Capeneus was first introduced in Canto 14, page 113 on line 38.
Capeneus is a spirit in the third ring in the seventh circle who is being punished for blaspheming against a god. He is an example of someone who is not a hero. Those who committ blasphemy are self righteous and full of pride. They dont see fault in themselves and think they are superior to everyone, even divine powers. While on earth, Capeneus was a successful king who "besieged"(Notes: Canto 13-14; 326) a city called Thebes. The victory was a reason to celebrate but he went as far as to claim that he was undefeatable even against the "great god" (Notes: Canto 14-15; 327) Jove. For his haughty attitude, he was proven wrong and struck to death. Even after he was put to death and sent to hell, his "distainful"(Canto 14.39) demeanour and "scowling"(Canto 14.39) expression showed that his attitude didn't change. Virgil describes him as a spirit with "unquenched pride" (Canto 14.52). This shows that he did not learn from punishment and adopt a humble attitude.
7 comments:
It is very clear from his characteristics that Capaneus is not a hero. “What I was Alive, I am in death!” Canto XIV line 41 pg 113. He still feels angry and vengeance. Also Capaneus is violent against God. “Disdain for God”. Canto XIV line 58 pg 113. To be a hero you must accept a higher power and live by his words. You can not be defiant, violent against him and carry out rage in his name. Therefore with this agony that Capaneus feels he can not be a hero.
Capaneus is an example of outright arrogance, having size, strength and great fighting ability in his time, he had the capacity for great good as well as great destruction, he chose the latter. Feeling that no-one could stop him, he challenged a God to try and stop him, humbled in life, however his arrogance and disdain for the god's still festers within him in hell. His continued arrogance, blinds him and renders him unable to see the fault in his ways
It is obvious that Capaneus has not learned to repent for the way he was in life - possibly even more of reason he is still enraged even in his afterlife. I agree with all of you in believing that this character, though not much of an ongoing character in the story, is not a hero and lacks all qualities of a hero - even in his life I would not have considered him a hero since in death he is the same as he was alive as stated by I.s. above in the quote, "“What I was Alive, I am in death!”(XIV.41). Good call on choosing a non-hero!
I agree that it's clear Capaneus has not changed and he's not sorry for the sins he committed on Earth. When Dante first saw him he noticed right away that he seemed "to pay no heed to the fire" (38) and not even the painful rain of fire would "ripen him" (40). He is obviously not a hero in any sense and his arrogance will only continue to hurt him more and more. He is described as having "unquenched pride" (52) and we can see that it is because of this that he is in lower Hell and the punishments here are worse than the previous ones. This lets us know that the sins, how God perceives them, and their punishments, continue to get worse the lower you are in Hell. Since Capaneus didn't repent his sins, we can expect his punishment to be harsh, and this leaves us wondering what is yet to come as Dante continues on his journey lower and lower in Hell.
I know this is playing a bit of the devils advocate (pun intended), but a hero does not have to accept a higher power. Capaneus is without a doubt a very arrogant individual, and I will concede that he does not fit the profile of a hero as discussed in class. There is, however, one quality that may be an exception. The man stands by what he believes! Even in the perils of hell, and in the painful fires that torment the blasphemous, he pays "no heed to the fire" (14.38). His pride may be beligerent, and more than likely brings upon him more suffering, but he is lost in the land of no hope. Without this hope for salvation, Capaneus does not concede defeat and bow to the almighty. He stands strong, firm in his beliefs. These beliefs, right or wrong, are his. This stance of refusing to give in to defeat reminds me of Odysseus in many ways. The battles Odysseus fought were not always with good reason or for a worthy cause, but because of his steadfast nature, we praise him as a hero. Much like Capaneus, I could envision Odysseus acting in the same manner if he were cast to hell, indignant and not prone to assess the errors of his ways.
I would have to agree with the majority of the blogs saying that Capaneus is not a hero. He does not seem to feel bad for his sins or even stop and think why or what he did wrong to be where he is. There is fire all around that is the punishment he has to deal with and not even the rain that is fire “ripen him” (40.). He shows many times how he is not a hero and the evidence shows it “Disdain for God” canto 14 line 58. In order to be a hero you must accept there are people hire than you and this man cannot accept that.
I too agree that Capaneus is certainly not a hero. In death he "lies [as] disdainful and scowling," (13.39) as he did when he was alive. Since his "unquenched pride remains," (13.52-53)along with his rageful "disdain for God", (13.58) his punishment in Hell is all that harsher. This shows that Capaneus has never felt remorse and the need to repent, furthermore indicating that he has never spiritually developed, as many heros do. Capaneus seeks "the pleasure of his vengeance," (13.50)and his ego, which are definate character traits of an anti-hero.
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