Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Virgil
Virgil first appears on page 5, Canto I, line 51. He is known for writing the Aeneid and is greatly admired by Dante. In this story Virgil is a soul that lives in the outer layer of hell, and acts as Dante's guide as they travel through the layers of hell. Virgil makes sure that Dante is able to travel through these layers without conflicts from hells inhabitance. Virgil is closly related to Lakshmana. They both accompany the main character on a journey and are vital to the main characters completion of there journey. I would say that Virgil is a hero because he can be depended on and he is admired by Dante. In the reading Dante expresses his likeing for Vigil by saying, "Your book in patient study avail me, Master! You are my guide and author, whose verses teach, the graceful style whose model has done me honor"(7.65). Not only is Virgil admired, but he is also dependable. He is always there at Dantes side.
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9 comments:
I would agree with this assessment. Not only is Virgil an outstanding mentor figure and anchor for Dante, but he also seems to exhibit a certain noble, self-sacrificing kind of quality. He has nothing to gain from being the guide of Dante. He's in limbo within the realms of Hell, there's no hope for him to ascend to any form of higher plain, so this good deed seems strictly to be from the goodness of his own heart. Honestly, if you were trapped for eternity within the bounds of Hell just because you never were afforded the chance to hear the word of God, yet you lived a perfectly decent and upstanding life, would you be inclined to answer the call of anyone? From Heaven, especially? Probably not, I'd imagine. I would personally feel bitter about the hand I was dealt, but then again, I'm no hero.
I agree with both of you, but I think of Virgil as more of a mentor figure or a guide rather than a hero.Virgil does do this out of the goodness of his own heart sort of thing....but what else is there to do besides wander around, maybe he is bored. As for being a hero, I dont think he has any major heroic qualities besides the fact that he can be depended on. I think he is admired by Dante because he is the only stable thing Dante has right now. I think that so far in the poem I would consider Virgil as the Mentor, kind of like Athena was "Mentor" and helped out Odysseus in The Odyssey.
I agree that virgil can be considered a hero. He demonstrates patience when dealing with Dante which is important for a guide to have. Ho doesn't get frustrated when Dante continues to be hesitant and scared. When they are entering into the fourth circle, Virgil responds to dantes fear by telling him that Plutus couldn't "prevent"(7.5) then from passing and that he should not let his fear "harm"(7.4) him.
I also agree that Virgil is leader and hero. It is stated that "you are my teacher, my master, and my guide" (2.113). When you think of a person being a mentor you think of them as a hero because they guide you emotionally, spiritually, and physically which is what Virgil is. This is exactly what a teacher does; they guide you through things to get you somewhere. In this case the guide is helping guide through hell.
Virgil seems to be a hero so far, but without knowing his intent can one say for sure that he is a hero? Virgil is trapped in limbo yes, but maybe he is doing his nice deed so he can "rub it in the face" of God that he should not be in limbo but should be in heaven with the other good soul people. There is a reason why he is in limbo and not in heaven, he belongs there and maybe later in the poem we will find out about his true character that it seems he is hiding, but that’s just my thinking.
Virgil is in Limbo because he wasn't babtized. That's all. There is no underlying reason for his helpful behavior or else he would be with the decietful people in another circle. I believe that Virgil is a hero as well because he always knows what to say to the people guarding each circle. In Canto V when Minos wasn't letting them pass, Virgil knew just what to say, "Must you too scold this way? His destined path is not for you to impede" (line 20). And then in Canto VI with the three headed dog, Virgil throws earth into each mouth. He is just a quick thinker and can get himself and the narrator out of a lot of uncomfortable situations which is what a hero is able to do.
I agree with the others' comments about Virgil. He is like Odysseus, he had the ability to outwit and out maneuver the enemies: The Demons and fear in the Inferno. Virgil is beyond the hero, he is more like a guiding star through the extremely dark world of hell.
BA#7
I agree that Virgil can be considered a hero. His character provides Dante with the courage, strength, and guidence needed to undertake the journey through hell. Without Virgil's aid Dante may have never even entered the gates. When Dante was last Virgil helped him find his way. When Dante became unsure Virgil reasured him and taught him what he needed to know to gain confidence. And when Dante was afraid Virgil gave him the courage needed to continue on. Virgil is deffinatly a hero in my eyes.
Virgil is a hero for all the aforementioned reasons, however to be blunt, some of his physical actions prove to be more heroic than the subtler maneuvers he engages in. For instance, his encounter with Cerberus shows his knowledge and ingenuity in regards to pressing situations, "My leader, reaching out/ To fill both fists with as much as he could gather/ Threw gobbets of earth down each voracious throat." (VI. 23-25) Virgil's previous experience in hell has proven effective and his ability to protect Dante rivals that of Athena's protection to Odysseus.
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