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Entry 7

“We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell”

Oscar Wilde quotes

 

            Life, built upon the good intentions of a moral life, has often been fragmented by the very essence of human nature. As each of us are given an internal potential for both success and failure, we ultimately decide which path we desire to take. For the men who gave in to both intrinsic and external temptation, failure devoured their morality. These men allowed animate pleasure to consume the light of God’s path; their sins leading them to the gate of hell. These sins bear a punishment which deteriorates the very pleasures which brought them to hell. As human beings, walking the soils of earth, their own pleasures succeeded the divine way; so here, their once desired pleasures of human nature are abused and tormented. These punishments were not known on earth, and these men fell into hell do to their own ignorance; inevitably creating their own hell. Even the men who lived in secrecy find no pardon, as acts of sin require no light to be identified. As Dante and Virgil reach the limits of hell, they witness a certain punishment for each sin, regardless of its magnitude or humanly body. These acts are not justified as simply punishments for bad souls, but the castigation of those who chose internal and external satisfaction over humanly duty.

            As Dante and Virgil descend to the limits of hell, the deepest sins are exposed. Betrayal, the ultimate sin, is categorized in three area; those against kin, guest, and master. In Caina, (after Cain, who slays his brother in the Genesis) souls are contained in a bed of ice, unable to move. These souls betrayed their kin. Although in earth, the betrayal of family is often kept in secrecy, these souls do not go unpunished, regardless of the secrecy. By putting themselves above those in their own blood lines, and ultimately God, solidifies there icy bodies in the depth of hell. Another level of the ninth circle, Cocytus. Here Dante finds two men, contained in ice, one constantly gnawing at the flesh of the other. These men identify themselves, and tell Dante their stories of earthy lives. They explain that the man who constantly rips at the flesh (Count Ugolino) was betrayed by Archbishop Ruggieri by holding him captive and starving him and his children. This act of death by starvations requires Ugolino to constantly tear at the man who betrayed him and his family, eating the man that withheld his survival. This shows that in life, the acts commited are punishable by similar acts against oneself. Further into the depths of hell, Dante finds Ptolmea. Here he finds two men Friar ALberigo and Branca D’Oria, both whom are sent to hell even prior to their death. There own actions, and attempt at self advancement sent them to hell even before they’re humanly figures could leave earth.

             Men, so consumed in pleasure and self-fulfillment, become disillusioned with their own immorality, and lead their own souls to the depths of hell. These men find their once exaggerated senses and pleasures abused in the afterlife, contained in the gaits of hell. There self created hell on the soils of earth brought them to their own sin induced misery, unaviodable by their immoral souls.

Entry #6

He fashioned hell for the inquisitive.
  [Lat., Curiosis fabricavit inferos.]
      - Saint Aurelius Augustine (Augustine of Hippo),
        Confessions (bk. XI, ch. XII)

 

 Hell, though the locality for damned souls, holds far more then just eternal punishment. The journey of Dante and Virgil prove far more complex then simply observation, as Hell transforms into a place of inquisition. Through Dante’s gradual enlightenment, a deeply rooted theme immerges from the very essence of Dante's literature, and can be seen in each level of castigation. Dante, once simply seeking a alternative route to The Mount of Joy, has now exposed his own internal curiosity for Hell. Although fear first consumed him, he now sees Hell with objective eyes, questioning those who reside within its decimal walls. Ultimately, Dante is representing humanity; as they often posses a fear induced ignorance of the “parade of broken souls” (243), but can find self-advancement by absorbing the true horrors of humankind’s surrender to temptation.  

            As Dante’s animate soul absorbs each sin, and its internal punishment; his thirst for enlightenment cannot be truly quenched, much like that of the bloated falsifiers who crave the water that fills their waterlogged limbs. As Dante and Virgil’s journey descends into the eighth Bolgia, Dante’s curiosity does not diminish. Despite horrendous sights of the damned soul, he desires to remain in the eighth Bolgia, and asks his astute guide if he can communicate with those who abused the gifts they possessed. These souls wander the depth of Hell, contained in great flames. These flames conceal them from view, as they traveled the soils of earth in hiding. Also, due to their abuse of virtue and God’s offerings, the flames will forever abuse their bodies and minds, consuming the things they thought trivial in life. Dante sees these flames in constant movement, and says “..if these souls can still speak from the fire, oh let me stay until the flame draws near! Do not deny me: You see how fervently I long for it!” (222) Virgil aknowledges his request, and summons the flames which pass before them, acting as an intermediary. After talking to Ulysses, they decend further into the depth of Hell. As they reach the 9th Bolgia, they see men constantly circling. As they migrate around the circles edge, theyre flesh is repeadidly torn by the tip of a protectors sword. With each tear, comes rebirth of skin, and theyre wounds are healed only to be torn again. These sinners undergo this punishment for eternity due to their seperation from they're own family and their God. Dante wishes to stay here, transfixed on the words of sinners. Virgil urges Dante to take his attention from the wounded souls and continue on their journey deeper into Hell, but Dante wishs to continue in the 9th Bolgia, still desiring to absorb more from these sinners. The Italians present in this level beg Dante to bring warnings back to certain living men, as if attempting to establish they're own existence outside of Hell's gates. Due to Dante's internal curiosity, he remians in the ninth bolgia to further absorb the stories of those within it.

       Dante's inquisition in Hell is as prominent as the punishments given, as each soul's self-inflicted eternal punishment can only provide Dante with a more profound existance on Earth. Although Dante's early journey resided mostly in the guidance of Virgil, Dante has found his own curiousity to immerge within the gates of Hell. Despite the horrors seen in Hell, Dante desires to absorb all aspects of Hell itself, including the punishments which mimic each souls eternal sin. Dante begins to analyize his surroundings, gaining a more deeply rooted inquisitive nature he did not posses when he embarced on this journey as simply a unenlightened follower. With each level of Hell these men descend into, Dante absorbs each sin, not as a horrific image, but as a lesson in the route of self-discovery.  

cantos 6-11

“If the present world go astray, the cause is in you, in you it is to be sought”

           -The Divine Comedy

 

As Virgil leads Dante deeper into hell, Dante begins to witness the true significance of each level of hell. They first encounter the Gluttons, a group of sinners who became lost in the indulgence of cuisine and beverage. These souls were contianed in a sludge of decaying waste, their bodies swollen. Cerberus, the three-headed beast who is the punishers of those who had become engulfed in the pleasure of taste, has become a victim of those who have sinned, finding himself in hell regardless of the beasts own actions in the mortal world. He feasts on the flesh of the Gluttons enlarged carcasses, as they lie in the garbage like filth. Their punishment is not simply the arbitrary wrath of God, but mimics the sins these souls have commited. The filth they are contianed in represents their exsive indulgence, which transformed from a survival mechanism to a wasteful action of self pleasure and false satisfaction. Their flesh, torn and chewed by the mouths of Cerberus, must indure this simply because of their own actions on earth. Each mark Cerberus's teeth make represent the inability of the sinners to understand that their meals must have a purpose of physical fullfilment, rather then just a mindless task. As their journey continues, Virgil and Dante encounter deeper levels of hell, finding more sinners punished for their actions on earth. As they continue, Dante grows less sympathetic with the sinners, as he sees that each sinner must endure a punishment caused only by themselves. The punishment in each level of hell is not truely created by the punishers, but is more of a self inflicted punishment created only by the actions of the sinners themselves. It is this message of enlightment through a punishment created only by the indivisuals actions that connects the quote from the divine comedy to cantos 6 through 11.   

 

 

“A fair request should be followed by the deed in silence.”

 

            With a failed attempt to scale a small hill, blocked by three ravaging beasts, the character depicted by Dante meets a Poet who offers to guide him on another path. Dante’s character, though bewildered by his upcoming journey, must learn to accept his fated trials and undoubtedly follow his leader Virgil. This quote portrays the necessity of unquestioned following regardless of what is witnessed on the journey.

            As Dante’s character first encounter’s Virgil, he is enlightened to his imminent journey, yet does not fully comprehend where the path will truly lead him. Despite this, he follows Virgil silently, demanding no answers to hesitation. “And he then: “Follow.” And he moved ahead in silence, and I followed where he led.” (p.32, lines 130-131) This quote illustrates Dante’s character’s ability to peruse an unknown and attempt a journey he will only understand upon observation. Although he does not possess the solidity in his travels, he follows Virgil as requested with no vocal hesitation.

            As they descend upon their journey, Dante’s character begins to question the significance of their travels. He does not find himself worthy of Virgil’s vision of their approaching journey. Virgil explains that Beatrice had requested Virgil’s guidance in divine concern for his welfare, and that he must not hesitate with such solid support and guidance. “And now what ails you? Why do you lag? Why this heartsick hesitation and pale fright when three such blessed Ladies lean from Heaven in their concern for you and my own pledge of the great good that waits you has been given?” (p.38, line 119-123) This quote shows that although Dante’s character temporarily possesses unstable beliefs about his journey, he must not question a voyage so solidly backed by divine figures.

            As the two descend to edge of hell, and begin to absorb the radiating despair of souls in a limbo which will forever lack hope, Dante’s character again hesitates. Witnessing the anguish and assumed terror in Virgil’s eyes, Dante’s character questions the competence of his guide and the future turmoil they will encounter.

“Death-pale, the Poet spoke: ‘Now let us go into the blind world waiting here below us. I will lead the way and you shall follow.’

 

And I, sick with alarm at his new pallor, cried out, ‘How can I go this way when you who are my strength in doubt turn pale with terror?’

 

And he: ‘The pain of these below here, drains the color from my face for pity, and leaves this pallor you mistake for fear.

 

Now let us go, for a long road awaits us.’ So he entered and so he led me in to the first circle and ledge of the abyss.” (p.50, line 13-24)

 

 

 

 

Dante Alighieri

 

Youth:

1.      Mother died, father remarried

2.      orphaned during adolescence

3.      Studied Vernacular lyrics

a.       Through his studies he became friends with Guido Cavalcanti

Middle Years:

1.      Fought in battle of Campaldindo and captured Caprona

2.      Joined the guild of Apothecaries

3.      Became a member of the “Council of the Hundred.”

a.       Advanced to fill one of six ambassadorships

Older Years:

1.      Elected a Magistrate, known as a prior

2.      Accused of graft and corruption in office

3.      Voluntarily exiled under the penalty of being burned alive.

           

church vs. state.not quite a wwf fight.

 

Humanity is created by both the indivisual components of the internal proccess and by the subconscious manipulation of outside influence. These forces do not only create an indivisual, but form the idealogies which control all human process. These beliefs, although unique to the indivisual mind where they remain captive, can only be formed through the gradual acummulation and rejection of the ideals of others, ultimatly forming a religion, or a series of ideals, as ungeneric as humanity itself, (and just as crucial). Without these beliefs humanity could not thrive. Each event in history, from the crusades to the war in Iraq, is rooted in the very notion that in life, the indivisual will contantly absorb, distribute, and reject the idealogies that ultimately form religions and cultures. Despite this overwhelming attribution  several aspects of human life which are directly affected by the beliefs intwined in the religious system, have attempted to purge these fundamental idealogies. The American judicial and political systems were formed primarily on the rejection of previously adopted religous forces of the monarchy systems of old world European Empires. Although there strong resentment for forced religion caused them to flee for religious and political freedom, this escape did not remove them from religion altogether, as humanity can never exhist withouot some form of solidified beliefs, even if they are contradicting. The founders of this nation desired freedom of religion, not abstraction of religion. The idea of a seperation from church and state is correct in princible, as it allows the nation to exhist without a solidified religous corrilation (i.e one religion followed by the majority of the population), however it can never truely exhist. The structure of religion can be removed from politics, but as beliefs are the very essense of the political and judicial system themselves, they will ultimatley shape every aspect regardless of a policy of seperation.

Leadership=anyone but bush. but seriosly..

The fundemental theory of our free society rests upon the sturdy back of the politcal system.  Shaped and guided by the hands of men who detested the very essence of dictatorship, the idealogies which comprise our governmental system are now ingrained within each citizen. Yet despite it's assumed accuracy the politcal system is undeniably flawed. This flaw lies not within its structure, nor its written documents, but within its human extensions. This is not the flaw of human nature, but the flaw of human ignorance, as we as indivisuals often see no need for a consise politcal system, one in which leaders are not detremental to the politcal system, but simply a radiation of American ideals. In other words, we need leaders who do not simply lead a nation, but hold justified agreement with the idealogies they protect. We must understand that "leading" is not an action, but a mental and physical process which only resides within human character. With this misconception of leadership, a new problem has immerged.  With the lack of mental and political compitance, we have attempted to balance our system with personal connection and fiscal extravagance. As actual leaders have become barren or invisible to the public eye, we have now found their replacement in empty promises and family ties.  In the stabilty of a pleasentville like reality, this form of leadership holds no injustice to a crisis free population. Yet in our modern world; suffocated by social, natural, and economic turmiol, this form of leadership (or lack of leadership in todays case) has collpased as readily as the leeves in New Orleans, proving detrimental not only to there family name, but to the thousands of American people sacrificed in the hands of there incompitance. Yet even at the hands of disaster, key leaders, as well as the American public remain ignorant to the overwhelmingly apperent fact that personal ties and abundant riches cannot replace the key aspects requied of a true leader. It is now apperent that the stabilty found within the fundamental political system have been slowly evaporated by the inconsievable faults of the human hands which guide it.