A review by sidharthvardhan
Purgatorio by Robert M. Durling

3.0

“Ah me! how different are these entrances
From the Infernal! for with anthems here
One enters, and below with wild laments”

Purgatorio isn’t half as interesting as Inferno. It is a bit like shower children have to take after being beaten for having spoiled their clothes in mud and before they can have their food. And so it neither is punishment (Inferno) which is at least reminiscent of joy contained in playing with mud (sin), nor offers the benefits of paradise (delicious food).

To be honest, I never got the big deal with it – there is no such concept in Hinduism and Islam, you either get paradise or hell. In Purgatory, you have to pray to God and saints, and regret your sins –which is far worse than anything in Inferno. Even Dante seemed to have fallen dull, having already put all his enemies in Inferno and little else to describe, he rather discusses philosophy with Virgil:

“The natural was ever without error;
But err the other may by evil object,
Or by too much, or by too little vigour”

But only thing that keeps it moving is his much looked-forward meeting with Beatrice:

“And if my reasoning appease thee not,
Thou shalt see Beatrice; and she will fully
Take from thee this and every other longing”

... until things started lightening up in last few chapters when he entered the Earthly Paradise (Adam and Eve place):

“Those who in ancient times have feigned in song
The Age of Gold and its felicity,
Dreamed of this place perhaps upon Parnassus.
Here was the human race in innocence;
Here evermore was Spring, and every fruit;
This is the nectar of which each one speaks”

My favourite parts include, first, river Lethe which divides Purgatory and Earthly Paradise. Drinking its water makes you forget all bad memories and fill your mind with good ones:

“Upon this side with virtue it descends,
Which takes away all memory of sin;
On that, of every good deed done restores it.
Here Lethe, as upon the other side
Eunoe, it is called; and worketh not
If first on either side it be not tasted.”

And second, the best part in the entire comedy so far, is what Virgil says to encourage Dante to move on, right before he enters Earthly Paradise:

“And my sweet Father, to encourage me,
Discoursing still of Beatrice went on,
Saying: "Her eyes I seem to see already!"

.... and, of course, stars.