Posts tagged Contrition

PURGATORIO, Episode 239. Dante Faints For The Third Time In COMEDY: PURGATORIO, Canto XXXI, Lines 64 - 90

Beatrice has finished her work, laying out how the pilgrim Dante has failed in his poetic craft. He then is left to his final crack-up on the road to contrition—that is, his third fainting spell in COMEDY. He collapses with Beatrice much as he does with Francesca in INFERNO’s circle of lust . . . except Beatrice’s intent is far different from Francesca’s.

Mark ScarbroughFebruary 4, 2026Purgatorio XXXI, Purgatorio, Purgatory, The Garden of Eden, The Earthly Paradise, Beatrice, Confession, ContritionComment

PURGATORIO, Episode 238. Absence Becomes Elevated, High-Style Presence: PURGATORIO, Canto XXXI, Lines 49 - 63

Beatrice finishes her second salvo at Dante with a master class in a high, elevated style. She also carries on with her balancing act between literal and metaphoric speech. In all these ways, she is directing both the pilgrim to the journey ahead and the poet to the sort of poetry he will have to craft to explain the PARADISO experience.

Mark ScarbroughFebruary 1, 2026Purgatorio XXXI, Purgatorio, Purgatory, Confession, Contrition, Beatrice, The Garden of Eden, The Earthly ParadiseComment