PURGATORIO, Episode 259. The Seven Addresses To The Reader In PURGATORIO

The poet steps out of the story seven times in PURGATORIO to address his reader directly, sometimes to spur the reader on to action, sometimes to put a bridle on the reader's intentions or thoughts.

If we trace these seven addresses, can we find a developmental pattern? Or uncover Dante's changing attitude toward his work? Or toward his reader? Can we see a growing frustration or even fear about what lies ahead in COMEDY?

The segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:31] PURGATORIO, Canto VIII, Lines 19 - 21.

[05:23] PURGATORIO, Canto IX, Lines 70 - 72.

[08:00] PURGATORIO, Canto X, Lines 106 - 111.

[11:55] PURGATORIO, Canto XVII, Lines 1 - 9.

[15:39] PURGATORIO, Canto XXIX, Lines 97 - 105.

[19:20] PURGATORIO, Canto XXXI, Lines 124 - 126.

[22:22] PURGATORIO, Canto XXXIII, Lines 136 - 138.