Canto 31 Bella Boogaerts Summary In the beginning

Canto 31 Bella Boogaerts

Summary In the beginning of Canto 31 Beatrice asks Dante “what were you thinking? ” (31. 11) which leads Dante to confesses his sins. Beatrice tells him that her death should have helped him grow in his faith and push away worldly goods instead of using the for comfort. Overcome by emotion Dante faints. When he wakes he finds himself at the river Lethe where he is cleansed of the painful memory of his sins with the help of a lovely woman, Matelda. After he had been “washed clean / she sent [him] to the dance of the four beauties” (31. 103 -104). The lady shows Heavens greatness by telling Dante that in early paradise “[they] are nymphs, in Heaven [they] are stars” (31. 106). 2

Important Characters Dante - Author and pilgrim in the text who journeys through hell, purgatory, and Heaven Beatrice - Dante’s love who acts as a saintly figure, she is his guide through Heaven Matelda - Occupant of the Earthly Heaven who explains to Dante the places properties 3

Important Themes repentance and rebirth - Through the use of the river Lethe, the pain of sin is washed from Dante. This can be seen as a comparison to baptism when original sin and all other sins are washed away. fire - remembrance of hell and is the opposite of water which washes away sin. It shows they are not in Heaven yet. love - In this canto love is seen between Dante and Beatrice. Dante acts to make her happy. 4

Stylistic Features and important images similes: “As a catapult shatters when it’s cranked/ so tightly that it snaps the ropes and bow, / slinging the lance less boldly to the mark, ’ so did I shatter then, weighted down so low/ under that burden, fluttering sighs and tears, / and the voice through its pass came halt and slow”(31. 16 -21). In this simile Dante tells the reader what he felt when Beatrice puts him on the spot. “As a child, / ashamed, stares at the ground and cannot speak, / but hears and knows himself for what he is, / sorrowing in the knowledge, so stood I” (31. 64 -67). Lethe - The river of Lethe is used to cleanse Dante of his sin. In ancient times people wished to drink out of Lethe to forget their suffering and pain. By forgetting their sins they remember the innocent life they used to have. 5

In this art piece Dante is getting washed in the river Lethe with the help of Matelda. Matilda acts as John the Baptism in this piece. She is preparing Dante for Heaven and paving the way for Beatrice as John did for Jesus. 6

Questions on Canto 31 The character of Matelda can be compared to St. John the Baptist. Why? What similarities do they share? Please go deeper than what I mentioned in my project and if you would like to compare her to another character in the text feel free to did that too. How do fire and water contrast each other in this canto? What does each one add? What are the four beauties that are mentioned by Matelda near the end of Canto 31? 7

Works Cited: Alighieri, Dante. Purgatory. Translated and edited by Anthony Esolen. New York, Modern Library, 2004. “CANTO XXXI. ” PERPETUAL ASTONISHMENT, perpetualastonishment. weebly. com/purgatorio/canto-xxxi. Esolen, Anthony, translator and editor. Purgatory. By Dante Alighieri, New York, Modern Library, 2004. 8

Hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading !! 9