It occurred to me earlier that Dante, while attempting to be an epic poet of regarded as badass by all, is very much a stereotypical teenage girl. Firstly, he majorly fangirls when he meets his idol, Vergil, and continues to waltz through Hell with hearts in his eyes for the rest of his journey. Secondly, he idolizes the object of his affection, pining away for something beyond his reach - Beatrice. Thirdly, he has a Burn Book.
But, no. He doesn't just have a Burn Book in which he writes the names of his enemies to insult them. He literally burns them in Hell. If that doesn't spell "angst-ridden teenage girl," I don't know what does. Anyone who he was unhappy with in life he probably damned in death (I'm lookin' at you, Boniface).
(Yes, I spent my time doing this and it makes me very happy)
What do y'all think? Is Dante's Inferno the realization of his secret fantasies against his enemies? Is Dante a Regina George or a Cady Herring?
6 comments:
I agree with you, Iris. After reviewing history with Mrs. Quinet, I can see how Dante's personal opinions on people would subject them to certain areas of hell. However, generally we can all agree where Dante puts people. Throughout the Inferno, Dante approaches shades and asks them their story. He gives them a chance to explain why they're in the circle they're in. Dante allows the shades to explain themselves, and, therefore, allow them to verify Dante's choice. While Dante's book does seem like his own personal fantasy for those he despises, I think he does truly take into consideration those in each level and doesn't make blind decisions.
I hear what you're saying, Bonnie; however, I still think that Dante is a bit biased. We only hear Dante's side of the story. Yes, the shades get to tell their stories, but they are still ultimately controlled by Dante's pen.
I agree with you too, Iris!
In your first point about him majorly fangirling when he meets Vergil, I think he is basically any stereotypical teenage girl.
In your second point about him idolizing Beatrice, I think he is more like Cady. Cady spends 3/4 of the movie Mean Girls trying to get Aaron Samuels to notice her! She does crazy things like dumbing herself down to get the guy to notice her. Dante does crazy things like taking a casual journey through Hell because his love, Beatrice, told him to.
Your last point, The Inferno = Burn Book, is insanely accurate and very Regina of Dante. Boniface was a big part in the Black Guelph coup, which lead to Dante's exile. Dante then got revenge by writing an entire book about the struggle of exile, and then damns Boniface in the book. I think that Regina would have damned Cady if she had had the option. In this way, Dante's actions are very petty and very Regina.
Just like Cady as well he also changes the way that he acts because he is trying to impress someone. Dante believes the only way to make Virgil happy is when he doesn't have pity. In order to not have pity he becomes mean. Cady becomes mean in order to get Aaron's attention because that is what she is taught.
I definitely think that Dante is like Regina when it comes to seeking revenge. As y'all mentioned, Dante and Regina both places their enemies in a place that satisfies this urge for revenge. However, I think that there is a big difference between Regina and Dante. I think that Regina, through her burn book, is not only seeking revenge, but is ultimately seeking to hold power. I think that Dante is different from Regina in this way. I don't think that he is putting his enemies in hell as a way to elevate himself or make others want to praise him just because he hasn't committed some of the sins that his enemies have in hell. I think that Dante and Regina both get a satisfaction in getting revenge of their enemies and seeing them in misery, but I also think that their ideology and mentality is very different.
I appreciate the photoshop.
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