Purgatorio, Canto 7 with Dr. Christina Isabelli

[@johndunham9236]

The linguistic insight was very important. Thank you for that, Dr. Isabelli. Beyond that, the rest of the canto had much more to say that was ignored for linguistic critical theory. Virgil's discussion of virtue in relation to Purgatorio, the beautiful/aromatic physical setting, and the delayed kings singing "Salve, Regina!" were all vital to understanding. If Dante were here, he would probably correct you heavily on certain points of your "interpretation".

[@stillfamily19]

My family and I always prefer the commentaries that are more focused on the text than on tangential topics.

[@patcamerino5456]

Canto 07: Dante, worn out by his diatribes of the previous canto, remains in meditative silence while Virgil and Sordello engage in a conversation during which Virgil maintains his humility despite Sordello’s adulation of him. Virgil speaks of Limbo and his journey through Hell with Dante. Sordello speaks of the metaphysical laws governing the land through which they are passing. It is possible to climb upwards only during the daylight hours when the divine light illuminates them. Descent is not allowed then, but can be undertaken during nighttime, although this is usually when the souls meditate on their day. Sordello leads them to the rim of a valley, a beautiful haven for “negligent Princes,” those who were so deeply involved in the care of their kingdoms (such as the Holy Roman Empire, France, Bohemia, Navarre, Anjou and England) that they lacked time to practice the theological virtues required of Christians. They must now wait for an undefined period before they can pass through the close-by Peter’s Gate, to which Sordello will guide Dante and Virgil when dawn arrives. Meanwhile, he finds an ideal place to observe the retiring souls. This locale, with its jewel-like flowers and fragrant environment, is a perfect location for penitentially proclaiming “Salve Regina” (Hail Queen of Heaven) as these royal souls prepare for nightfall. This hymn commences the liturgical hour of “compline” which ends the daylight hours of religious communities in the world above.

[@susanabbott8829]

I found your comments much more helpful in understanding Canto VII than the video. Thank you

[@ryannagy6990]

Thank you. This was very helpful and filled a lot of gaps.

[@darryhoward7261]

This would have made a great introductory video for this 100 Days of Dante project. Lots of great information on why Dante chose the language he used to write this epic poem. Just not enough discussion of Canto 7 itself.

[@KYWingfold]

So true! Seems like she jammed in a lecture about language into a canto that it didn’t necessarily fit in because it’s her field of study.

[@MsBertha38]

I liked listening to something a little different. Don’t replace this lecture!

[@rastarobby4657]

The 100 Year's of Dante is such a great project, and will be for many years to come. Would it be possible to replace this one with someone who is more true to this canto than they are to their own biased agenda?

[@ashergabbay7039]

Baylor: It looks like you uploaded the wrong video, as there is nothing in here about Canto 7. Please upload the correct video.

[@martinwyatt4125]

Yes there is - plenty. Watch it again.

[@jeffreytrimbath5170]

Fascinating linguistic background (I guess), but very little engagement with the actual text of Canto 7. In the remake of this series, I respectfully recommend finding someone else to cover this Canto

[@jodubuisson4275]

For those who haven’t already found him, Tom LA Books (on KZbin) provides a much more helpful commentary here, and is quite delightful to listen to.

[@frederhr]

Thank you. Your recommendation was a wonderful resource to help me understand this canto!

[@ohamlin84]

Given the beauty and history of Gonzaga University, I imagine that its early founders and contributors believed that there was some knowledge and wisdom to be gathered and preserved from its Catholic tradition, but given each one of the University's speakers' myopia for critical theory, I would be horrified if one of my children were under its tutelage. As it is, I have only wasted my own time in the attempt to learn about the Divine Comedy from Gonzaga professors.

[@elizabetha.9808]

It is certainly most unfortunate. 😞

[@vanessa.jasmine]

Hispanic intelligentsia may look down on Spanglish but American intelligentsia wants us Latinos to use Latinx.

[@5kidsNeverDullMoment]

Interesting commentary about language - BUT, it had next to little to do with Purgatorio 7. This lecture could have been put with any part of the book. “Friends because of shared language” - well, that was obvious. This canto had a lot of things that could have been embraced: the description of beauty & smells above others, the absence of a focus on Dante as a pilgrim, the historical relevance of the princes/Kings. Honestly, this lecture just nixed Gonzaga off the list for my son as a college choice.

[@donab70]

I agree.

[@carolynfouse9863]

Disappointing. Learned nothing abut the poem.

[@treborketorm]

Less than optimal lesson on linguistic bridges, the lingua nostra, and internationalism???

[@michaelhansell1116]

"Latinx" is not a natural change in language but a top down, political one that comes with an ideology that is also being pushed on the world through academia and politics. Very contrived interpretation too. So much good theology was neglected for socialist contrivances.

[@LuisPerez-tx5jo]

Wow this was an amazing and helpful interpretation of Canto 7 Purgatorio. Language, physical heredity and masculinity. Missed it all when I read it by myself.

[@nunyabizniz8894]

She spent most of her 10 minutes on Marxist-linguistic-power-struggle twaddle, with a hat tip to feminism (patriarchy? really?). This has almost nothing to do with the meaning of the canto or the poem at all, and is the worst entry in the series so far. Very poorly done. Baylor, what were you thinking?

[@sethicus]

And she made sure to squeeze in a Latinx reference, too.

[@tomm5256]

First one I struggled to get through. Contrast to the previous Canto is dramatic.

[@ululi1970]

"non ragioniam di lor, ma guarda e passa" (Let us not talk of them; but look and pass!, Inferno, canto 3)

[@alansonneman9098]

You described it exactly! She can't even read her teleprompter.

[@lawrenceblume862]

Amen. As Catholic, I must apologize for the two speakers from Gonzaga. Apparently, they can't find anything transcendent in Dante's work.

[@bakebr]

The lecturer used the word latinx! Nothing else to say!

[@Josh_Kelley]

Dear Torrey: I was eager to learn more about the history behind all the figures in Canto 7 and thus disappointed by this presentation, regardless of the topic's validity. I'd be grateful if you'd better vet the speakers to ensure that they stay on topic and minimize off topic discussion.

[@rastarobby4657]

Yeah, this really sucked.

[@xieouyang1341]

Thanks for the language explanations.

[@AdamKinunen]

Uffda! Glad I’m not in college anymore. This feels like she recycled this from her diversity, inclusion and equity freshman seminar. I wonder if she read this canto to prepare for this video. Anybody know of a resource that addresses Purgatorio Canto 7? We are all doing the work of digging into the Comedia. Can we expect the same of those making these videos?

[@dbandow]

Tom LA Books makes videos that offers more thorough explanations of the Cantos on KZbin.

[@grangnelli]

I liked learning about the influence Dante had on language. Thank you.

[@elizabetha.9808]

Ugh, a swipe at “the patriarchy” to end this mind numbing monologue. And I mistakenly thought Gonzaga was Catholic all these years. I should have suspected what was coming when the professor’s backdrop, rather than being graced by a picture of the Madonna and Child or other inspiring art, was basic black. 😩

[@karenpaulson]

How disappointing that this commentary did not expound more on the meaning of the canto.

[@hthrhill84]

latinx, masculinity and patriarchy....blah blah blah. Heard those terms and immediately blocked out anything else that was said. I'm so exhausted with this crap being forced down my throat. Not everyone is interested in gender studies. I actually wanted to learn something from this canto...**face palm**

[@slolar1]

I was not a fan of this lecture. So little discussion of the Valley of the Princes, so much pontificating about language and her expertise. I also didn't appreciate the pandering and moralizing.

[@mattredmond4537]

This was terrible. It had next to nothing to do with the actual Canto, which is clear when you look at the questions provided in the email. This was simply an attempt to shoehorn in a political position, which again had nothing to do with the Canto.

[@frankcahill747]

Most interesting. Thank you Dr. Isabelli

[@cynthiaford6976]

"What fresh hell is this?" (how Dorothy Parker used to answer the phone)"...Mercy upon us, /we who have learned to preach but not to pray..." Charles Wright "The Monastery at Vrsac"

[@tytyvyllus8298]

Not enough about the canto

[@dbandow]

Am disappointed to not learn much about Canto 7

[@MartinCasella-ju2cr]

I’m with the others who dismissed this video as a poli-sci 101 lecture disguised as literary commentary. Also, the professor’s intelligence is clear but her presentation is amateurish and unprofessional. She lacks the wit, charm, and buoyancy nearly all of the speakers exhibited in their discussions. Furthermore, we signed up to hear about Dante’s Divine Comedy. What we got was a thoughtful, yet sophomoric talk about current sociology, filled with tired buzzwords and pedantic catch phrases. Where we all see beauty, poetry, and soul, the professor sees code-switching and culture wars. Thanks, but no thanks.

[@ferngrows6740]

Wow, what a great review of linguistic themes here. Thank you Dr.

[@sarahflynn924]

I'm sorry, I did not enjoy this interpretation. Dr. Isabelli you did not seem confident with the subject matter which perhaps comes from the tension of needing to infuse your reading with politically correct ideology rather than connecting from the heart. I had a glimpse here and there but this lack of authentic connection was very obvious. Sadly, this is everything I am running away from and into the treasury of antiquity to restore my soul and my affections from post-modern corruption. As noted below however, we are all on our journey toward God.

[@eliezersalazar4361]

Sorry, but to say that Spanglish is only looked down by the Hispanic "Intelligentsia" is absurd. It should be looked down by all, educated or not, as a degradation and devolution of both English and Spanish. Furthermore, how in the world do we get from Canto 7 to talking about "Latinx," a term that as a Latino myself I disdain? There was SO much to talk about in this canto, and this whole linguistic angle could have been put in a "bonus" episode of sorts. But really, Dr. Isabelli unfortunately used this opportunity to push an agenda than to engage with the text. Certainly we can discuss how Dante applies to our society, but we need to understand his society first, and what the text means, or else we go into tangents like this entire video.

[@EricBlauer]

I don’t want to be uncharitable, but if anyone is using the comments section to ascertain future choices of commentary, I’m voicing my disappointment in this one.

[@jeffreyanderson8966]

My least favorite thus far. Would love to hear Dr. Esolen's thoughts on this interpretation of Purgatorio, Canto 7.

[@maryringer7592]

Very disappointed in this presentation. The linguistic aspect should not have covered the entire lecture. The agenda-driven nature peppered throughout this lecture runs counter to the entire theme of the comedy. Very poor choice in speaker here.

[@pierdecarlo9290]

Thanks Dr Isabelli. I can see why you didn't spend much time on the canto itself as i found it lacking content. There's not much to say about something that doesn't say much. I appreciated the information on linguistics and Dante's role in making Florentine the Italian vernacular.

[@saw700]

so poor