Reading out loud from the first two cantos of the Comedy last night, it ‘s striking how clearly the overall structure is implied, but how constrained the inner description of the Pilgrim is. The feeling of being in a small, dark space and trying to break out but being blocked. And how the reason is starting to aid the process from the beginning with different arguments, and how it is being motivated by the spiritual and the Grace of the Spiritual, symbolized by Mary, Lucia and Beatrice.
It’s also striking how strongly the Reason is chosen as the close Guide and the first building block of doing the work of the process. The first “spark” is from the spiritual, but the day to day conscious workings is being done by the rational intellect and knowledge. Entering on that “deep and rugged road”.