PARADISO CANTO XIII Commentary and Analysis

[@attention5638]

It is impressive that you can take a Canto by Dante that includes Aquinas and incorporate Elle Wiesel and John Lennon within it 😅 You mention this being Dante's "physics" and I literally have Aristotle's "Physics" and Aquinas' " Commentary on Aristotle's Physics" open in front of me while watching this, and the connections that can be made here and there is really interesting. The last few things you say in part three of this video is straight from Aristotle--really great! Perfect timing to watch this!

[@tomlabooks3263]

We both love light-hearted readings, my friend 😂😂😂 But actually, like you say, I think we’re both pretty eclectic and move across genres with ease ! Hope you’re well.

[@bighardbooks770]

_First!_ Sorry I've been so lax at this ... my loss. We're just glad that you created this series, for it'll be here, for us, forevermore. 🤓☘️😎

[@tomlabooks3263]

Ohhh I see what you did there … but you haven’t been “LAX” 😂😎☀️ L.A. is waiting for ya!

[@bighardbooks770]

@@tomlabooks3263 ¡aHa! You are very _very_ perspective, Tommaso, indeed. That settles it: besides the cut offs (and gifts) I'll bring my Ciardi edition. I mean, what _else_ are we gonna have to talk about? 😝 Get used to hearing this, from me: "Meet me at the beach ..." 🏖️🙄⛱️

[@TootightLautrec]

Wow. There's so much to love and think about in a canto devoted to imagination, creation and the trembling hand of the artist. I've been reading Joseph Campbell lately, which adds an extra dimension to almost everything I read, especially Dante. Thanks again for reading aloud in Italian, as it does clarify poetic moments.

[@tomlabooks3263]

Great to hear from you! Joseph Campbell, how pertinent to Dante! Dante’s journey is one of the most famous hero’s journeys in history. How are things on your side of the country, and will we see some more sonnets videos soon?

[@TootightLautrec]

@@tomlabooks3263 I'm furiously juggling several projects, among which include some behind the scenes vids and more sonnet observations coming soon.

[@tomlabooks3263]

@@TootightLautrec “Furiously!” Our life!! A tale full of sound and fury! I recently saw the magnificent TV Macbeth with Denzel and I’ve speaking only with Macbeth quotes since 😂 My wife’s not happy. Looking forward to your upcoming videos.

[@TootightLautrec]

@@tomlabooks3263 Ha! I'm actually going to see MacBeth in two weeks with Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga, so we seem to be on the same page.

[@tomlabooks3263]

@@TootightLautrec Wow!! Jealous.

[@Ursulas_Odds_and_Sods]

I used to know the names of all of the stars in the Big Dipper, but I only know a few off the top of my head now. Dante either expected his audience to automatically know which particular stars he was referring to in the opening tercets, because people generally knew that kind of information in his era, or he took for granted his mammoth knowledge and assumed most people would share it. The study style of asking a question and then getting an answer, or debating the answer, is also a very traditional way of studying Torah and Talmud. Students are often paired with someone so they can learn together in yeshiva and kollel (a full-time study hall for mostly married men). It's called chavruta (friendship or companionship), wherein these two to five students discuss, analyze, debate, and learn the same texts and parts of texts. It would be really fun to study Dante's works in such a way!

[@tomlabooks3263]

That’s so cool. Too bad the modern education system has largely lost that love for dialogue, and it’s often a monologue!

[@Leebearify]

This reminds me of the Dialogues of Socrates, doesn't it and Plato's style of teaching?

[@hesterdunlop7948]

Agree dialogue and debate are so important . And couldn't we use more of it now ? I love the image of Jacob literally wrestling with God in Genesis and with Job refusing to accept his friend's explanation for his downfall and having the dialogue with God ...

[@HeyYallListenUp]

Interesting stuff. I didn't know about the right triangles within a circle.

[@tomlabooks3263]

I didn’t either! Apparently it’s called “Thales' theorem”.

[@HeyYallListenUp]

@@tomlabooks3263 Thanks for the name of the theorem. That let me look it up and see a visual and confirm exactly what the theorem was saying.

[@knittingbooksetc.2810]

I’m reading a book called The Laws of Human Nature (Robert Greene). The first law is about how human emotions cloud our judgement. I loved this Canto and while you were talking about the lines that mention Creation, I was copying them to my notebook. I love them! And the description of the Trinity is so great: Source+Light+Love. I also like the idea of turning 3 into a verb: ‘to three.’

[@tomlabooks3263]

In Paradiso, Dante turned everything into a verb! He made up at least 25 of them. The part about creation is so gorgeous. Would you recommend the Robert Greene book?

[@knittingbooksetc.2810]

@Tom LA Books I like his books. Have you read any of them? I read the 48 laws of power and liked it a lot. I like how he illustrates his ideas with biographical examples of historical figures. This book is similar but I have just started it.

[@tomlabooks3263]

@@knittingbooksetc.2810 I have not. Will look him up for sure. thank you 🙏🏻

[@SamuelLeary]

Hey Tom. Thanks for sharing. Love this video. The footage at the beginning is so go. Looking forward to watching more in the future.

[@tomlabooks3263]

Thank you!! The Comedy really contains the whole universe.

[@Leebearify]

Well, I will need to completely review (and re-do) this entire canto. So much more research to do! I missed the point on the 25 stars entirely and I must completely reread my the research on the entire Solomon discussion. I do not remember why that was even a huge discussion amongst the scholars of the time. I have missed the point as to where Dante is 'aiming us' and why. What is he preparing us for? He usually prepares us for a nugget of knowledge and I can't believe I have even missed that! Good heavens, my friend I feel an absolute dunce! I will write again after I completely redo my assignment. BTW: My beautiful new copy of The Jesuits a History by Markus Friedrich arrived last night. I am afraid he will have to wait for awhile as I have too much to do from today! Delighted to say that I have started to feel a little better perhaps my brain will begin to work again.

[@tomlabooks3263]

Great to hear that you’re feeling better! You’re going to have so much fun with that Jesuit history book, that is a book right after my own heart too, although I’m trying to use a bit of a measure in buying new books…. About Solomon, I understand there have always been many theological disputes about him, and one of those was: ‘Was Solomon saved in the end or not?’, given all the grave sins that he committed, with various theologians providing many pros and cons. Of course, the ultimate answer to whether or not Solomon was saved rests with God, not with us. And perhaps this is exactly what Dante is hinting at in the final part of the canto.

[@Leebearify]

@@tomlabooks3263 Well he certainly swayed back and forth ! But it did seems as though he was committed to each side whilst he was there! For some reason he was never a favorite for me, my brain would just deal with him saying, "yeah, yeah and he was there...ok move on". I never gave him the time of day to think that he would become that much of a topic of discussion amongst the scholars considering there were so many others to choose from that you could argue over. I think the Jesuit book came as a gift from my husband, he knows that I have myself on a book diet LOL !!

[@tomlabooks3263]

@@Leebearify That’s the same diet I’m on I’m afraid 😂😂

[@Leebearify]

@@tomlabooks3263 I just realized what it was/is about for me and Solomon..... he always came across as a 'show off'..... not the wisdom everyone talked about but a show off. Strange huh? Think about the scene with the 2 women and the baby.... now visualize it...it was plain theatrics and a show off!! No wisdom or teaching or love!

[@tomlabooks3263]

@@Leebearify Yes, absolutely. I recall a comment by Bishop Barron about ALL the great heroes of the Old Testament being deeply flawed men, who did pretty terrible things, and the contrast that is supposed to be evident between them and Christ. The story of Revelation does make sense, after all.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

Not a flashy canto but still a good one. Dante showing a new found humility if he identifies with a craftsman with a trembling hand. I appreciate the sentiment in the final section. that rushing to judgement is the greatest form of foolishness.

[@tomlabooks3263]

I didn’t think about the angle of his humility, I agree that simile speaks about his humility. But no worries, in a couple of cantos he will find his way back to self-aggrandizement! 😂

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

@@tomlabooks3263 ah well, wouldn't want him to fall out of character altogether.

[@hesterdunlop7948]

I can understand why Dante felt Solomon was saved ...he has many of his personality traits, good and not so good ! I'm having to use Longfellow's translation on Libravox while I'm away and it's not so much fun ...it made me think I need to look at modern artwork portraying biblical scenes too ..that picture of Solomon you shared was so bling and of its time ...maybe I've seen too many Baroque Neopolitain churches !!

[@tomlabooks3263]

Ah, Longfellow… Rest in peace, but his translation is sooo clunky!! I hope you’re having a great trip. 👋🏼

[@hesterdunlop7948]

@@tomlabooks3263 last day today . I'm staying near Dante metro !! Off to find some Ragu for lunch ....

[@tomlabooks3263]

@@hesterdunlop7948 😍😍

[@curioushmm9027]

the end of the canto reminds me of a thought i have about the mothers of dismas and judas and how the former would perhaps have thought her son a failure and the later hers a success and each would have been incorrect on the day Christ died.

[@tomlabooks3263]

Oh, this is such a great connection that you’re making here: how easy it is for us to misjudge people! But we do it all the time. And it’s SO important to push against the secular meaning of “a successful life” or “a not successful life”, especially within a culture that still talks so horribly about “winners” and “losers” based on their wealth. Christians know that we only win or lose in front of God.

[@curioushmm9027]

@@tomlabooks3263 amen. alleluia. 😀