The Importance Of Love In Dante Alighieris The Divine Comedy

In Dante Alighieri’s poem, The Divine Comedy, Dante’s quest to find Beatrice symbolizes the importance of allowing love to be ones guide to divine understanding, for this is the only action which is completely controlled by God. Dante argues that although we have desires for sinful actions, humans have the ability to control these desires and decide our own fate. Furthermore, he argues that even if humans commit sin in life, if they will redemption before being sent to hell, they have the opportunity to purify themselves of purgatory. Thus, for Dante, choice is an ever present and vital part of life, and therefore, fate does not exist. But love for Dante is different. Dante argues that love cannot be controlled or chosen. There is no†¦show more content†¦Dante, the pilgrim, meets a man in Purgatory named Marco Lombardo, and he explains to Dante how everyone has free will, and that, â€Å"intellect† (Dante, Purgatorio XVI. 80) is what frees him â€Å"fro m the heavens’ influence† (Dante, Purgatorio XVI. 81). Lombardo is telling Dante that the more intellectual knowledge one has, the more control one has over their own fate. Lombardo goes on to tell Dante that, â€Å"The spheres [are what] start your impulses along† (Purgatorio XVI. 73) and that the soul â€Å"turns eagerly to all that gives it pleasure† (Purgatorio XVI. 90). Thus, our souls are drawn towards beautiful and pleasurable things first, and in order to make sure that these beautiful things aren’t coming from a â€Å"simple soul† (Purgatorio XVI. 87), which will deceive, one must â€Å"guide its love to higher things† (Purgatorio XVI.93). But thankfully Lombardo reassures Dante that he is â€Å"headed the right way to reach the stair that leads above† (Purgatorio XVI. 49). By following his desire for Beatrice, he is on his way to the divine. The idea that love is what is leading Dante in the direction of heaven is evid ent in Lombardo’s words. Virgil, human reason, does not only lead Dante physically through Purgatory, but he also leads him with his words as Lombardo does. Vigil tells Dante that he must â€Å"give [his] entire attention to [his] words†Show MoreRelatedThe Divine Comedy1705 Words   |  7 PagesItaly, brought about a literary revival. One of the writers that influenced this revival is Dante Alighieri, a 13th century poet from Florence, Italy. His world famous epic, La Commedia, or more commonly known as The Divine Comedy remains a poetic masterpiece depicting truth and sin. The Divine Comedy, through the journey into the three hells, expresses a universal truth of good versus evil. 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