Dante: The Journey And The Mission- How Did The Author Make Use of Females In The Divine Comedy?
When studying Dante’s Divine Comedy, it is easy to dismiss the significance and presence of women throughout, due to the domination of men and male characters. It is, however, important to note the significance of women and, in particular, the chosen historical figures the author uses to portray his view of women in general. Female figures are present throughout the three canticles of Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso, and their significant nature is not to be ignored. Although a large proportion of scholars would choose to analyse the character of Beatrice, Dante’s principle inspiration for the Divine Comedy as well as the work of Vita Nuova, when observing the importance of …show more content…
In this essay I will analyse Dante’s use of females within the epic Divine Comedy and deconstruct the reasoning behind the notion in which they are represented throughout. I will discuss the methods in which Dante as an author viewed women from a social and historical viewpoint and how they are expressed in a literary sense due to the spiritual contexts and common beliefs of society and the church in the 13th century and how they aided Dante’s opinions, thus forming an image created in the Divine Comedy.
One way in which the author makes use of females in the Divine Comedy is by choosing and portraying certain female characters to represent the idea that women are more lustful, less reasonable and ultimately inferior to men. Alighieri’s view of women in a social context were shaped by both the Church and the theories of influential philosophers of his time. Alighieri was known for his huge interest in philosophy, reflected throughout the Divine Comedy. It is clear to any reader of the epic that the author was spiritually inspired
When studying Dante’s Divine Comedy, it is easy to dismiss the significance and presence of women throughout, due to the domination of men and male characters. It is, however, important to note the significance of women and, in particular, the chosen historical figures the author uses to portray his view of women in general. Female figures are present throughout the three canticles of Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso, and their significant nature is not to be ignored. Although a large proportion of scholars would choose to analyse the character of Beatrice, Dante’s principle inspiration for the Divine Comedy as well as the work of Vita Nuova, when observing the importance of …show more content…
In this essay I will analyse Dante’s use of females within the epic Divine Comedy and deconstruct the reasoning behind the notion in which they are represented throughout. I will discuss the methods in which Dante as an author viewed women from a social and historical viewpoint and how they are expressed in a literary sense due to the spiritual contexts and common beliefs of society and the church in the 13th century and how they aided Dante’s opinions, thus forming an image created in the Divine Comedy.
One way in which the author makes use of females in the Divine Comedy is by choosing and portraying certain female characters to represent the idea that women are more lustful, less reasonable and ultimately inferior to men. Alighieri’s view of women in a social context were shaped by both the Church and the theories of influential philosophers of his time. Alighieri was known for his huge interest in philosophy, reflected throughout the Divine Comedy. It is clear to any reader of the epic that the author was spiritually inspired