Embedded Files
DIVINE COMEDY: XVI CANTO OF INFERNO
DIVINE COMEDY: XVI CANTO OF INFERNO
Inferno, Canto XVI: The Infernal Hum
In the XVI canto of Hell, Dante finds himself in the third circle, where those who are violent against God, nature and art are punished. In this context, Dante uses the image of bees to describe the sound of the Phlegethon waterfall, one of the infernal rivers:
«Già era in loco u' s'udia 'l rimbombo
de l'acqua che cadea nell'altro giro,
simile a quel che l'arnia fanno rombo»
The sound of the waterfall is compared to the buzzing of bees in a hive. This simile suggests a sense of turmoil and chaos, which is well suited to the atmosphere of Hell and the condition of the souls of the violent. The buzzing of bees, insistent and chaotic, reflects the inner turmoil and suffering of the damned.
DIVINE COMEDY: XVIII CANTO OF PURGATORY
DIVINE COMEDY: XVIII CANTO OF PURGATORY
Purgatory, Canto XVIII: The Hive of Knowledge
In the XVIII canto of Purgatory, Dante Alighieri uses the image of bees to illustrate the concept of innate knowledge in man. In this song, Virgil explains to Dante how the newly created human soul is equipped with a "first desire", an innate desire to know and learn.
Virgil compares this "first desire" to the bees' instinct to produce honey:
«Onde l'egno intelletto da principio
alle prime notizie; e questo è l'arte
di fare, e quella poi ch'è da licire»
Just as bees are guided by an innate instinct in their honey production activity, in the same way man is endowed with an innate ability to acquire knowledge. This ability, according to Virgil, is a divine gift, a spark that allows man to distinguish himself from other living beings.
The image of bees working to produce honey therefore becomes a metaphor for man's innate knowledge, a capacity that pushes him to seek the truth and learn from the world around him.
DIVINE COMEDY: XXXI CANTO OF PARADISE
DIVINE COMEDY: XXXI CANTO OF PARADISE
In the Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri employs a rich variety of natural images to illustrate spiritual and moral concepts. An emblematic example is found in the XXI canto of Paradise, where he compares the movement of the angels in the Candida Rosa to a host of active bees.
The Candida Rosa is the area of Paradise where the blessed reside, described by Dante as a place of pure bliss and harmony. In this context, the angels move with a grace and synchrony that recalls the laborious flight of bees. Dante writes:
«Sì come schiera d’api che s’infiora
una fiata e una si ritorna
là dove il suo laboro s'insapora»
This bee metaphor conveys the idea of harmonious and incessant movement, a symbol of perfection and celestial joy. Bees, known for their industriousness and for the production of honey, represent work which, in the paradisiacal context, is free of effort and full of sweetness.
The use of natural images such as that of bees is not isolated in Dante's work. In various passages of the Divine Comedy, the poet uses natural elements to express abstract concepts, making his spiritual visions more tangible and understandable.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse