1. Canto 1: How does Dante 'set up' the journey here? What themes / ideas does he bring forth to accomplish this? What kind of journey is this? What is the pilgrim's state of mind at this time? Why?
Dante's is in search of redemption and his journey presents many obstacles along the way which which makes the path to redemption all the more difficult. Having gone "astray from the straight road" he must suffer before he can be redeemed. He has accepted that he has sinned and understands that he cannot easily be forgiven and must endure several trials and tribulations. The three beasts he first encounters (The Leopard of Malice and Fraud, The Lion of Violence and Ambition, and the She-wolf of Incontinence) possibly represent his past sins and he must face them as he begins his journey. He is tempted to "turn back to the wood" because he is afraid of these beasts and cannot get past them but the arrival of Virgil (reason) gives him strength to move forward. Though he is wretched and afraid, he has a certain faith in "God's grace" and this carries him through his journey.
2. In the other canti that you read for this day, choose one canto which particularly strikes / interests you. What reading / interpretation of this canto can you bring to the discussion on Tuesday?
I thought the third Canti "The Vestibule of Hell : The Opportunists" was interesting because they are not technically part of Hell. Because they chose to not choose sides during the rebellion of angels, they are said to have sinned. "As they sinned so are they punished." They chase an "ever shifting banner" and are stung by wasps etc for eternity. This seems a pretty terrible fate for not having truly sinned. Even though they are not in Hell, they are tortured. This does not seem particularly fair (to me) because they were not actively going against God as the rebellious angels did and yet they are being punished.
I thought the third Canti "The Vestibule of Hell : The Opportunists" was interesting because they are not technically part of Hell. Because they chose to not choose sides during the rebellion of angels, they are said to have sinned. "As they sinned so are they punished." They chase an "ever shifting banner" and are stung by wasps etc for eternity. This seems a pretty terrible fate for not having truly sinned. Even though they are not in Hell, they are tortured. This does not seem particularly fair (to me) because they were not actively going against God as the rebellious angels did and yet they are being punished.
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