Rumor has it :)

Seeing this picture from the famous teen drama, Gossip Girl, I have always been reminded of the own version of gossip girls I have in my campus.

At my age now, I do not actually or anymore have people whom I considered enemies. Rather, I would prefer them to be called as ‘annoying people’. These two annoying people are actually not related to me, not even my friends. Just enough to be my acquaintance! Why annoying then?

Both of them are just ordinary students of the same college as mine. We used to seeing each other around the college/campus for like three years now. But we never really talk seriously or that long. I’ve known both of them as jolly, clumsy, and fun people based on their actions only and their clique as well. To my surprise, one good friend of mine told me that these women see me as their enemy. For no acceptable or vivid reasons at all! Can you imagine that? Even my friend couldn’t take that idea. They just wanted to hate me merely because of the various hearsays they’ve heard about me. What an idiotic way of judging other people! To worsen the scenario, every time I am with my boyfriend or closest friends, they both act the opposite way around. They seemed so ‘caring’, ‘helpful’, and ‘friendly’. But behind me awaits their unpleasant comments. Really fake, I tell you. I guess anyone can notice that. Still above all these, all I can do is just be annoyed at them. No more, no less. I cannot hate them simply because I do not know them, or even their real personality.

Stuck in a room with them?

No freaking way! I never want to be caught in a room with the both of them. In case there are no other choices. I might accept it and just ignore them as if they were not with me. I would not intend to talk about the issue I had since they do not know that I have been aware of what they’re doing. If they try to talk to me, I’ll respond in a nice way. Ask me questions, I’ll answer them honestly. I’ll make sure to prove them wrong of their impression on me.

Divine Comedy: What Went Wrong?

Among the other works of Dante in the Divine Comedy, Paradiso is the least read and admired by people. Why? First, people claims that Paradiso lacks the irony of Inferno; the irony of an unreliable narrator which actually creates the tension between the knowledge of the characters in Hell and ours. The tension that generates the dramatic irony familiar to modern readers like us. Dante’s view of heaven simply portrays what is in his own personal human mind. Second, the kind of narrative in Paradiso was so long, as if novels and theologian lectures, that made Beatrice more like a school teacher than a lover. The choice of words in Paradiso itself made the readers less interested to continue reading and enjoying the material. How? There was one instance that Piccarda was asked by the pilgrim if she desires to go a little higher level in Heaven, the one near to God. She answer back and explain how satisfied and happy she was to stay in that level that she could no longer ask for more. That answer may appeal to the readers that each level in Heaven seem to be very bright and perfect already, very boring indeed for some. Dante’s heaven can be considered relentlessly social for the blessed souls there took great pain in showing what a happy society they have there compared here on earth! The only achievement of Paradiso for the sake of Dante, was that he was able to create a drama out of the people passing or getting along.

Dante Alighieri's Heaven

"The Paradiso"

After being accompanied by Virgil to the Hell, Dante was then directed to the gates of Heaven by Beatrice, his former love on earth.

Dante was able to clearly see what the heavens look like through the vision of God’s Heavenly court granted upon him. This court comprises the angels, the Blessed Virgin and God Himself.

The earth for Dante can be considered as stationary and central in the universe, based from the Ptolemaic astronomy of his time. Surrounding it are the sun and moon together with the five visible planets revolving at various speeds. Each of these seven (7) Heavenly bodies has its own speher, or ‘Heaven’. Exactly beyond them is the sphere of the fixed stars and Crystalline, the ninth and the last of the material Heavens. It was given such a name because of its transparency and invisibility. For the others, they call it the Primum Mobile for its infinite speed that causes the other Heavens to take their slower motions. All these considered, there are a total of nine (9) spheres.

These spheres are basically moved by the nine orders of the angels. All these together with the Heavenly bodies have a specific spiritual significance and certain influences of human life and character. Beyond these material spheres is the Empyrean, the Heaven of God, the only real home of the angels and the redeemed souls, and the outside of time and space. As we can notice, all of the things on Heaven is in perfect state and order, with even the souls in their correctly appointed Heavens which is exactly the contrary of Dante’s picture of Hell.

Dante particularly noticed that all of the blessed are equally high in Heaven, and close to God. They just differ in the part of Eternal Inspiration they are aware of. In reality, the things seen in each sphere are not actually there, but only appears to be there because they claim that particular celestial eminence. Just like God and the angels, they appear to be human just because that is what humans expect to see. Not only the blessed are of equal value in Heaven, they are also the truest substance there, and they cannot lie anymore. They have this beauty that is unexplainable, mare greater than the beauty they possess in their past life. Their passions can be associated with the glowing flame of the Holy Spirit in which they exalt.

Just like of Dante’s explanation of Hell, the level of one’s soul on either Heaven or Hell varies upon the graveness of one’s sins for Hell, and the greatness of God for the Heaven. However, the blessed are happy in their lot, wherever in Heaven they are.

Dante Alighieri's Hell

What comes first into your mind when you hear the word ‘Hell’?

Pain? Depression? Eternal Suffering? Lucifer?

Hell was known to be a place where the wicked or unrighteous souls are punished after their death. A place of never ending pain, turmoil, chaos and wretchedness. Up to our time now, this depiction of Hell has been widely accepted.

This early and most recognized non-religious view of Hell was originally depicted by Dante Alighieri’s ‘Inferno’. Inferno was part of a set of works, known as “The Divine Comedy”; it also includes ‘Purgatorio’ and ‘Paradiso’.

Dante’s Hell can be compared to a funnel that seemingly extends its way to the center of the earth. Some say it can be found beneath the city of Jerusalem, which happens to be the center of the northern hemisphere. At the bottom of this funnel awaits the betrayer and the enemy of God, Lucifer. The said funnel is made up of nine circles; each corresponds to a different classification of sinners. The position of the circle depends upon the graveness of sins. The ones near the bottom possess the most severe sins. And the ones at the top are the lightest.

The first circle, known as Limbo includes people who were still wandering where to go after their death, either heaven of hell. The next three, Lustful, Gluttonous, Avaricious, represent people with the sins of weakness. These sins comprise of damaging things that we do to ourselves. The other three, Wrathful, Heretics, and Violent characterize the sins of malice. Sins that were intended and usually involved actions toward other people are part of these sins. The last two and the gravest, Fraudulent and Treacherous symbolize the sins of betrayal and pride. Satan, who himself guilty of these sins, serves as the epitome of all evil.

Dante's description of the Hell has been very clear and detailed up to the point where Dante even equated the people in Hell to those he knew on earth...

Introducing GREATWK :)

It was the first day of our class in GREATWK. Geesh. Three books? Three professors in one term? How am I able to survive with that? I honestly admit I’m not into reading literary works well particularly books (except for some that has been recommended by my friends, professors, or family members and those that got catchy titles). Oh Lord, I pray those materials will be worthy of note. :p

As our first professor, Ms. Garcia explained the subject's system, the grading scheme, and the requirements (including my personal journal!), my mind kept wondering… The system appears to be cool somehow. This was the first time we can be with a specific professor for what, three to four weeks? Thinking of the adjustment we need to take makes the scenario a little difficult. But the very fact we’ll have various topics to discuss and apply our lives with sounds fun. Ohhh..I just hope I can do well in this course. Lord, please take in charge, I know you’ll help me….