Moral Responsibility and Dante's 'Purgatory'

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses that Canto XVI of Dante's 'Purgatory' features the impassioned discourse of Marco Lombardo on human free will, moral responsibility and the apparent causes of the corruption that exists on earth. The writer discusses that here, symbolically located within the center canto of the poem, Dante and his poet-guide Virgil are presented with the truths of man's spiritual existence tied closely with Purgatory and its fundamental principles. The writer explains Marco's discourse on the three connected topics of will, moral responsibility, and causes of corruption and uses them to explain the structure of 'Purgatory'.

From the Paper:

"This, Marco says, is the cause of corruption, a poor example set by not the fate of the stars nor the corruption of nature. Evil guidance has made the world guilty.
"Marco's discourse on these things, then, sheds light on the very structure of Purgatory. As Virgil discloses in Canto XVII, love is the propeller of all things. Natural love is free from error, sinless. Sin comes in with mind or reason, which has an understanding of both good and evil as a result of Adam's sin. Free will can choose one side or the other, in that choice appears moral responsibility. The power of controlling and directing natural love lies with man."

Sample of Sources Used:

• The Divine Comedy, Purgatory, Dante Alighieri

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