The Divine Comedy By Dante Alighieri Essay - 2228 Words

There is no doubt that Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) has made a momentous contribution to Medieval literature in general and Italian in particular. He is best known for his magnum opus, The Divine Comedy. It is a brilliant masterpiece of literature which students read as a part of their curriculum in literature courses, in order to probe the mind of a genius commenting on both temporal events and the spiritual, scientific, and philosophical themes and concerns of his predecessors and peers, thereby rendering it one of the most incredible works of the Middle Ages. As a matter of fact, the Divine Comedy has been widely read, from the time of its emergence until the present, due to its vivid and memorable depiction of three realms of the afterlife in the Roman Catholic milieu of his day: Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Dante’s Divine Comedy, though, touches upon very sensitive topics, including, but not limited to, racism, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia. In this paper, I would like t o focus specifically on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, particularly those incidents conveyed in the Inferno. Dante offers a number of harsh criticisms of the Abrahamic traditions, and treats some of their most eminent and historical figures in a dreadful manner. The question, which I intend to address, involves discussion of the current debate surrounding what are called â€Å"trigger warnings† in academic circles, in terms of whether or not such warnings are necessary in the teaching of the Divine Comedy.Show MoreRelatedThe Divine Comedy By Dante Alighieri873 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Divine Comedy† is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri. He wrote the epic sometime between 1308 and 1321, the year he died. It is considered one of the greatest works of world literature. He wrote â€Å"The Divine Comedy† while he was exiled from Florence, Italy (Bishops 182). â€Å"The Divine Comedy† recounts Dante’s idea of the afterlife. It is written in a first person perspective and follows Dante’s journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. At the time Dante wrote the Divine Comedy, Italy wasRead MoreThe Divine Comedy By Dante Alighieri1725 Words   |  7 PagesIn composing the Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri has created and brought to his readers three examples of literary brilliance. A masterfully written poem that still serves as a preface for contemporary heaven/hell/purgatory imagery, the divine comedy brings readers along for the ride on Dante’s path towards salvation. Depending on how gullible one may be, interpretation of the legitimacy of the Divine Comedy is varied; that is to say, although a few might believe Dante actually did somehow travelRead MoreThe Divine Comedy By Dante Alighieri Essay1691 Words   |  7 PagesDante Alighieri is known as one of the greatest Italian poets. One of Alighieri’s most famous works of art would be his poem called the Divine Comedy written in year 1320. The poem itself has a heavy Christian influence and it entails the journey of Dante, the protagonist as he travels through hell, purgatory and finally paradise. Additionally, the poem captures Dante’s journey as he gets closer to god. As Dante first enters Inferno, (also known as hell), he meets Virgil, who is not only his mentorRead MoreThe Divine Comedy Dante By Dante Alighieri1101 Words   |  5 Pagestry our best or we give up and follow other paths. Dante Alighieri, born in Florence, Italy in 1265, was born into a very power hungry age. Mor ality was not very high on someone’s to-do list. In the Divine Comedy Dante makes a point of writing about those that have done him wrong and placing them where the â€Å"belong†. But Dante does not only expose the bad people in his life but the bad people all over the world and he also includes himself. Dante writes his book to scare others into changing to beRead MoreThe Divine Comedy By Dante Alighieri1277 Words   |  6 PagesDante Alighieri wrote the Divine Comedy from 1308-1320. The story narrates Dante’s pilgrimage through hell, purgatory, and heaven while guided by Virgil and Beatrice. Throughout this journey Dante conforms himself to virtue, properly orders his passions, and conforms his conscience, â€Å"Dante s psychopoiesis operates through the mimetic deformation, reformation, and transformation of conscience† (Macready, 2). This essay will examine what a true conscience is according to the Catechism of the CatholicRead MoreThe Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri Essays983 Words   |  4 PagesThe Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri Dante Alighieris The Divine Comedy, Purgatory Dantes The Divine Comedy section of Purgatory is a depiction of Dante and his struggle to reach paradise. He is a character as well as a narrator. The purgatory section deals with the seven deadly sins and Dantes task of cleansing himself on his journey to heaven. He confronts many different people on his journey to self-righteousness, which help and guide him to his destiny. Accompanied by Virgil or reasonRead MoreThe Allegorical Messages of The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri 598 Words   |  2 PagesThe beginning lines of The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri indicate a pragmatic journey through the dark woods. It is soon evident that The Divine Comedy is in terms of an allegory. Midway through his life, Dante finds himself lost and in darkness. He is confused and unaware of how he has ended up in these dark woods. Dante soon comes across Italian poet Virgil, who will guide him through the Nine Circles of Hell. Dante Alighieri’ s The Divine Comedy: Inferno portrays Dante’s life and adventure throughRead MoreDante Alighieri and his Divine Comedy Essay596 Words   |  3 PagesDante Alighieri (1265-1321) was an Italian poet in the Middle Ages. The Divine Comedy, of which Inferno is a part, is considered the greatest literary work in the Italian language and a masterpiece. Inferno is the story of Dante the pilgrim’s journey from the dark wood of error through Hell, led by Virgil. This is Dante the pilgrims opportunity to recognize his sins; he is given the opportunity to see how the error of his ways will be punished if he does not change. In Dante’s Hell, the punishmentRead MoreThe Vaule of Personal Development in The Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri1209 Words   |  5 PagesIn Italian Dante Alighieri (1265) Poem, The Divine Comedy Inferno, Translated by Mark Musa. Dante demonstrates the value of personal development which is the ability to keep a balanced life and continuously learn f rom past mistakes in order to create a better future. Dante begins the poem wrapped in his own thoughts and suffering but by the end of the poem he begins to understand other’s sufferings beyond his own. In his growth throughout his journey he learns about pain and sorrow that he cannotRead MoreHow Literature Changed a Nation: Dante Alighieri and The Divine Comedy1146 Words   |  5 PagesMaking change in a time of dark beliefs and harsh criticism is a difficult task to achieve. The poet, Dante Alighieri’s world was one filled with spirituality and stigmas. Unlike many other artists of his time, he completed his most famous and influential work in Europe’s 1300’s. Dante’s piece, The Divine Comedy, demonstrates the journey one takes throughout life, to find one’s self and connect with the world and religion, all through three volumes of poetry. Of his talent, came a business of the