Beatrice and Dante encounter their first soul in Mercury. He speaks, then shines so bright that even his features disappear. Not so for the poetic craft in the passage which becomes more prominent, even self-conscious, as the poet is perhaps intent on fulfilling his vows to his readers.
Read MoreDante and Beatrice speed into the second realm of Paradise: the sphere of Mercury. They encounter a crowd of souls, first as metaphors, then as individuals, as the poetry in the canto becomes more self-conscious, possibly expressing the poet’s doubt or even changing the contract between him and his reader.
Read MoreAt last, Beatrice begins to reveal the truth about moon spots: They can’t be understood with natural philosophy (or physics), but only with metaphysics. The universe rains being down onto itself, diversifying “what is” to hold the final unity of “to be” behind everything.
Read MoreThe plot returns to PARADISO! Our pilgrim Dante turns to Beatrice . . . to see her staring into the sun. So he does the same, becoming a reflection of her glory as he also sees the sparking wonder of the heavens above him.
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