Dante and Hell

An interesting idea came to me while reading Dante’s Inferno.  In the brief summary over Canto III it states “They hear the groans of those who have led uncommitted lives, choosing neither good nor evil during their time on earth.”  Then in Canto IV it states “these are the sinless souls who died unbaptized or were born before Christ; their punishment is not physical but mental, knowing they can never be saved.

These people are in hell, still in the first stages, but nevertheless in hell.  What interests me, is the reflection that Dante’s Inferno has on the accepted religious beliefs at the time.  I am no historian but I’m pretty sure that what Dante put down on paper reflects the orthodoxy of his time.

Now I’m going to sprinkle this blog post with some religious inquiries. To me it seems that maybe these people who are in hell, deserve a better state than what they are in, especially those who were not baptized because they were born before Christ.  If you think about it, God is all powerful, all knowing, and just, yet merciful.  To me there is a major paradox in this belief, if God allows those who were born before Christ to an eternity of hell just because they were born before Christ, or who did not know him, or were not baptized, where is the justice and mercy?

Religion is a very interesting subject; hell is a very interesting subject, a subject that Dante tackled.  His writings reflect the religious beliefs of his time.  I will end on one more thought, if Dante’s portrayed view of hell, and those who are condemned to hell, is a direct reflection to what was perceived religious orthodoxy  of the time, then if Dante lived today, and wrote about hell, would it be a similar text? Or would it be a completely different work?

Experience leads to Caution

After reading Tammy’s blog about the afterlife readings, I found an interesting point that she made, that stuck out to me.  The idea is that “Those who have just been punished for one thousand years are far more cautious, picking the lives which will guarantee them 1000 years of luxury”. 

Tammy brought to light the idea from the text that those who were wicked in their previous lives, and were punished were more cautious, and did not want to repeat what had happened to them.  I think this is a true principle in today’s world.  Those who have been punished, or who have gone through tough times are more cautious, in what they do.  Experience leads to cautiousness, and experience leads away from bliss.

An example of this idea, that a more experienced individual is more likely to be cautious, is perhaps for example someone who has left there door unlocked to their car, and someone stole their $150 sunglasses.  After this experience, I’m sure they will be more likely to lock their car and be more cautious in the future.

Experience tends to lead to caution in decision making.

Death

After having read some of the readings listed in our text book associated with “death and the underworld,” I have found an idea that interests me.  It appears that as the texts deal with death and the underworld, a common idea has emerged.  The idea or concept that I have found that is similar to almost all, if not all the texts, is the idea that how we live our life in this life affects our life to come.

The first text that really brought out this idea for me is the “Upanishads” from India.  In the book it talks about Hinduism, and their belief in Karma, and how your actions in this life echoes in the life to come. Karma, as the book points out “means that good thoughts or acts are rewarded with good consequences, bad results in bad.”  It seems that if you are bad in this life, Karma dictates, bad things to come to you, and vice a versa for good actions.

Another text that talks about the actions in this life affecting our lives in the next is “The Republic” by Plato.  In the account Ardiaeus the Great is brought up, who had apparently killed his father and brother, and was an overall bad person. Ardiaeus the Great is then described by Plato to have been in a sort of hell, being “bound hand and foot and neck” and being flayed. Ardiaeus had lived a bad life, so in the next life, it was a kind of hell for him.

I find it interesting that this concept of being punished for wrong doing, and being rewarded for righteous doings, is so prevalent.  As in the book it says “the reward for a life of justice comes in the afterlife.”  The questions that now rise in my mind and I now offer them in a blog is: Is the afterlife true? Will we be rewarded for good deeds, and punished for evil ones? Or is this concept of being punished or rewarded, which is so prevalent in almost every culture, just inspired by men trying to have others live a good lives, instilling in them fear of being punished? I guess the only way to know is wait our turn and experience it.

Response to Tyler's Blog

In response to Tyler’s blog about comitatus, I feel that I would have to agree with what he wrote.  I think that the idea of comitatus that is represented in Beowulf, is a strong bond between the leader, and the warriors.

 This bond was broken when Beowulf’s men left him, when they saw that he was going to be killed.  I thought it interesting how Tyler put it, “Comitatus is till death do us part.” I think that this quote does capture the idea of comitatus, that it is a bond between leader and warrior that was not superficial, that it was not broken because you are faced with death. 

The deal  that made up comitatus was that the leader would offer his protection and riches to the warriors, if the warriors would in turn fight for and protect the leader.  I think that Wiglaf truly understood comitatus and recognized what Beowulf had blessed him with, and in turn Wiglaf fulfilled his part of the deal.

Small Group Discussions

To prepare for the small group discussions, I first went over the text of Beowulf. Fortunately I had read the text before, s o it was fairly familiar to me.  I then went over the 10 questions that we had been given in class.  I then chose four questions that I felt that were interesting, and that I could write on and explore in great detail. 

Having chosen the four questions, I took each individual question and looked within the text of Beowulf and found textual evidence that dealt with the question. I underlined, and put color coordinated tabs for each section so that I could turn back to and find the textual evidence with ease. 

After having found the evidence to answer each question, I based an opinion, and based an answer according to the text.

Three things that I have learned from this exercise

1.       One thing that I have learned within the text is the idea of comitatus.  Before reading Beowulf, I have had never heard of comitatus.  I find it an interesting topic, and discussion.  I learned that comitatus, is really a promise and a pact between a leader and warrior, to help each other out.  I liked how it was shown in Beowulf.

2.       I also learned that it really does help to prepare for class, in which there is a discussion like we had.  I found it beneficial to be prepared, and to be able to participate in the discussion, I think if we were not being graded on it, it would have been even enjoyable, because we were actually getting some well thought out discussions that made you think.

3.       The third thing that I learned from this exercise is that it helps to be organized as well.  I think that being organized made presenting the information that I had had more simpler, and easier to understand.

I thought that there were many good points brought up, and overall it was a good discussion.  I think I also learned from others ideas as well, and made me think deeper about points that were brought up.  I think that I learned probably about the same as a regular lecture class.  I like lectures, and learn a lot from them, and I like the discussion and learned a lot from it as well.

Comitatus

A question I thought that was particularly thought provoking, that came from the Questions hand out for our small group discussion was the one that dealt with comitatus. 

The question is “Do the warriors have an obligation to Beowulf under the bonds of comitatus even though Beowulf himself tells them that this is his fight, and his fight alone?”  Obviously the answer can go both ways. I think it is important to look at the text and see how Beowulf said it was his fight.

Lines 2533 “It is not your way, nor proper for any man except me alone that he should match his strength against this monster.”  When Beowulf says that it is not “proper” for any man to fight other than himself, he leaves the door still wide open for comitatus.  Comitatus is not about what’s proper or not, it is an agreement.  In the back of our book it says:

“Comitatus: Arrangement whereby young warriors attached themselves to the leader of a group and defended him in return for his economic and legal protection.”

Comitatus was a strong bond between the warriors and leaders.  I think that the bond was stronger than what was proper or not. 

Another point that I would like to point out is that part of Comitatus was the idea that the warriors would protect their king for riches and protection.  Beowulf had already protected, and gave them riches, when It came down to their part of the deal, the warriors, turned and fled when it appeared that their king needed protection, and was about to fall in battle

At first I was thinking that the warriors were relieved of their responsibility to Beowulf, because he said he alone would fight, but after looking further into the book and writing about it I have convinced myself that the warriors did not hold up their end of the deal of comitatus.

Response To Tammy's Blog

In response to Tammy’s blog, I keyed in on the last paragraph of her blog.  She said “maybe Beowulf was more of a cautionary tale.  The people who were hearing the tale would know what a good warrior, wife and king is and know that the monsters were the opposite.”

I like this quote and find it very interesting.  I like the idea of Beowulf being a “cautionary tale”.  The way I think of Beowulf being a cautionary tale is that maybe the story was orally passed down, to influence the population.  I think the story took shape similar to a role model.  It may have influenced younger people in their youth to aspire to become warriors, to strive to be like Beowulf. 

Also I think the tale would in fact, influence others to “know what a good warrior, wife and king is.”  Once again similar to a role model, something you can look to and aspire to be.