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dcsilbertrust's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
supermersh's review against another edition
3.0
This is a great version of Dante's Devine Comedy because at the top of each section there was a summary of the chapter. It helped a lot when I wanted to look back at events that happened previously. It was also good if some things in the chapter were unclear, I could read the summary to help me understand what was going on. I think the chapter summaries make this an ideal translation for students and casual readers alike.
My favorite of the Divine Comedy was Purgatario. Inferno is by far the most popular, but I thought the consequences to sin that Dante describes in this installment were more interesting. Rather than an ironic or hyperbolic punishment, the souls in purgatory are set to some sort of task that while it fits their sins, eventually will lead them to the self-improvement necessary to attain sanctification. I liked the spirit of hope and mercy present in Purgatario.
I disliked Paradiso. It seemed like just a bunch of ego stroking as Dante describes how all of his patrons are in Heaven, and talks about how his girlfriend (who is his guide throughout the whole thing) is just soooooo perfect. It's a shame that Dante decided to spend this section pandering to the egos of others rather than providing a satisfying conclusion to his Comedy.
My favorite of the Divine Comedy was Purgatario. Inferno is by far the most popular, but I thought the consequences to sin that Dante describes in this installment were more interesting. Rather than an ironic or hyperbolic punishment, the souls in purgatory are set to some sort of task that while it fits their sins, eventually will lead them to the self-improvement necessary to attain sanctification. I liked the spirit of hope and mercy present in Purgatario.
I disliked Paradiso. It seemed like just a bunch of ego stroking as Dante describes how all of his patrons are in Heaven, and talks about how his girlfriend (who is his guide throughout the whole thing) is just soooooo perfect. It's a shame that Dante decided to spend this section pandering to the egos of others rather than providing a satisfying conclusion to his Comedy.
antennaclasses's review
5.0
Granted, I only read the Divine Comedy and not La vita nuova because this was for class, but I still think this poem has locked itself into my heart like a puzzle piece. A grand exploration of humanity in a wide array of colors, timeless and endlessly relevant. Purgatory is the best book, though its power comes from its place within the larger trilogy.
hannchilada's review
2.5
I didn’t read this in Italian. This review might be incredibly different if I did. In English, the raw beauty of the poetry isn’t represented so well.
It was philosophically grueling but also rewarding. The use of cosmic irony is beautifully thought out, as is the symbolism between the pilgrim and the mortal traveling through life.
Dante didn’t have a wide enough audience in mind, though. His constant diatribes on references to minor characters bog things down, and make it seem so much less universal than it could. Because of it, it loses the lasting feeling something of this philosophical merit should have.
It was philosophically grueling but also rewarding. The use of cosmic irony is beautifully thought out, as is the symbolism between the pilgrim and the mortal traveling through life.
Dante didn’t have a wide enough audience in mind, though. His constant diatribes on references to minor characters bog things down, and make it seem so much less universal than it could. Because of it, it loses the lasting feeling something of this philosophical merit should have.
raloveridge's review against another edition
4.0
Yep, I definitely had to teach Dante's Purgatorio at the tail end of a goddamn pandemic. That's a thing I definitely did.
sophie_e_s's review
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sorceress_j's review
3.0
The Divine Comedy is considered to be one of the best written works in the history of literature. In some ways, I completely get the hype. In others, not so much, either out of confusion or just being lost in wave after wave of allegorical symbolism. But, I swear that symbolism started off as much more interesting than it ended up being toward the end of the Comedy, at least for me.
My breakdown is seriously:
Inferno: 4 stars
Purgatory: 3 stars
Paradise: 2 stars
It just went down in quality for me the further I went, mostly because it got more and more tedious the more people Dante encounters and how some of the same situations keep happening to him. By Paradise, not only was I confused about all that was going on...I was just flat-out BORED, and I know the translation has nothing to do with it. This translation is actually really readable, so I'm going to blame this on the story. Daring for an English major to do, I know, criticizing one of the most iconic works of all time. At the same time, I think I can acknowledge that I guess it just wasn't for me.
If I were to base the entire Comedy off of Inferno, I would have given it a higher rating no problem. Now, that was entertaining to read in spite of the sometimes gross imagery. I think it's because it must have woken some morbid curiosity within me, to read about these punishments and how they are carried out within each circle. Honestly, even though it is a tale of redemption, I would have been fine if Dante had learned his lesson right then and there and just went home. Purgatory and Paradise are nowhere near as entertaining, just take it from me.
My breakdown is seriously:
Inferno: 4 stars
Purgatory: 3 stars
Paradise: 2 stars
It just went down in quality for me the further I went, mostly because it got more and more tedious the more people Dante encounters and how some of the same situations keep happening to him. By Paradise, not only was I confused about all that was going on...I was just flat-out BORED, and I know the translation has nothing to do with it. This translation is actually really readable, so I'm going to blame this on the story. Daring for an English major to do, I know, criticizing one of the most iconic works of all time. At the same time, I think I can acknowledge that I guess it just wasn't for me.
If I were to base the entire Comedy off of Inferno, I would have given it a higher rating no problem. Now, that was entertaining to read in spite of the sometimes gross imagery. I think it's because it must have woken some morbid curiosity within me, to read about these punishments and how they are carried out within each circle. Honestly, even though it is a tale of redemption, I would have been fine if Dante had learned his lesson right then and there and just went home. Purgatory and Paradise are nowhere near as entertaining, just take it from me.