beginning of Creation is still around - it's just cooled to 2.7 degrees K, and appears as the cosmic background radiation. But it's not completely uniform, as the quantum fluctuations left over from the period when the Universe was the size of an atomic nucleus are the beginnings of the galaxies created on the second day. Finally, we reach the Heaven of the Multiverse, and find that we are just one of many different universes. It was necessary to create all of them, so that random processes could make sure that a very small number would end up being able to support life. How impious to assume that God would only be able to create one Universe, and have to tweak all the constants Himself!
(less)

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Nov 12, 2011 Marvin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Written for the Celebrity Death Match Review Tournament

(sung to the tune of "Minnie The Moocher")

Folks, here´s a story about Winnie the Pooh-cher
He was a chubby Pooh-chie-koocher
He was fat and loved his honey
but he was sweet and his heart was sunny

(chorus)
Hunny-Hunny-Hunny-hi
Hundee-hundee-hunndee-ho
Pigletee-pigletee-hee
Tiggery-Tiggery--Ho

He met a dude whose name was Virgil
who hung around in hellish circles.
He took the bear to hell for a match
where he planned to kick Pooh's ass.

{chorus)

Pooh saw...more

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Sep 18, 2010 Fahima Jaffar rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

أرجأتُ الشروعَ في قراءةِ هذا السِفر المذهلِ طويلاً. كعادتي/كعادتنا كنتُ ألتمسُ لهذا التكاسل المتطاولِ عذراً .. أملاً في اقتناصِ فرصةٍ مناسبةٍ أو مزاجٍ رائقٍ أو صباحٍ ماطرٍ أو أمسيةٍ شاعِرة. وَلم أدركَ أن أعذاراً كهذه لا تليقِ بغيرِ الأعمال العابرة الصغيرة.. تلكَ التي نجترُّ أحداثها بتململِ قطّةٍ متطلَّبة. أمّا إنجازٌ كـ"الكوميديا" لا تملكُ عندهُ إلا أن تنفكَّ قهراً من عوالمك الرتيبة لتقعَ في ثراءِ عوالمه الآسرةِ وكثافتها وتباينها المدهشين. سيهبط بكَ دانتي من غفلةِ "اليمابيسِ" إلى منازلِ الجحيم....more أرجأتُ الشروعَ في قراءةِ هذا السِفر المذهلِ طويلاً. كعادتي/كعادتنا كنتُ ألتمسُ لهذا التكاسل المتطاولِ عذراً .. أملاً في اقتناصِ فرصةٍ مناسبةٍ أو مزاجٍ رائقٍ أو صباحٍ ماطرٍ أو أمسيةٍ شاعِرة. وَلم أدركَ أن أعذاراً كهذه لا تليقِ بغيرِ الأعمال العابرة الصغيرة.. تلكَ التي نجترُّ أحداثها بتململِ قطّةٍ متطلَّبة. أمّا إنجازٌ كـ"الكوميديا" لا تملكُ عندهُ إلا أن تنفكَّ قهراً من عوالمك الرتيبة لتقعَ في ثراءِ عوالمه الآسرةِ وكثافتها وتباينها المدهشين. سيهبط بكَ دانتي من غفلةِ "اليمابيسِ" إلى منازلِ الجحيم.. وَمروراً بعتباتِ المطهرِ يعرجُ بروحكَ إلى مراتبِ الفردوسِ سماءً سماءَ.. وَأنشودةً أنشودة، ترنيمةً كانت أم تضرّعاً، ابتهالَ متطهّرٍ أم تسبيحَ قدّيسٍ أم شهقةَ ملعون.. ستُصغي فسمعكَ اليومَ "حديد".

"عملٌ يكثّفُ لحظةً مفصليّةً من تاريخ إيطاليا وَالعالم، ومن صراع الكنيسة والدولة، والعقل والإيمان، وَالشرق والغرب، كما يبلور تجربةً شخصية ندر أن عرفنا ما يضارعها في الشجاعة والعمق ومواصلة المغامرة الروحية والشعرية حتى أقصاها" ص. 15

كوميديا دانتي الإلهية تتجاوز الكوميديا بما هيَ خِفّةٌ وَدُنوَّ شأن، فإن صنَّفَ ابن فلورنسةَ منحوتته الفريدة – التي استغرقته ما يقارب الثلاثة عشر عاماً – بمقاييسَ أرسطيّةَ لعاميّةِ لغته أو لمختتمِ متنه، لا يغيبُ عن أيِّ قارئ أن ما بينَ يديهِ رحلةٌ مضنيةٌ أشبه بتسلِّقِ جبال الأولمب للُقيا الآلهة أو بامتطاءِ البحرِ في مغامرةٍ عوليسية. دانتي لم يخلق الإيطالية بحبرِ ريشتهِ فحسب، بل أعادَ نضدَ العوالمِ الأرضية والأخرويةِ، وَأيقظَ حواسَّها على جواهرِ السمعِ وَالبصر. جعلَ دانتي من حُبِّهِ لـ"بياتريشي" مأثرةً كونيّةً استدعى لها أرواحَاً وثنيةً ومسيحيّة – من فيرجيليو حتّى توما الإكويني -، وَبرأَ ظواهرَ فيزيائيةً وَأسطورية، وَسخّرَ زمانَ الرومانيةِ - قبل المسيحِ وَبعده على حدٍّ سواء – ليمجِّدَ هذا المُنجَزَ العظيمَ وَيختطَّ لمبدعهِ مقاماً أعظم.

"إن ابن فلورنسة يعمد إلى قراءة مجهرية لأدنى تفاصيل تجربته في أبعادها الذاتية والتاريخية، الواقعية والخيالية. من هنا قيل عن عمله إنه أكبر تظاهرةٍ فنيةٍ للذاكرة. تُقبل المعطيات إليه وتسعفها على الفور بنْيات لغةٍ ناشئة أضاف لها هو الكثير فيما يكتب، مثلما قيل إن قوافي اللغة الإيطالية كانت تأتي إليه راكضة وتروح تتوالد تحت بنانه." ص. 122

أمَّا الجهدُ الذي بذله المبدع "كاظم جهاد" ليُخرِجَ للعربية مَتناً بهذه القوّةِ وذا التماسك، فحريٌّ بأن نرفَعَ له العمائمَ وَالقُبَّعات. المترجمُ لم يكتفِ بحدودِ الأصلِ، بل جَهُدَ ليطّلعَ على مختلف الترجماتِ سواءً الصادر منها باللغة العربيّة أو بما كان في متناول معرفته من اللغات الأخرى. كما أمدَّ ترجمتهُ بحواشيَ مستفيضةٍ تخدمُ النصَّ شروحاً وَتعليقاتٍ وَنقدا، وَأوجزَ في مدخله النقدي أهمَّ القراءاتِ التي تناولت "الكوميديا الإلهية".. على رأسِها قراءات بورخيس وَجاكلين ريسيه (الشاعرة الفرنسيّة التي استعان جهاد بترجمتِها كثيراً في عمله هذا). هذا المدخل الذي أجَّلتُ المُضيَّ فيه شغَفاً بالمتن، غير إني ما إن فرغت منه حتى وجدتني بأمسِّ الحاجةِ لقراءةٍ ثانيةٍ للكوميديا، ذلكَ أنَّ موجزَ القراءاتِ النقدية يُضئ جوانبَ في النصِّ يغفلُ عنها القارئ البسيطُ العابرُ – مثلي – إلى تخومِ المعنى، كما يعيدُ تعريفَ تجربتنا القرائية وَيوسِّعَ مداها.(less)

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Jan 16, 2010 Venus rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classic-literature

نه مردم و نه زنده ماندم:و اکنون که این را دانستی[،اگر هوشمندی خود را دریاب که من محروم ازین و محروم از آن،چه حال داشتم

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Aug 04, 2012 MJ Nicholls marked it as sampled · review of another edition

I propose an extra level in the Inferno for procrastinators and abandoners. I was planning to write a novel where three protagonists commit suicide and end up in Scottish Hell. Since overcrowding has plagued the old Scottish Hell HQ, the protagonists are forced to queue up for weeks on end before arriving at the building for processing. Upon their arrival, their sins are assessed by an administrator to determine which circle of Hell is appropriate for them. But due to cutbacks and financial inst...more

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Sep 21, 2008 Ben rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have travelled a goodly distance since I last read the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, and what a long strange trip its been. So, it was with an introspective bit of drollness that I embarked on this reread.

I was fascinated with Inferno as a teenager and between Dante Alighieri and Robert Smith/Rimbaud it is, frankly, nothing short of a miracle that I didn't put enough reasons together to wind-up as a fleshy tree with harpies perched in my branches somewhere in the lower circles of hell--if...more I have travelled a goodly distance since I last read the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, and what a long strange trip its been. So, it was with an introspective bit of drollness that I embarked on this reread.

I was fascinated with Inferno as a teenager and between Dante Alighieri and Robert Smith/Rimbaud it is, frankly, nothing short of a miracle that I didn't put enough reasons together to wind-up as a fleshy tree with harpies perched in my branches somewhere in the lower circles of hell--if you catch my drift. Yeah, I was one tortured soul...

Now, I seem to have arrived in the dread "Existance Age" of my life. In evidence, I need only cite my thinning hair, second mortgage, life insurance, and All American guilt complex. This is also why it's taking me longer than necessary to read Richard Ford's Independence Day--each line just seems like something I'm thinking, and it's hard to be objective with the reading and view it simply as a book. And, it may very well explain why, as I listened to The Divine Comedy with this audiobook edition, I found Purgatorio so fascinating--when as a teenager I couldn't skim through it fast enough.

The Divine Comedy is more of a journey than a book, and as a journey it has stages and waypoints... also its not a trip everyone needs to take. I, for one, never plan on visiting Meca or for that matter, the Mormon General Conference; they're just not my kinds of trips. But, having grow-up in a Televangelist Supercult, The Divine Comedy is just the right kind of retrospective for me. Reasons are abundant but are typified by the way the book helps me look objectively at my spiritual life.

Here is the short list: First, according to Dante, pretty much everybody in hell is Italian and Catholic; second, my tattoo fantasies of the illustrations by Gustave Dore; third, the striking absense of a bathroom break; fourth the paragraph-long metaphores which fill each canto in the same way a bazaar of guillemots might fill something bigger than a breadbox but smaller than a dinghy if there was but some form of guillemot filling aparatus or perhaps a working decoy; fifth, placing people I dislike in different levels of hell--BTW I've decided Walter Kirn is my arch-enemy; and sixth (but hardly last) the unanswerable question of why Dante is obsessed with a woman who isn't his wife and figures her in the seat of grace while the woman he's married to is no doubt fixing his meals, cleaning his dishes, and caring for his kids, while he is writing the Divine Comedy (like some kind of Catholic Penthouse Forum Letter) and this is somehow OK because he still makes it to heaven.

I'll be honest, I've never been able to finish The Divine Comedy. I get to wandering around in Paradiso like a redneck in Walmart and keep on loosing my place due to profound boredom (unlike a redneck in Walmart). Afterall, "Heaven is a place," to quote David Byrne, "a place where nothing ever happens." Maybe someday Paradiso will be the part I just can't get enough of, but for now I'm content with my life in purgatory. I kind of like the idea that I can impress people just by casting a shadow and meeting old friends in really uncomfortable situations.(less)

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Jan 15, 2008 Solomon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sure--why not write a trite, pithy review of one of the great works of Western Literature? Fuck it! Yes, it's beautifully poetic, but Dante is also intolerably self-righteous and hilariously bitter in it, skewering, roasting, and tearing to pieces (quite literally) his detractors, enemies, and some people that he maybe just didn't like much. The tortures are sometimes hilarious and in no way biblical...it is disturbing to think that people used to believe a lot of this silliness...oh, and that s...more

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Nov 10, 2011 Whitaker marked it as celebrity-death-match · review of another edition

For CELEBRITY DEATH MATCH PURPOSES ONLY: The Complete Tales and Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh versus The Divine Comedy

*More doggerel than verse, but for what it's worth...

I. Inferno

Into a dark and gloomy wood
Strolled the little bear and his friends.
They found a cave and by it stood
And wondered if it did descend
To hell or rise to paradise.
Would this match see them sacrificed?

The circles had been so designed
To damn the souls who lived in sin.
And each were thus to zones consigned
To suffer punishment wit...more

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Aug 24, 2010 zeinab m added it · review of another edition

وقتی این کتابو می خوندم برام جالب بود مخصوصاً جایگاهی که برای بوعلی سینا ایرانی می ذاره و دید دانته را نشان می ده به نظرم خیلی بسته نگاه می کنه یعنی غیر مسیحی هر چقدر هم بالا باشه باز نمی تونه به اون جایگاه بالا برسه من فکر می کنم اینقدرها هم نباید این کتاب پر سر و صدا باشه چون تو خیلی موارد جهانی بودن توش وجود نداره البته شایدم اشتباه کنم دیدگاه دیگه

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May 20, 2013 Iván Leija rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Interesados en el pasado: Biblia, mitología, historia

Shelves: favoritos

"O ye, who in some pretty little boat,
Eager to listen, have been following
Behind my ship, that singing sails along,
Turn back to look again upon your shores;
Do not put out to sea, lest peradventure,
In losing me, you might yourselves be lost."
(Par. II: 1-6)

La Divina Comedia es un libro pesado, que consume mucho tiempo y que depende mucho de la imaginación del lector. Esto es más claro en el Paraíso, donde Dante admite que su lenguaje no es suficiente para escribir sobre lo que está viendo; y, pers...more "O ye, who in some pretty little boat,
Eager to listen, have been following
Behind my ship, that singing sails along,
Turn back to look again upon your shores;
Do not put out to sea, lest peradventure,
In losing me, you might yourselves be lost."
(Par. II: 1-6)

La Divina Comedia es un libro pesado, que consume mucho tiempo y que depende mucho de la imaginación del lector. Esto es más claro en el Paraíso, donde Dante admite que su lenguaje no es suficiente para escribir sobre lo que está viendo; y, personalmente, por eso, a mí me dejó un poco, sólo un poco insatisfecho. El Paraíso no es un lugar de imágenes, todo lo contrario al Infierno, que ofrece una lectura más simple y entretenida; es un lugar de discursos teológicos (¡y de la Edad Media!) que más de una vez me hicieron querer dejar de leerlo. Pero bueno, uno sigue leyendo porque el final es, obviamente, ver a Dios, cosa que provoca curiosidad sin importar la opinión religiosa de cada uno. El último canto, donde esto ocurre, lo podría leer mil veces por su atrayentísimo tono misterioso. Una advertencia más a quien quiera leer la Comedia: está llena de referencias bíblicas y, como dije, de razonamientos teológicos; creo que uno necesita estar abierto a conocer de esos temas si quiere disfrutarla. En mí esto sí despertó mi curiosidad, y ahora planeo darle unas leiditas a la Biblia, algo que ya había descartado de mis posibles pasatiempos.
Además de todas las referencias bíblicas, Dante, a lo largo de toda su obra, habla de personajes de la mitología griega, a veces usando sus equivalentes romanos, constelaciones, geografía italiana, personajes históricos de Europa, muchas de las veces en forma de acertijos, como "el hombre que recibió de Jesús la Gran Tarea cuando estaba en la cruz" o "el hombre que hizo a la Iglesia la gran donación"; y, bueno, yo no culparía a nadie que por estas razones dejara el libro, porque uno tiene que ir a investigar (aunque es muy fácil con Wikipedia) para saber a qué se refiere il Poeta.

Y hablando de él, creo que es muy importante saber que empezó a escribir la Comedia después de 4 años de ser exiliado (por acusaciones falsas) y de haber perdido todas su propiedades. Así entonces uno entiende más o menos que Dante, con su libro, pretendía denunciar a los personajes que hacían de Italia y del Cristianismo algo que no debería ser (las críticas hacia la Iglesia son abundantes en la obra), y, además, reafirmar su fe: no importa si en la vida uno de pronto se ve perdido ("I found myself within a forest dark, for the straightforward pathway had been lost"), pues después de la terrestre nos espera algo eterno que traerá recompensas o castigos según hayamos actuado. Recordar a las personas que sus actos en vida repercuten después de la muerte era el objetivo de Dante.

Muchos pasajes en la Comedia son dignos de recordar: la entrada al Infierno, el primero y segundo círculo, Cerberus, las Furias, los Malebranch y su persecución de Dante y Virgilio, la geografía del Infierno: Styx, Acheron y las murallas de Dis, sin olvidar el lago congelado Cocytus; la historia del conde Ugolino, el desierto de los blasfemos, los pozos de los simoniacos, los árboles suicidas, Satán y Judas, la costa del Monte Purgatorio, la puerta del Ángel y las siete P's, el castigo a los glotones, la llegada al Edén, el simbolismo que precede a la llegada de Beatriz, su encuentro con Dante, la constante alabanza de él a la belleza de su amada, la ascensión,el discurso de las Naturalezas, el del Amor, la escalera de Jacob, las preguntas de Pedro, Santiago y Juan, las jerarquías angelicales, la primera vista de Adán, la corte en el décimo cielo, la virgen María, Dios mismo; además, obviamente, del lenguaje de Dante, que es un placer que no se detiene nunca a través de los tres reinos; y lo único que quisiera ahora es entender el italiano para leerlo en rima, como era pretendido.

La Divina Comedia vale muchísimo la pena, en conclusión. Es, por mucho, el mejor museo que he visitado. Y Dante, para mí, un excelente modelo a seguir, por su poesía, su amor por Beatriz, su crítica a políticos y a clérigos, su vasto conocimiento de mitos, sus comentarios filosóficos, científicos y teológicos, su honestidad y su ambición.(less)

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May 19, 2013 Vahagn Tumanyan rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dante's Divine Comedy is the worst book that I have read in my life, and that means a lot, because I also have read "Twilight", well at least tried the first 50 pages. Dante's imagery is powerful, yet it serves no purpose.

Basically Dante goes through hell, just watching people suffer, through eternity, then goes to purgatory and then to heaven where he finally meets Beatrice. Even though poem is written in three line stanzas and each line has exactly 11 syllables it is not lyrical at all, it is...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Jeremy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself in a dark wood where the straight way was lost.” -Dante Alighieri

This epic poem, written by Dante after being exiled from his home in Florence c. 1308, is a story of redemption, one mans journey from Earth to Hell to Heaven, and an allegory for mankind's spiritual journey towards God. It's also a catalog of God's justice being taken out on those who kept or broke God's laws.

This book can be a little bit of a struggle to relate to depend...more “In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself in a dark wood where the straight way was lost.” -Dante Alighieri

This epic poem, written by Dante after being exiled from his home in Florence c. 1308, is a story of redemption, one mans journey from Earth to Hell to Heaven, and an allegory for mankind's spiritual journey towards God. It's also a catalog of God's justice being taken out on those who kept or broke God's laws.

This book can be a little bit of a struggle to relate to depending on your religious views. It's like peeking through a looking glass in to the mindset of medieval Catholicism. The whole "God's justice" being different or unknowable in comparison to "our justice," was a difficult one to care to indulge, mainly through the 520 or so pages of his Hell. However, I still feel there is a lot to gain from reading one of the most influential books ever written! This book has been the source for inspiration for countless works of music, art, and literature. It contains Reformation-like criticism towards the catholic church that precluded the Reformation. It's text was in large part responsible for establishing the Italian language. It's considered by many to be a masterpiece, and I believe if you approach it the right way you'll see why.

Recommendations:

-I'd recommend to read it slowly and read commentary related to the text.
-I'd recommend you don't stop after reading only the inferno, but continue to Purgatory and on to Paradise.
-I'd also recommend checking out artwork that has been created that relates to the scenes described.
-There are a couple of books I'd recommend reading before this, namely The Odyssey and The Aeneid.
-I'd recommend really deciding for yourself what value can come from reading such a book and focus on that, rather than spending your time criticizing his point of view and his science and religious perspective.
-Last but not least; Find and awesome goodreads group to read and discuss it with! Thanks Laurele and "Classics of the Western Cannon!"

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Oct 09, 2009 Russell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

T. S. Eliot: "Dante and Shakespeare divide the modern world between them, there is no third."

Dante's magnus opus exceeds my weak grasp to illuminate. If you are part of the Western world, you have been colored by this book, whether you have read it or not. So many authors have drawn upon the imagery from Dante's work, and used so many ideas from him. Not to mention how Dante took poetry to new heights and new places, using common tongue from his part of Italy instead Latin, he weaves in the poet...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Patrice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Didn't finish. Just wanted to get out of Hell!

Went back to Hell. Had to finish.

Encased in medieval symbolism and topical references is a whole lot of eternal truth.
I found it fairly easy to plug in modern sinners of each type.
Political corruption, sexual incontinence, deceitful clergy, nothing new under the sun.
For some reason I found this not only validating but reassuring in a strange way.
We are so time-bound, thinking that civilization is in decline and nothing
has ever been this bad before....more

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May 18, 2013 JP rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Deservedly a true classic, Dante's portrayal of the Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradisio is at the same time metaphysical allegory, religious and political commentary, and great poetry. I read John Ciardi's translation of the Inferno (1982) and Lawrence Binyon's interpretation of the latter two sections (1947, also includes several shorter poems and Dante's Vita Nuova). It is a work such as this that makes me wish my feeble mind could retain more of the specific details of what I read. The whole s...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Winston rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dante’s moral history reflects the conflict of natural justice and Christian theology in its complex taxonomy of iniquity in the Inferno; why else the invention of ‘Limbo’ in Hell to ameliorate the fate of good non-Christian souls, like Virgil, which Christian – particularly Roman Catholic - orthodoxy would exclude from Paradise? Neither is Dante averse to the subjectivity of his primal justice in sending the betrayers of hospitality to eternal damnation upon commission of such a sin, and leavin...more Dante’s moral history reflects the conflict of natural justice and Christian theology in its complex taxonomy of iniquity in the Inferno; why else the invention of ‘Limbo’ in Hell to ameliorate the fate of good non-Christian souls, like Virgil, which Christian – particularly Roman Catholic - orthodoxy would exclude from Paradise? Neither is Dante averse to the subjectivity of his primal justice in sending the betrayers of hospitality to eternal damnation upon commission of such a sin, and leaving their living bodies abodes of demons on earth, despite the heretical defiance of Christian doctrine that God will save the repentant sinner up to the moment of death; that said, one might argue internal consistency in Dante’s portrayal of Hell, where heretics are confined to the sixth circle of Hell, while traitors to their guests plumb Hell’s deepest depths in the ninth circle.

At the heart of this intellectual struggle with Christian justice, with Dante advocating no less than the application of sober reason, is a prevalent, instinctive discomfort with the theology of original sin – of particular favour with Protestant orthodoxy – which imputes an equal guilt on all humankind, who share a shattered image of the Divine that no human volition nor deed will redeem. Dante’s choice of a righteous pagan in his tour of Hell would, therefore, be considered a logical choice of guide by reason of reasonable necessity. Could Divine Justice, the progenitor of imperfect human justice, be less discriminating and impervious to gradations of good and evil in favour of a blanket guilt for all?

Nonetheless, the flaws of human reason are not eradicated in Dante’s testament. For instance, while the phantasmagoria of hellish punishments follow the law of contrapasso, or just counter-penalty which matches sin and punishment, it is inconceivable how eternal torment is commensurate with sin in a lifespan of threescore years and ten. Neither is one fully convinced that sins of incontinence (such as lust) are necessarily distinct from, and of a lesser order than, sins of intent (such as violence); one need only tune in to ‘Law and Order’ for defences on the basis of insanity for a plethora of crimes that traverse Dante’s dichotomy.

Theology aside, Dante’s scathing denunciation of hypocrisy in the Church of his day remains a chilling bugle call to reflection and repentance by today’s Church, Catholic or Protestant, which continues to struggle with scandal, hypocrisy and avarice (often presented as God-sanctioned abundance). For the individual Christian, Dante’s search for the “path that does not stray”, having “journeyed half of his (sic) life’s way” prompts us to serious re-consideration of spiritual realities ‘mid life’s crises.
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Feb 26, 2009 James Capp rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I first read this poem four years ago as part of a dare. And by “dare,” I mean a professor listed it on the syllabus and I had to read it and then write papers about it. The next summer, I wanted to read it again on account of the graphic imagery of Inferno and Purgatorio. The punishments/reparations are mindblowing, scary, and beautiful. Everyone should at the very least skim Inferno. Particularly in Inferno, the political references are funny and provocative, and the historical significance of...more

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May 16, 2013 Skuli Saeland rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: poetry, fantasy

The Divine Comedy er með áhrifameiri ljóðum vestrænna bókmennta og byggir á sterkum áhrifum frá kristni og klassískum bókmenntum auk þess að vísa beint til atburða og upplifunar Dantes Alighieris sjálfs sem útlaga frá heimaborg sinni Flórens og eilífum hernaði og deilum í Ítalíu á 13. öld.
Vandinn er sá að ljóðið sem byggir mikið á þekkingu lesandans til að skilja dýpt þess og boðskap. Ég hlustaði fyrst á fyrirlestra um Kómedíu Dantes í flutningi tveggja snilldar prófessora í The Great Courses se...more

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May 13, 2013 Dany rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-reading-challenge

The book is divided in three sections: The Inferno, The Purgatorio and The Paradiso. If the book was only The Inferno, I would tell you that it is an incredible book, but since it has two more parts (which I didn't like) I can't make such assumption. What I can say, is that the author had a great imagination and the Inferno circles that he goes through are very creepy. It is a very epic book. What I didn't like, firstly was the style of writing. It is a poem written like a song. It's not the kin...more

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May 07, 2013 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story deals about dantes salvation to find the right way.Appropriately, a type of epic that has a good way of frustration, that focuses on issues about seeking a path to redemption.When Dante was conscious that he was ruining himself and that he was falling into a deep place.Eventually, set him to realize that he needs to know the things that will allow him to understand the necessary values of his sins.

The content was divided into three structure.First is the Inferno which is the symbolic...more The story deals about dantes salvation to find the right way.Appropriately, a type of epic that has a good way of frustration, that focuses on issues about seeking a path to redemption.When Dante was conscious that he was ruining himself and that he was falling into a deep place.Eventually, set him to realize that he needs to know the things that will allow him to understand the necessary values of his sins.

The content was divided into three structure.First is the Inferno which is the symbolic instance for poetic justice.For example “Fortune tellers have to walk with their heads on backwards unable to see what is ahead, because that was what they had tried to do in life”allegorically, the inferno represents the christian soul, seeing sin for what is really it is.And the three beast in the poem represent three types of sin: The self indulgent, the violent and the malicious.These three types of sin also provided three main division pf dantes hell: Upper hell (The first 5 circles) for self indulgent sin; (Circle 6 and 7) for the violent sin; And (Circle 8 and 9) for the malicious sins.After descending to the underworld.Dante ascends to the mountain of Purgatoryo(second structure).It was said that the mountain has seven terraces that corresponds to the seven deadly sins or “Seven root of sinfulness”.Unlike in inferno that classify the sins as motives.In purgatoryo the classification of sin is more on psychological and was based on actions.Moreover purgatoryo represents the christian life.It is also drawn primarily, form christian theology rather that classical source.

The third structure that the poem indicated was the Paradiso which is based on the four cardinal virtues and the three theological virtues.In paradiso dante met with several great saints of church, including Thomas Aquinas,St. Bonaventure,St. Peter and St. john.At this part dante describe his vision of heaven was the one his eyes permittes him to see.Generally this poem simply helps us to understand the mystery of christ divinity and humanity.It was a good way to change people perspective in life.Dantes journey was so humble but yet full of values and depth.The devine comedy finishes woth dante seeing the truine god.(less)

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Mar 21, 2013 Nihi Nihilus rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Din cel mai adanc abis spre cea mai radianta culme, de la radacina fapturii spre coroana, de la revarsare la izvor, un spirit temerar infrunta curentul Lumii. Nu este un somon ajuns la asfintit, este un astru pe cale sa rasara.

Un desavarsit cunoscator al tainelor scolastice, imperturbabil observator al proceselor naturale, cat si umane, Dante prefigureaza polimatii renasterii culturale pe care avea s-o faciliteze. Simpla lui evocare pare sa proiecteze mental imaginea Omului Vitruvian.

Un patriot...more Din cel mai adanc abis spre cea mai radianta culme, de la radacina fapturii spre coroana, de la revarsare la izvor, un spirit temerar infrunta curentul Lumii. Nu este un somon ajuns la asfintit, este un astru pe cale sa rasara.

Un desavarsit cunoscator al tainelor scolastice, imperturbabil observator al proceselor naturale, cat si umane, Dante prefigureaza polimatii renasterii culturale pe care avea s-o faciliteze. Simpla lui evocare pare sa proiecteze mental imaginea Omului Vitruvian.

Un patriot exilat pe temeiuri politice, un vizionar in camera obscura a Evului Mediu, un romantic privat de cea mai arzatoare dorinta, luceafarul florentin ne rapeste simturile si ne elibereaza gandurile cu un fantasmagoric joc al contrastelor. Osanale si imprecatii danseaza dantescul joc din trei pasi, alaturi de cuviosi damnati si dubiosi mantuiti, ingeri si demoni, mitic si crestin, teluric si astral, familiar si straniu, alegorii de un izbitor realism si imagini de o halucinanta fantezie. O subtila armonie coaguleaza aceasta contopire antinomica, este magnetismul iubirii surprins in cele mai curate si nobile ipostaze. De fapt, am putea concentra intreaga inaltare imaginara la o constientizare gradula a ecuatiei de mai devreme.
"Nu-ntrece-al dansii farmec numai zborul
oricarei fantasii, si sigur cred
ca-ntreg i-l simte singur Creatorul!", marturiseste sufletul pururi tanar al poetului despre cea care i-a fost lumina atat in viata, cat si dincolo de trup. Nicaieri nu este mai vizibila umanitatea geniului romantic prototipic decat in aceste periculoase pelerinaje ale crestinului convins pe taramul blasfemiei. Perfect constient de propria sa valoare, aproape "prea" constient, Alighieri este incapabil sa conceapa un Creator in opozitie cu inaltele sale idealuri si convingeri, dar mai cu seama sa descopere Paradisul pierdut altundeva decat in privirea Beatricei lui.

Mereu afectat de tribulatiile contemporane, cu o ratiune vesnic plecata in intampinarea viitorului si sufletul captiv in trecut, Dante este cu adevarat un nume fara timp, iar Divina Comedie o creatie fara margini.

N.B.: Nu trebuiesc uitati George Cosbuc, pentru incredibila sa realizare de a fi apropriat aceasta colosala opera cititorului roman, si Alexandru Balaci, un desavarsit mistagog, un veritabil Virgiliu al propriului nostru periplu ascensional.(less)

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Jan 24, 2013 John P rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I hesitated to begin this large volume, received as a gift last year, due to dim memories of it as a dull and difficult work that had been assigned, or, at least, portions had been assigned, to us in high school. "Another translated classic work of poetry to power through and assign to the 'read' category", thinks I.

Well, in one small way, this was a correct assumption. The introduction was a longish, difficult, and boring read. However, the rest, the three canticles of Dante, are a fascinating...more I hesitated to begin this large volume, received as a gift last year, due to dim memories of it as a dull and difficult work that had been assigned, or, at least, portions had been assigned, to us in high school. "Another translated classic work of poetry to power through and assign to the 'read' category", thinks I.

Well, in one small way, this was a correct assumption. The introduction was a longish, difficult, and boring read. However, the rest, the three canticles of Dante, are a fascinating delight.

Kudos, for sure, must be given to the translator as the ideas and even the poetic quality in many cases come across clearly.

Notes are included for each canto and, in my opinion, are indispensable for a modern reader. First, they clarify Dante's flowery and sometimes abstruse imagery and, second, they explain the references to current people and events in Dante's time - and there are lots of these references.

The prevailing views from Dante's world on Christian religion, the structure of the Christian church, cosmology, politics, morality, and more are laid bare by this book. Even accounting for Dante's bias, and he definitely has an opinion on all of the above topics, one can learn much about commonly-held notions of the time. For example, the old view of the earth as stationary with a nested set of ever-larger spheres surrounding it, each assigned to the various known heavenly bodies, is covered in detail.

Most impressive is Dante's imagination and creative power to construct the three canticles and the places and characters they describe. He writes with authority and power, and I can understand why some claimed (and some may still claim today) that he was divinely inspired.

From Dante's personal perspective, this was a tell-all book and there were no holds barred in calling out corrupt bad actors by name, including popes, magistrates, on down to common folk who's deeds are here exposed. How brave he was not to be afraid of retaliation; I am quite sure he made lots of bitter enemies when The Divine Comedy was published.

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Jan 08, 2013 Rebecca Manor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In the past I had read selections of Dante’s famous work and I had read Inferno in its entirety, but this was the first time I had read the entire work. The earthiness and physicality of Inferno always makes for entertaining reading…I mean, really, that scene with the guy chewing on the other’s head, it just doesn’t get more revolting than that. What surprised me was how much I enjoyed Purgatory. It seemed to me very relatable to life, if one believes that life is a process by which we are to be...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Marc L rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: italian-literature, favorites

Inferno
I've read this book in French, when I was 25, and I immediately was swept away by its poetic force, its classical symmetrical construction and its sharp and benign view on the human condition. Brilliantly composed. Each canto tells the story of several prominent historical persons, set in breathtaking landscapes. Tragedy is all around, sometimes with a comical touch, but almost always compassionate.
The filosofical and theological dimensions are less prominent than in book II and III. I'v...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Melinda Le Baron rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Melinda by: College Professor

Shelves: favorites, adventure, angels-demons-god, assassins, battle-royale, beautiful-3d-characters, beautiful-dialogue, beautiful-pacing, beautiful-plot, beautiful-transitions, beautifully-ended, beautifully-written, big-men-w-swords, black-humor, cadence, christian, classic, compelling, crime, death, deep, dramatic, dream-like, emotional, enjoyable, evil, evil-animals, exciting, flashbacks, genius, gods-myths-and-legends, healing, high-society, historical, historical-hotties, honorable, horror, humor, imagery, imaginative, immortals, insane, love, magic, military, moral, murder, mystery, paranormal-hotties, poetry, political, prophetical, religious, rescue, serial-killer, society, spies, supernatural, subversive, thriller, torture, tragedy, truly-exciting, twisty-turny-plot, violent, war

I read the Divine Comedy when I was in College and enjoyed it immensely then, but reading now, I got so much more out of the poem then I did then. Call it experience. I know more about Italian, Roman and Greek History. That helps quite a lot. I also have read a lot more. Virgil, Plato, Sophocles and more of the ancient classics. That helps too. Mythology helps as well. Some of the Gods and Goddesses that Dante refers to in the poem, you won't have heard of, unless you are really quite familiar w...more I read the Divine Comedy when I was in College and enjoyed it immensely then, but reading now, I got so much more out of the poem then I did then. Call it experience. I know more about Italian, Roman and Greek History. That helps quite a lot. I also have read a lot more. Virgil, Plato, Sophocles and more of the ancient classics. That helps too. Mythology helps as well. Some of the Gods and Goddesses that Dante refers to in the poem, you won't have heard of, unless you are really quite familiar with Greek and Roman Mythology. Also, Zoroastrian, Sumerian, and other creation myths help as well. Dante was incredibly well read. He pulls people from all kinds of sources. If you don't recognize some of them, I looked those up that I didn't recognize, and I found that the Oxford English Dictionary, didn't recognize them either. So, I didn't feel bad. They are an authority. I am not.

The poem itself if fabulous. The imagery is stunning, the word choice - inspired. Dante is alive and is touring the different circles of Hell in the Inferno. He has a guide, who is Virgil, who is dead. There are some people in Hell, that you would not expect to be there - like Jason, from Jason and the Argonauts. Sounds like a band, doesn't it. He is there, because he deliberately lied to people and tricked them to get out of sticky situations, fooled them into believing one thing, while doing something different and of course he killed people by the dozen. He is in one of the higher layers of Hell. There are many philosophers in Hell also. Like Plato, Virgil, Socrates, etc. There are also bards, men of influence, men of intelligence, men of science, and others, whose intelligence was their primary resource. Why are they there? I believe it is hubris and not believing in God. They are at the highest layer in Hell. It is not uncomfortable, but they argue all the time. I guess that is their just desserts for being men of the mind.

As the poem proceeds, we go one more layer down, each layer being described. They discourse with a spirit at each level, who tells who he is, what got him there and the torments he faces. Dante's imagination comes to the forefront here. Some of the torments that have been ascribed to these spirits are amazing. At one level, a spirit is represented by a sticker bush. Dante has just broken off a branch of said bush and the bush bleeds. Virgil starts talking to the bush, and the bush tells its story. The spirit was transformed into a bush, with its roots going way down into the stoney ground, forevermore to sit there, contemplating its sins. Until, somebody comes through the forest, and hurts it, by breaking a limb, or they could possibly rip it out, or set it on fire. It has no leaves, therefore, it would make good firewood. As the bush is talking, telling Virgil, and Dante about its life, another spirit comes running past, breaking multiple branches off the bush, followed by slavering Mastiffs, who do more damage to the bush as well. At this point, the bush is in serious pain, having been mutilated. The hunt, continues on. The bush wails in pain and bleeds copiously afters its mangling. Virgil and Dante continue on with their journey. Down they go, one more layer. They have to find a safe passage through all of the layers, or they may be trapped down there. God's light shines down on them. Dante is still alive, therefore, everyone in Hell sees him as different. He's not dead and therefore not a spirit. He's alive and his spirit lives within him. his lifeforce shines through him, and the spirits see this lifeforce and they are overwhelmed by it. They commonly stop the pair and question them about it.

Everyone and everything about this poem is interesting, even if you don't know their place in history, even if you don't know who they are, or their relevance, the information that Dante provides is enough to make each character unique and interesting. You don't want to put the book down. You just want to keep reading through mealtimes, through bedtime, through all your responsibilities. You want to know what happens next. Poems aren't supposed to be this way. Poems are rarely this long either. There are few that come to mind. The Iliad and the Odyssey of course, then there is Gilgamesh, and Grendel. There are a few more. Grendel is one of my favorites. How can you not like a monster story with a big hulking Viking in it as the hero? But a page turner? WOW! That is just amazing. Who would have thunk it, as my dear Sainted Mother used to say.

But this poem is a page-turner in every sense of word, or words, I should say. I loved this poem more the second time around by a factor of five, than I did the first time. The language was much easier, the history was clearer, I sped through it, like I was on rails. It was like an epiphany. All became clear - like the poem opened up for me and gave me all it had. It was a fabulous experience. I never knew that the Divine Comedy was this rich, or I would have read it sooner. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read anything about mythology, anything from the ancient philosophers - like Plato and Sophocles, read anything about the wars in Rome and Italy after Rome divided up into City States. This would be a good background for this poem. If you haven't read any of these, you can still read this poem, you just won't get as much out of it, BUT you will get a lot out of it, Dante made sure of that.

Make sure that you have a lot of time on your hands, because you won't want to put this down. Get something to drink, something to eat, somewhere comfortable to sit or lie down on, AND THEN start to read The DIVINE COMEDY. Then, and only then, will you be ready to dive right in to the most wonderful poem about Heaven and Hell that was ever written on this planet. The word choice, the imagery, the passion for the subject matter, all of these and more, Dante has down in spades. If you haven't read it, READ IT NOW! If you have read it, READ IT AGAIN!

It is one of the most wonderful reading experiences that I have ever happened upon in my entire life - and I have read over 3000 books in my lifetime. Trust me. I know what I am talking about. This one is a winner. A true classic. You don't want to go through your life without reading this poem. It would be so unfortunate if you did. You would be missing something so great, so wonderful, so amazing... It makes me feel sad to think that even one person on this planet hasn't read this.

Instead of using the typical format, I decided that I was too emotionally invested in this work to do that, so I wrote down what I felt about the poem instead. This works for me, does it work for you? I hope so, because it is what happened.

So, please, buy this book and read it today.

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Aug 27, 2012 Sever rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Divine Comedy is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri, truly a masterpiece of the great author. It is considered by some the preeminent work of Italian literature, the highest peak of the moment if you will, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature as well.

The poem's imaginative and allegorical vision of the afterlife is a gathering of the medieval world view as it had developed in the western church (as you would have imagined). As a fact the book helped establish th...more

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May 28, 2012 Natasha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: early-classics

Dante’s rich poetry and symbolism make The Divine Comedy arguably one of the best creative works of all time. It is an allegory of salvation and has multiple layers of meaning. My lengthy summary of Dante's Divine Comedy, along with its symbolic meanings follows:

As I sit writing this, I am a man in exile wandering through a foreign land. Though I can see my home just across the way, when I try to travel there I am threatened by sins of the flesh and sins of wrath. I conquer these by using my int...more Dante’s rich poetry and symbolism make The Divine Comedy arguably one of the best creative works of all time. It is an allegory of salvation and has multiple layers of meaning. My lengthy summary of Dante's Divine Comedy, along with its symbolic meanings follows:

As I sit writing this, I am a man in exile wandering through a foreign land. Though I can see my home just across the way, when I try to travel there I am threatened by sins of the flesh and sins of wrath. I conquer these by using my intellect to balance desire and discipline. But then I am defeated by the sins swarming around me and my generation. My will power alone is not enough; I can't make it back home on my own.

Then the Father of Reason, Virgil, joins me. He points back to a trail of sorrow that traverses through Hell and tells me the only way I can get back home is to journey thence. I take up the bitter cup and follow him. We spiral downward into the abyss of the devil's domain. At each step we see poetic justice. People who sought to fulfill their own will become what they sought, yet are denied the satisfaction of taking any pleasure in it. This is not a punishment from God, but rather a consequence of making gods of their desires.

The capitol of Hell is the City of Dis, which is surrounded by the gate of heresy. All those who dwell within are there because they chose to deny God and the hope of eternal life. Though it is a despairing place, our path lies through the heart of Hell so we must pass through the gate. Neither Virgil nor I can open it. We pray for Divine Aid and wait.

At first it seems our prayers our answered by an even greater torment as the Furies descend upon us, mocking. They threaten to call Medusa to come and turn us to stone. The moment Virgil hears her name, he commands me to look away. Reason alone cannot answer doubts about God's existence. Virgil covers my eyes, saying in effect, "Just look away from the question and trust in God."
After my faith denied heresy its victory over me, our prayers for Divine help are answered. A Heavenly Messenger opens the gate and we are allowed to pass. If I may offer a bit of counsel, await God's grace to manifest itself in your life. It will come no matter how threatening the Furies surrounding you.

An oppressive weight pulls us downward in Dis until we meet the author of evil, the founder of heaviness, the devil himself. We grapple with him and, at long last, pass from the Inferno into Purgatory. I will pause here to observe that I've noted a certain glamorization of evil in recent decades. Make no mistake, there is NO glamour in Hell. Satan attracts by covering sin with a glossy sheen, like the Siren's song. But rip away the exterior and what lies beneath is hideousness and entrapment of addictions.

Upon entering Purgatory, Virgil and I are bathed in a baptism of water that washes away the stains of Hell. Though things are much better here than in the Inferno, I admit to being plagued by lethargy and learned that laziness leads to depression. I was visited by the Angel of Zeal and was energized by a creative spark which propelled me forward.

At last we come within sight of Paradise, the place I had set my sights upon when Virgil first joined me. But I am horrified to see I cannot enter Paradise unless I pass through a baptism of fire. Virgil, my Father Reason, persuades me to trust I will find my heart's desire on the other side of the wall of fire. I submit to the scorching pain, then emerge outside of Reason's realm. Virgil cannot follow me here because I am now no longer limited by reason. I am taken under the wing of Personal Revelation, who is embodied by Beatrice.

Though I grieve over my separation from Virgil, Beatrice scolds me for looking back. She points out that since I have been purged from the will to sin, I'm in the presence of Divine Revelation and I no longer need Virgil's Reason. She is right to scold because looking back prevents me from making use of the great gifts I have been given. Understanding this, I repent. This now allows me to drink from the river Lethe, which washes away all memory of sin from my soul. Losing this last remnant of sin, I am now purified and free to pass into Paradise.

Upon entering Paradise, I am greeted by a tremendous pageant. The Church, the Prophets, the Bible, the Sacrament, the Gifts of the Spirit are all personified in a joyous parade. A Griffin (half-lion, half-Eagle) symbolizes the Savior (half-human, half-Divine) and is pulling the very chariot where Beatrice is seated. Christ is the Author of Personal Revelation.

In Paradise I visit the realms of the planets, each representing a Cardinal Virtue (Wisdom, Love, Prudence, Courage, Justice, Temperance). I learn that Temperance is nearest God's abode because it is the contemplative life which Jesus recommended to Martha in following Mary's example.
Looking back, I see how my progress through the Inferno taught me pity, or Charity; Purgatory taught me Hope, and Paradise sealed my Faith. Through these Three Theological Virtues, I gain unspeakable joy. I saw in my journey that the universe is enwrapped by the Divine Will of God. The Heavens and all nature is an expression of the Mind of God. In order to experience pure joy, we must be capable of comprehending its existence all around us.
(less)

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May 15, 2012 Aynur Nabiyeva rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

1-й круг: здесь находятся души тех, кто не познал христианства, то есть тех, кто умер до принятия крещения или прожил жизнь добродеятельным язычником.

2-й круг: здесь мучаются души людей, предававшихся пороку сладострастия.

3-й круг: здесь подвергаются мучениям грешники, предававшиеся обжорству.

4-й круг: здесь томятся скупые и расточители.

5-й круг: здесь мучаются души грешников, предававшихся необузданному гневу и лени.

6-й круг: здесь наказываются еретики, сектанты и не верующие в Бога.

7-й круг: з...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone literate

Shelves: earned-its-fame, enriching-symbolism, long-but-worthwhile, vividly-described

If by "classic book" one means "a book that must be read by everyone because of everything it did and how powerful it still is," then this is a timeless classic. The three parts of the Divine Comedy are all fairly different, so I'll look at them one at a time.

Inferno. This is the most vivid, gripping part of the book. The punishments are strange but horribly fitting, the encounters are brief and filling, and the order of Hell's circles fitting.

Purgatorio. As a Protestant, I do not believe in Pur...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Robert rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Inferno

Even in translation, the beauty of the poetry and the clarity of Dante's image of Hell is wonderful. This is not my heritage or religion, but I found myself really absorbed in the story-telling, and curious about what came next.

(Small note: I read a different version than the cover I selected, but don't want to spend the time trying to find it among the 600+ versions in GoodReads. My version was translated by John Ciardi, and had gorgeous illustrations by Gustave Dore.)

A few things that s...more

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About Dante Alighieri

Dante Alighieri, or simply Dante (May 14/June 13 1265 – September 13/14, 1321), is one of the greatest poets in the Italian language; with the comic story-teller Boccaccio and the poet Petrarch, he forms the classic trio of Italian authors. Dante Alighieri was born in the city-state Florence in 1265. He first saw the woman, or rather the child, who was to become the poetic love of his life when he...more Dante Alighieri, or simply Dante (May 14/June 13 1265 – September 13/14, 1321), is one of the greatest poets in the Italian language; with the comic story-teller Boccaccio and the poet Petrarch, he forms the classic trio of Italian authors. Dante Alighieri was born in the city-state Florence in 1265. He first saw the woman, or rather the child, who was to become the poetic love of his life when he was almost nine years old and she was some months younger. In fact, Beatrice married another man, Simone di' Bardi, and died when Dante was 25, so their relationship existed almost entirely in Dante's imagination, but she nonetheless plays an extremely important role in his poetry. Dante attributed all the heavenly virtues to her soul and imagined, in his masterpiece The Divine Comedy, that she was his guardian angel who alternately berated and encouraged him on his search for salvation.

Politics as well as love deeply influenced Dante's literary and emotional life. Renaissance Florence was a thriving, but not a peaceful city: different opposing factions continually struggled for dominance there. The Guelfs and the Ghibellines were the two major factions, and in fact that division was important in all of Italy and other countries as well. The Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor were political rivals for much of this time period, and in general the Guelfs were in favor of the Pope, while the Ghibellines supported Imperial power. By 1289 in the battle of Campaldino the Ghibellines largely disappeared from Florence. Peace, however, did not insue. Instead, the Guelf party divided between the Whites and the Blacks (Dante was a White Guelf). The Whites were more opposed to Papal power than the Blacks, and tended to favor the emperor, so in fact the preoccupations of the White Guelfs were much like those of the defeated Ghibellines. In this divisive atmosphere Dante rose to a position of leadership. in 1302, while he was in Rome on a diplomatic mission to the Pope, the Blacks in Florence seized power with the help of the French (and pro-Pope) Charles of Valois. The Blacks exiled Dante, confiscating his goods and condemning him to be burned if he should return to Florence.

Dante never returned to Florence. He wandered from city to city, depending on noble patrons there. Between 1302 and 1304 some attempts were made by the exiled Whites to retrieve their position in Florence, but none of these succeeded and Dante contented himself with hoping for the appearance of a new powerful Holy Roman Emperor who would unite the country and banish strife. Henry VII was elected Emperor in 1308, and indeed laid seige to Florence in 1312, but was defeated, and he died a year later, destroying Dante's hopes. Dante passed from court to court, writing passionate political and moral epistles and finishing his Divine Comedy, which contains the Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. He finally died in Ravenna in 1321.(less)

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“In that book which is my memory,
On the first page of the chapter that is the day when I first met you,
Appear the words, ‘Here begins a new life’.” — 381 people liked it

“Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.
[Omnes relinquite spes, o vos intrantes]” — 194 people liked it

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