Dante

   Dante

                      il Sommo Poeta

 

Born: June 1, 1265, Florence

Died: September 14, 1321, Ravenna

                                                    

                                                The Divine Comedy

Volume 1: Inferno

"Do not let fear defeat you, for whatever be his power, he cannot stop our journey down this rock" (Dante, 129).

"Do not fear, the journey we are making none can prevent: such power did decree it." (Dante, 141).

Life is a journey. We are on our path and outcomes can be determined by choices and opportunities. Although there may be higher plan in place. There will be the good times and the bad times. Navigating, managing and negotiating through the trials and tribulations and being grateful and recognisng the gifts is the lesson we are learning. A helping hand from guides and mentors for some people God will help you get through.

"Follow your constellation and you cannot fail to reach your port of glory (...). " (Dante, 207).

"Mystical elevation to the third heaven (...). " (Dante, 85).

Follow a higher calling of morality, ethics, integrity, accountability.

"It is at the command of his guide, Reason, (...). (Dante, 221).

Be guided by reason or passion? Listen to your heart? Be reasonable? what's the risk or pay off?

In any case be mindful...

"Do not attempt to stop his fated journey; it is so willed there where the power is for what is willed; that's all you need to know." (Dante, 110).

The journey is in life and death. Must trust the universe. All is unfolding as it should for better or worse.

nothing to fear but fear itself.
A good heart will get through

page 95 #83
Charon, the boatman of classical mythology who transports the souls of the dead across the Acheron into Hades.

Click Here to Listen to "Don't Pay The Ferry Man" by Chris DeBurgh

page 95 #91-93
Another way, by other ports
go over it, around it, through it - just keep on truckin' (Grateful Dead)

DUALISM
dark/light
mountain tops/valleys
hope/fear
then/now
false/truth
misery/joy
blessed/cursed
high/low
courage/coward
fate/will

                                                                         Cerberus

I am impressed by the mythological beasts in the Inferno. Great reading before Halloween.
I was amazed by the elaborate descriptions, details and depth of the circles. The cast of characters is also well thought out. As mentioned in class, Dante is passing judgement.

 My circles of judgement on modern day sinners and monsters would be:

1. Ignorant, rude, low brow people, snobs
2. spitters and small minded people, cliques
cheaters and liars
3. Producers of and corporations that use; red Dye #40, sugar, MSG + Monsanto
Children's advertisers who do not have the best interest of the child in mind.
4. UFC, Bullies, violent threatening people
5. Corrupt government and corporations
6. Environmental polluters and nature destroyers & threats to food security
7. thieves and gangs, pimps
8. poachers/ abusers of humanity and animals
9. paedophiles, rapists, kidnappers, murderers

came across this while searching images - wow! mythological beasts on stamps!
http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Gods/HerculesStamps.html

                                                                          Geryon

Wrongdoings will be punished, no doubt about that/ layers of evil, layers of suffering- a dumping ground
" (...) where all the evil of the world is dumped." (Dante, 130).

there are options - choose your poison - the lesser evil

Have your explanations, justifications & reasons ready for judgement day!