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.
Monday, September 22, 2008
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