Ancient World

Today’s episode on chapter 3 is a deeply psychological one, as the Journey begins as a threshold border which also functions as a process through the whole chapter. It starts on the first line, and ends on the last one.

Through this Dante is uniting the conceptions of Hell and the Underworld in the Jewish and Greek Traditions, opening with the Divine Justice that functions more like the neutral consequences of reality, how different types of behavior will lead to different types of outcomes in life. The Pilgrim is balking slightly at the harshness of this, at first refusing to accept these dynamics. Thereby also showing the natural instincts towards denying aspects of reality, even if they are important to acknowledge to begin the path to a better life and also happiness!

One thing that stands out in the chapter is the brief conversation with Charon, the Boatman, who tells Dante to leave as he is still among the living. This could be seen as the instincts of our sinful nature which could try to block the longer path towards a good life. In the story Virgil, here partly as Dante’s own Reason, resolves the situation by simply pointing to the overall goal of the Journey – which takes presedence over the in-the-moment emotional and instinctual reactions.

Charon, bringing the souls into the Underworld.

Overall the third chapter is also a thick marker as the end of the introduction of the whole Comedy, signified by Dante’s fainting as into a sleep in the last few lines. As readers we can now take a deep breath, and digest all the events since the opening in the Dark Forest. The necessity, preparation and ultimate goal are all in place. And thus the Rationality can guide and protect us –  and the Pilgrim – through the approaching horrors of the Underworld.