Upper Hell: Sins of Incontinence

As we read our way through the first few cantos of Inferno, the seniors discussed these upper region sins -- lust, gluttony, avarice,anger -- and the punishments Dante assigns. This group collectively called the sins of incontinence reflect those urges or bodily desires that stand at the core of man, the animal. After I explain the difference in the modern concept of incontinence with its focus on bladder control undergarments, we try our hand at differentiating the desires that one has based on need and want. When we venture farther into the underworld, those wants will be tied directly into the use of intellect and that is what gives us pause. The lower one descends into this mythical Hell, the more intense thought is required by the sinner in the commissioning of his sin. This logic of splitting Hell into sins based on body and intellect was not new to Dante in 1300; Aristotle used a similar model. And that is exactly the point. Choices have consequences. As we sail past the gluttons today and the greedy tomorrow, I am struck by the relevance of Dante's insight some 700 years after he published this epic. More Hell to come.
So when my friends ask how school is, I can honestly ( at least for the next few weeks) say, it is Hell. What a perfect way to start October!

Dante's Inferno : The Journey Begins

I began the journey through hell again this week. The class of 2011 has taken their first few baby steps into the Inferno. While I have been reading this text for 30 years or so, I must say each trip to the afterworld holds some new meaning for me. I was especially struck this time by our discussion of the foyer to Dante's Hell, reserved for the apathetic. Sinners are forever chasing a banner and being stung by wasps. Dante's message here about our need for engagement is clear. People who are aware of injustice and turn their heads are forever stung by their conscience and must chase an endless banner for a cause they never joined. In our world, it is often easy to see pain and suffering caused by poverty or despair and to turn away. We are caught in our own dilemmas, and the problems and suffering of others seem irrelevant or nonexistant. We can look away assured in our convictions that their suffering is not our problem. Dante's foyer to hell suggests, in fact, it is.
Those wasps and flies represent the stings of conscience that should have been present to make us act in a noble way, to make us stop and care about the fate of others. Dante seems to be saying that being worthy of eternal reward is more than not sinning; it must involve doing good. Joining the cause for rightousness is a pretty big step, but one Dante's readers are greeted with as soon as they step foot on his journey.

Antigone, a woman before her time...

In Sophocles' play, Antigone,Teiresias,the blind prophet of Apollo, says to the unyielding Creon, King of Thebes, "The only crime is pride."
This trilogy written in the 4th century BC offers many astute observations about the nature of man, man's pride, man's temper, man's relationship with the gods, among others. In this scene when confronted with Creon's stubborness, the prophet asks him to reconsider his unjust law and take a moment to gain some perspective on the situation. Creon's red hot rage cannot be tempered with this sage advice, however. He feels justified in his proclamations and neither his son, the chorus, nor the prophet can convince him initially. When he does relent, it is too late. Creon laments, "Oh it is hard to give in! but it is worse to risk everything for stubborn pride." These words ring loudly for us all. How many times does a situation present itself that given time and counsel, we would not rather back down and acknowledge our misstep? As we wrap up our discussion of this masterful play today, I am going to suggest to the seniors that it is not Antigone's example of courage that is our only guide in the play, but rather when Creon admits his own weakness that we are privy to valuable insight about humanity. Off to Dante and a nice trip through hell.

A few last thoughts on Pride & Prejudice

As we concluded our discussion of Pride and Prejudice last week, I contemplated the lovely way that Miss Austen drew her novel to a close. The weddings that tied the novel up so neatly happened only when the characters themselves came to terms with their preconceived notions, often discounting their initial observations. Austen clearly realizes as that old deodorant commercial noted, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." She even had originally entitled the book, First Impressions. However, a careful reader will also see her subtext regarding the pitfalls of jumping to hasty conclusions, whether these leaps are the result of a person's dress or mannerisms or conversation. We are all more than one can possibly know through a few moment's acquaintance.
Austen no doubt wants her readers to learn the lessons that Lizzy and Darcy took some while to inculcate. Judging others in a hasty way, as Lizzy does when falling for Wickham or disliking Darcy, can have unintended results. I believe Jane Austen understands our tendency to like or dislike others after a brief encounter; maybe in this novel, she is asking us to pause in our judgment. Now that is a lesson we all can see the value in.In saying goodbye to Jane Austen, I hope to remember her bidding. Off to Dante later this week. But a few words on that superwoman Antigone must precede our descent to Hell.

Pride and Prejudice Part 1

Years ago one of my favorite students commented on this novel that it was just like middle school, and he hadn't liked middle school the first time around. Even though I laughed at his analogy, when I revisit Austen each year, I wonder about the world she so carefully crafts in this novel, and indeed in each of her books. Groups of young 20 somethings get together to fall in love, have a rivalry, date someone who is horrible, and eventually come to the love for which each was intended. All is happy in the world of Austen, even when a sister runs off with a bad character, who is forced to marry her, she seems delighted at the fine husband she has ensnared. This world has none of the trappings of the world we face today. Young women focus on crochet and French lessons and adding ribbon to the hat that they will sport on Sunday. Young, genteel men ride horses and enjoy a book and a fox hunt. But the essence of all these young people's lives revolves in much the same circle as ours does. They look for friendship and love and romance; they judge others or are judged by appearance and actions. As we work our way through this magnificent novel, I hope that the seniors of 2011 find that Miss Austen wrote something of the truth of relationships and how they function, nearly 200 years before these readers were born.

Greek Time

World Literature will begin its study of "Allegory of the Cave," "Oedipus Rex," and "Antigone," in the next few days. I have been teaching these works for 25 years, and when I think about Sophocles' writing them in the middle of the 4th century BC, I pause to consider what relevance they have for my seniors. How far removed are we from the Greek ideal? Can a story about a man whose horrendous prophecy propels his entire life make sense to 18 year olds? I think in a very real way that the story of Oedipus and his campaign to be his own man, not to give into the oracle's declaration may ring true with our times in a profound way. At his best, Oedipus is a man dealt a wretched hand who refuses to accept the situation. Even though fate and the gods' wills formed the basis of faith, Oedipus maintains the facade of free will. He believes in his heart he is, in fact, free. Isn't that what we all hope?