Reading Notes: Dante's Inferno, Part A - Paolo and Francesca

Paolo and Francesca

The story of Paolo and Francesca, two spirits that Dante meets in his travels through Hell, is an interesting one for many reasons. Dante and Virgil are in the second circle of Hell, which is where the punishments of Hell begin. It seems to be the circle devoted to the sin of lust, as everyone in it is being punished for some crime of love and passion. Virgil points out several notable figures, including Cleopatra, Helen of Troy and her lover, Paris, and Achilles. After Virgil has named the spirit, Dante points out two in particular, a couple that travels together, and says he wants to talk to them. They are the ghosts of Francesca da Rimini and the younger brother of her husband. She had had an affair with her husband's brother, and her husband killed them viciously. It is here that we see the order in the gravity of the various cardinal sins. Francesca and Paolo, who committed the sin of lust, are in the second circle. Those who commit the sin of lust are condemned to afterlife in of "hellish storms" and "warring winds," symbolizing their own lack of control and tempestuous emotions. Francesca and Paolo's murderer, however, is condemned to the ninth circle of hell. This circle does not represent one of the more general cardinal sins, but something that is considered especially grievous, the murder of a loved one. That is why the ninth circle is a frozen lake, because it is devoid of love and warmth. I did some research, and it seems that lust was considered one of the less egregious cardinal sins, as it is a "sin of the flesh" and not a spiritual sin. It is the only one we share with animals, actually, and because of that, is not as seriously condemned.

Francesca and Paolo committed only one act of adultery: when they were reading about King Arthur and his knights together, they kissed, and were discovered immediately by Francesca's husband. This painting depicts the two of them reading together. (Source: Patheos)

I read parts of The Divine Comedy for a lit class in high school, and the religious symbolism and the mixing of Roman pagan and Christian symbols was really interesting to me. This story perfectly exemplifies what I think are some of the most interesting aspects of Dante's work.

Story Source: Dante's Divine Comedy, translated by Tony Kline (2002).