The inferno of Dante

¶ … tracing the relationship of Dante and Virgil based on Robert Pinsky's translation, the Inferno of Dante.

Review The Inferno of Dante.

Both writers and scholars demonstrate their thinking and polarism in this epic poem. Dante's selection of Virgil to lead him through the underworld is significant unto itself.

Robert Pinsky is a distinguished poet and translator of "The Inferno of Dante" (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1994). The "Inferno" -- which is the first part of Dante's "Divina Commedia" -- remains a popular and compelling poem for modern readers; there have been at least fifty English versions of the "Inferno" in this century alone. Of course, any translator must rely on previous translations and commentators in undertaking such an ambitious task, and Pinsky has said that he depended largely on Charles Singleton's scholarly, painstakingly literal prose translation (1970), and on the best-known nineteenth-century American verse translation, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1867).

In a review of Pinsky's translation of the "Inferno" in The New Yorker, the poet Edward Hirsch points out that "The journey into the underworld is one of the most obsessively recurring stories of the Western imagination," and cites the classical examples of Orpheus, Heracles, Odysseus, and Aeneas, as predecessors to Dante's pilgrim. All of these descend into the nether regions of death and survive to tell about it -- tales that hold a distinct fascination in the way they open up vast, mysterious, complex worlds.

This paper will examine the relationship between Dante and Virgil as depicted in Pinsky's translation.

Dante and Virgil's Relationship

The Inferno is an epic poem by Dante Alighieri, in which he uses his mastery of language to combine elements of classical literature with contemporary Catholic perspective. As Dante journeys through the underworld, Virgil, the Roman poet, serves as his guide. Their relationship throughout poem is filled with symbolism. Actually, some of Dante's writing "borrows" from the underworld created in Virgil's Aeneid. Virgil symbolizes knowledge and safety to Dante, who is at times uncertain and timid about traversing such treacherous terrain.

It is worth noting that Dante and Virgil have similar attitudes and abilities in writing. They were both educated men, experienced and versatile in many different media and genres, and these traits are liberally displayed in their writing. Both tackle very difficult and enormous challenges: Virgil with the prehistory of Rome, and Dante with an ascent into heaven.

For example, in Canto II Dante hesitates at the Vestibule that marks the entrance to hell. It is only through Virgil's quiet reassurance that he finds the courage to continue. "Thy words have moved my heart to its first purpose. My guide! My Lord! My Master! Now lead on." At numerous other points also, Virgil shows his authority by dealing with deterrences that occur during their journey. As in Canto III, when the ferryman, Charon, refuses Dante passage since he is a living man. Virgil forces Charon to grant them passage. "Charon, bite back your spleen:/This has been willed where what is willed must be/and is not yours to ask what it may mean." Virgil's influence, however, is limited. His power is associated with the power of reason, and this power is limited in Dante's hell.

Virgil and Dante represent the Pagan and Catholic perspectives. The Catholic viewpoint is incorporated thoroughly into Dante's hell. While it still is largely similar to Virgil's underworld in the Aeneid, and it incorporates many pagan themes.

Throughout the poem, it is obvious that Dante views Virgil as a kind of paternal figure. Dante almost views Virgil as the forefather of poetry and perhaps sees himself as the future creator of this art. Although he respects Virgil as one of the great thinkers and proponents of the arts and science through logic and reason, Dante himself knows these are not enough unless coupled with faith in God.

Summary

Pinsky's translation communicates all of the raw emotions that Dante and Virgil experience as they make their descent into hell. In depicts Dante's thirst and search for divine knowledge while Virgil relies on the reason and art of the classical world. Dante represents the "next step" where man uses reason and knowledge to see a Higher Power.