Dante's Purgatory - Cantos I and II Analysis

Explore a comprehensive lecture on Dante's Purgatory, focusing on Cantos I and II. Delve into the topography of Mount Purgatory and its moral system, contrasting it with Hell. Examine Dante's choice of Cato as the guardian of Purgatory's entrance, discussing themes of freedom, classical antiquity, and Judaism. Analyze the concept of exile and its impact on penitent souls in Ante-purgatory. Investigate the role of the Muses, the significance of Purgatory as the antipodes of Jerusalem, and the internalization of narrative. Gain insights into the exilic condition and the character of Casella. Conclude with a question and answer session to deepen understanding of these complex themes in Dante's work.

- Chapter 1. Purgatory as an Idea and as a Poetic Construction
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- Chapter 2. Canto I: A New Departure
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- Chapter 3. The Muses: Tonality and Orientation
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- Chapter 4. Cato
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- Chapter 5. Suicide; Purgatory as the Domain of Freedom
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- Chapter 6. Canto II: Purgatory as the Antipodes of Jerusalem: Exodus
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- Chapter 7. Internalizing the Narrative; The Exilic Condition; Casella
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- Chapter 8. Question and Answer
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