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A review by strikingthirteen
The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri: Volume 2: Purgatorio by Robert M. Durling, Ronald L. Martinez, Dante Alighieri
5.0
Inferno showed us the punishments (torments, rather) of the damned. As much as you might have pitied these souls you can't help but feel (in most cases) that it's all well and good that they suffered since they were evil people and they deserved it. They did bring it on themselves, mostly. Limbo is another issue.
Purgatory brings more sufferings but this is suffering that hurts more to the reader. These are people who are happily bearing their punishment because once they are purified they can go to heaven. These are sinners but somewhat righteous ones. It breaks your heart to see these people smiling or singing or chanting as they ask Dante to send word to their living relatives - prayers from the righteous living help shorten their time on the mountain. It's hopeful while at the same time being pitiful.
As in Inferno, the imagery is fantastic and the verse is superb. The one thing that takes away from the experience - for me - is these constant interjections from Virgil or Dante on random things about Florence or whatever. Stupid to say, I know, since that is largely a part of the Comedy as Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven are but it just seems to be jarring here the way it wasn't in Inferno. Maybe it's the different translation.
Purgatory brings more sufferings but this is suffering that hurts more to the reader. These are people who are happily bearing their punishment because once they are purified they can go to heaven. These are sinners but somewhat righteous ones. It breaks your heart to see these people smiling or singing or chanting as they ask Dante to send word to their living relatives - prayers from the righteous living help shorten their time on the mountain. It's hopeful while at the same time being pitiful.
As in Inferno, the imagery is fantastic and the verse is superb. The one thing that takes away from the experience - for me - is these constant interjections from Virgil or Dante on random things about Florence or whatever. Stupid to say, I know, since that is largely a part of the Comedy as Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven are but it just seems to be jarring here the way it wasn't in Inferno. Maybe it's the different translation.