Dante and the Road to Salvation, Part II

The Purgatorio

Let’s review hell.

• “Even the just man sins seven times a day.”• Dante’s situation in Canto 1• Three heavenly ladies in Canto 2• The Lesson of Francesca: Sin is….• The Lesson of Ugolino: Sin is….

Inferno

• Gruesome

• Spooky

• Majestic

Purgatorio: Busy

Purgatorio: Spectacular

Andrea Pierini,

“The Meeting of Dante and

Beatrice in Purgatory”

Purgatorio: Serene and Hopeful

HenryParkerPayne,“The Valleyof Vision”

Purgatory

• Themes of conversion and repentance

• Conversion Today?

Conversion Today

• Private affair – “me and God” thing– Confession (to priest in secret box)– Arguments against even going to confession

• 12-step programs – lock-step?• Short-term conversions – losing 10 lbs.• Zeal of the converted – bothersome? kooky?

The Lesson of CasellaPurgatorio, Canto 2

JohnFlaxman,“Casella”

The Lesson of Casella

• No complaining• Spurred from without (the Just Old Man)• Part of a “flock”• Child-like openness, curiosity, eagerness,

concentration, remorse• Pigeon-like vulnerability– first eating, not strutting or proud– then frightened into flight

What is Sin?

• Having a heart of stone• Refusing to admit responsibility • Complaining and blaming everyone else• Being too self-reliant and not reaching out to

others (either to comfort or for comfort)• Hanging onto the familiar (even when it is

unhappy and unhealthful)

What is Conversion?

• Having a heart of flesh– Being curious and reaching out– Becoming eagerly absorbed in experience– Taking pleasure in sweetness

• Taking responsibility and not complaining• Listening to correction from others• Priorities• Rushing to mend ways (even when you don’t

know what to expect)

The Lesson of Sapìa

Purgatorio,Canto 13

The Lesson of Sapìa

• Unabashed admission of guilt• Reliance on others (Pier Pettinaio and Dante)• Replacing sin with its opposite:

envy → fellow feeling and pleasure at God’s favor to Dante

• But also vestiges of sin?– “restore my name among my kinsfolk there”– scorn for Sienese still (“foolish hopes” and

“admirals”)?

The Lesson of BeatriceCanto 30

The Lesson of Beatrice

• Review of previous lessons– Child-like remorse– Spurred from without (Beatrice)– Priorities

• Public confession• Intense emotion• Clarity of right path – not hard or obscure or

unreasonable

Where next?

• The Paradiso– Focus on God– Communion of saints and Christian communities– Poetic pyrotechnics