AP Literature/Composition

Period 5

8 February 2002

Canto VII.5

CIRCLE FIVE The Arrogant

Dante and Virgil have entered the circle of THE ARROGANT, those who considered themselves better than their peers. A huge tower immediately greets the poets. Locked in the tower is NARCISSUS, the most prideful man ever to walk the earth. His punishment is that he may never see his reflection again; he also assists in the punishment of other sinners by shouting abuse and insults at them.

The sinners kneel around a bloody lake and stare at their reflections, since they believed in life that they were the most important people on the earth. However, the reflections shout back humbling insults. In addition, miniature demons, representing the people the sinners thought were below them, whip each sinner.

First, the Poets pass FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT and GEORGE GERSHWIN before coming to PSYCHE. Dante pauses to speak to her, and she presents him with a chilling prophesy after she tells her story.

The great tower stretched upward in the murky air

So that its pinnacle was scarcely visible

But my Guide assured me it was there.

As at sunset in the desert town of Giza,

The whirling sands subside for a spectacle

The likes never to be seen in Florence or Rome.

Hulking pyramids skulk on the gold sand,

Their broad sides gleaming golden against a molten sky.

Midas’s aurum palace could never be that grand!

At the appointed hour, the glowing orb rolls across the sky,

And lands briefly, seemingly speared by the point;

Heaven and earth unite for one moment.

So the great tower united the earth upon which we stood

And the stinking air above us, like the pyramids,

But an evil symbol rather than good.

“Look,” said my Guide. “At the top of the tower

Watches the most prideful man ever to walk.

Here, he is no longer a beautiful flower.

Now he singly watches this abased crew.”

Narcissus hurled debasements from his watch,

And I followed then down to the scene below.

Oh, the gruesome scene that met my eyes!

Shades of all sorts knelt round a bloody lake,

Surrounded by stunted demons no taller than a man’s thighs.

Each shade looked into the pool

And stared fixedly at the reflection

While the reflection shouted back insults scorching and cruel.

“You are scorned now, scorner!” shouted one sinner’s twin.

“Woe to you, wise only in your own eyes!” cried another.

Meanwhile, a demon came around wearing a hideous grin.

Without notice, it brought a huge whip down on a shade’s back,

And others did the same to the other sinners,

Filling the air with shrieks and cracks.

Trembling, I asked my Master hence

“Are any of these poor wretches

From my native city of Florence?”

He replied: “From that I can see, no.

Those you are thinking of

Lie burning and freezing much further below.

Still, here is an example considered the norm.

Those living in his houses could barely live,

For any movement might disturb the form.

Here is another, famous for his gift of song.

Fellow travelers made room for an extra passenger,

For he always took his ego along.”

At this, his reflection emitted a hideous wail

That seemed a familiar strain

But was abuse to its owner in a terrible gale.

I looked to my left and was taken aback.

Next to me sighed the most beautiful girl.

When I caught sight of her, I stopped and stared.

She cried and sniffed quietly into the pool,

Creating little waves in her reflection--

Which was quite another sight to behold.

This face oozed blood and anger;

Harsh and cruel, hair lank and stringy,

It could have belonged to a stranger.

“You were too good for mortals, you wench!

Settled for a god, but look where you are now!”

And hearing this, my heart gave a wrench.

My eye caught my Master’s, and without saying,

He knew the question on my lips.

“That shade, subjected to the verbal flaying

Is Psyche, the most beautiful girl of her time.

Suitors came from all the nations,

But none she wished to call ‘mine’.

Desperate to wed their haughty daughter, her kin consulted the gods,

And angry about her arrogance,

The gods sacrificed one of their own.

Speak to her if you wish.” And I did:

“Tell me, child, how you got here

In this painful circle where you are now hid.”

She replied, “'Tis no fault of my own.

My parents impressed on me

That they wanted Mount Olympus to be my home.”

Torrents of tears disturbed the mocking pool of blood.

Psyche continued: “But wait—

Your trip can do more than my first trip did good.

You have heard reports from fellow shades

Concerning matters of your homeland.”

Then her words turned sharp, like blades.

“Beware what you think of what you say.

Grow too fond of your verse,

And you might end up here someday.”

Upon hearing this, I turned to my Guide

And tried to conceal the fear I faced.

Still, from him I could not hide.

“She may be right, but this is a prediction you can change.

Live your life right, alter your behavior,

And you may yet find yourself in that celestial range.”

So he took my hand in his,

And we walked onward on our journey through Dis.

Notes

16-18. NARCISSUS: In myth, he fell in love with his own reflection, and wasted away staring at it. Upon his death, he was transformed into a purple-and-white flower.

19. Matthew 23:12: “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

20-21. Narcissus hurled debasements…I followed them down to the scene below: another example of Dante’s strange intermingling of the senses. Narcissus hurls down verbal insults, and Dante follows them with his eyes rather than ears to their destination.

28. Proverbs 3:34: “Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.”

40-42. Frank Lloyd Wright: Wright, a famous architect, was known for his haughty manner regarding houses of his design. It was rumored he became infuriated when the residents of one of his homes tried to rearrange some furniture (also of his design) to better suit the family’s needs.

43-45. George Gershwin: A composer and songwriter known for catchy melodies. He often declared to his chauffeur, “Do be careful—you’re driving with Gershwin.”

49-69. PSYCHE: Her story in classical mythology is quite different from Dante’s presentation here. In myth, she was so beautiful that Venus grew jealous and had Cupid lay a curse on her—many suitors would visit her, but none would actually propose marriage. Cupid then convinced her to travel up a mountain, where he married her. Unfortunately, she was never allowed to see his face. One night, she crept into his chamber and caught a glimpse. Venus was so outraged, she banished Psyche back to her parent’s home. Only upon completing three impossible tasks could the girl return to her husband, and then both were allowed to live on Mount Olympus. Here, Dante presents Psyche as an egocentric bent on marrying a god rather than a mortal; she knew her beauty was great enough to merit such a prize.

78. my first trip: One of Psyche’s impossible deeds was to descend into the underworld to retrieve a box filled with Proserpine’s beauty.

82-84. Psyche’s prophesy: Dante knew his poetry was destined for something great, and like a good Catholic, knew he must keep his pride in check.