rvanderwende

The quote “Oh human race born to fly upward, wherefore at a little wind dost thou fall. (The Divine Comedy)” is highly evident in cantos 16-20 in Dante’s The Inferno. This quote is saying that the human race is born to excel but a little push will send a human down. This was in the chapters when Virgil attempts to ferret Dante’s curiosity.

“This peeled and naked soul who runs before me around this wheel, was higher than you ting there in the world, in honor and degree. Guido Guerra was the name he bore, the good Gualdrada’s grandson. In his life he won great fame in counsel and in war.” (Canto XVI, lines 34-39) This is Virgil, Dante’s guide and enlightener, telling Dante about a soul they are beholding. The Soul was of the human race and was of a great lineage that was exalted amongst men. It is patent that a little wind pushed this soul down to hell, for that is where he abides now. There was also another similar case.

“The other who behind me treads this sand was Tegghiaio Aldobrandi, whose good counsels the world would have done well to understand. (Canto XVI, lines 40-42)” This is Virgil using his sagacious ways to enlightening the callow Dante. The man was doing well on earth, but he was somehow condemned to hell for a little wind carried him there. He was not the only one carried to hell upon the wings of mysterious wind.

“what kingliness moves with him even in Hell! It is Jason, who by courage and good advice made off with Colchian Ram. Later it fell that he passed Lemnos, where the women of wrath, enraged by venus’ curse that drove their lovers out of their arms, put all their males to death.” ( Cantos XVIII, lines 85-90) This is Virgil speaking to Dante again and explaining to the curious Dante what he is seeing. This man was a human and flew upward with courage but Virgil made it macroscopic that a wind of lust took him down. Much seen in these cantos reflects the fact that humans are born to excel yet are taken down with the wind.