The terraces of Mount Purgatory, starting at pride and moving up beyond lust to the final staircase of the climb. Here are the episodes for PURGATORIO, Cantos X through XXVII, from the moment the pilgrim realizes what’s at stake until the climax of Virgil’s character in the poem. The episodes are in reverse order, so scroll to find what you want.

Posts tagged The Divine Comedy

PURGATORIO, Episode 76. Art, Creativity, And The False Promise Of The New: PURGATORIO, Canto X, Lines 28 - 45

Dante the pilgrim and (shockingly) Virgil arrive on the first deserted terrace of Purgatory proper to discover marvelous carvings in the white marble (although still no souls in sight). These first images of artistic production allow the poet to begin to develop his theory of art, one of the major achievements of his time on the terraces of Mount Purgatory.

Mark ScarbroughFebruary 11, 2024Dante, Purgatorio X, Purgatory, The Divine Comedy, The terrace of pride, Dante's theory of artComment

PURGATORIO, Episode 75. The Post-Gate Letdown: PURGATORIO, Canto X, Lines 1 - 27

Dante the pilgrim and Virgil, his guide, make it through the dramatic gate of Purgatory proper only to be met with silence: a hard climb to a deserted open spot that edges out toward the void. This passage from PURGATORIO, Canto X is an amazing bit of emotional drama: a Purgatorial letdown after we’ve finally gotten inside the world of the redeemed penitents.

Mark ScarbroughFebruary 7, 2024Dante, Purgatory, Purgatorio X, The terrace of pride, The Divine Comedy, ComedyComment