Where were we? Ah, yes, the two poets have arrived on the shores of Mt Pugatory - an immense mountain at the bottom of the world. The geography of the place is such that Purgatory proper does not begin for another couple of cantos (higher up the mountain); here at the bottom we have a region known as Antepurgatory. It is a sort of holding zone for those who are not yet able to ascend the mountain of repentance. It is a place reserved for all newcomers, and for those who were either excommunicated (but later repented), or those who held off their repentance until near death. Sort of sneaking in under the deadline.
It is interesting that of the 3 parts of the Comedy, it appears that only Purgatory has time. Dante comments on how it is night in Jerusalem (II.3) and we will learn that Mt Purgatory and Jerusalem share a common horizon. Inferno and Paradiso are both outside time; perhaps this is Dante's way of reminding us that repentance is something that requires time in this life, and action in this life.
In contrast to the entrance to the Inferno ("abandon all hope, you that go in by me), the opening of the Purgatorio is marked by hope. Three times in Canto II Dante speaks of hope: "3 times I saw... a light, I hop to see it come again? (II.16); "I make this journey...hoping one day to come back here again" (92); teh newly arrived pilgrims are eagerly running to the mountain, "rushing to find a place they hoped was there" (132). The road of repentance is not one of despair, but of hope. In the story, Dante of course is still alive and has yet to die, therefore he says that he hopes to return again (after his own death).
The souls of those who are destined for redemption arrive in this place ferried by an angel in a "boat so swift and light upon the wave" (II.41). It is a stark contrast with the ferry man of the underworld - Cheron and his ghastly crew. As the new souls arrive, Dante hears them chanting: In exitu Israel de Aegypto.(II.46) The quote is the beginning of Psalm 113 - "When Israel came out of Egypt." This is one of Dante's great themes. Mt Purgatory represents that process by which the will comes out of bondage and into liberty. Throughout the poem we will hear more songs at various stages; each song will give us a hint as to what the poet is pointing to in that section of the story. The Psalm which they are chanting now is not a Psalm of coronation or arrival, but rather a Psalm which recalls the beginning of redemption, and so Dante places it here in his work.
The newly arrived souls
seemed strangers to this place
they roamed about, while looking all around
endeavouring to understand new things (II.52-54)
This is new territory - no one has grasped or known the mystery of redemption, and so for these souls the place is strange and new. They do not know there way around by their own powers. The ferrying angel leaves his passengers and then returns back to the "Tiber's mouth". Apparently Rome is the place where the redeemed depart in order to reach this place. In a way Dante is saying that Rome - the place of the Church - is part of our journey to redemption. Dante will remind us though, that the "Church" is not by any means above the dictates of God; either of his mercy or his judgment.
Those who have followed Virgil through the Inferno will recognize a shift here in the Purgatorio. No longer is it assumed that Virgil (the figure of human reason) is able to guide Dante at every step. Human reason may have a grasp on sin, but it does not have a grasp on grace. When some newly arrived souls ask Virgil and Dante for direction, Virgil humbly answers: "we, like you, are all pilgrims here" (II.63). Human reason is not the supreme faculty in the realm of grace; it too is only a pilgrim, itself in need of redemption. Virgil, though, as a character in the poem, is both wise and humble enough to recognize the limits of his powers here on the shores of grace.
Human reason may have a grasp on sin, but it does not have a grasp on grace. When some newly arrived souls ask Virgil and Dante for direction, Virgil humbly answers: "we, like you, are all pilgrims here" (II.63). Human reason is not the supreme faculty in the realm of grace; it too is only a pilgrim, itself in need of redemption. Virgil, though, as a character in the poem, is both wise and humble enough to recognize the limits of his powers here on the shores of grace.
I'm going to take that one away for a while and think about it.
By the way, I'm a year behind you. I'm about a third of the ay into the 'Inferno', and finding it very rewarding.
Posted by: Tim Chesterton | March 03, 2010 at 04:28 PM