Human Vices and Human Worth in Dante's Comedy

by Patrick Boyde

Overview

Patrick Boyde brings Dante's thought and poetry into focus for the modern reader by restoring the Comedy to its intellectual and literary context in 1300. He begins by describing the authorities that Dante acknowledged in the field of ethics and the modes of thought he shared with the great thinkers of his time. Boyde concentrates on the poetic representation of the most important vices and virtues in the Comedy. He stresses the heterogeneity and originality of Dante's treatment, and the challenges posed by his desire to harmonize these divergent value systems.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521660679
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/16/2000
Pages:	334
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.29(h) x 0.91(d)

About the Author

Patrick Boyde is Serena Professor of Italian in the University of Cambridge and Fellow of St John's College. He is the author of Dante's Style in his Lyric Poetry (Cambridge,1971) and Night Thoughts on Italian Poetry and Art (Cambridge,1985). Human Vices and Human Worth in Dante's Comedy is the third book in his trilogy, which also comprises Dante Philomythes and Philosopher: Man in the Cosmos (Cambridge,1981), and Perception and Passion in Dante's Comedy'(Cambridge,1993).

Table of Contents

Preface; Introduction: the role of context; Part I. Authority, Reason and Order: 1. Dante's authors; 2. Putting authors to the question; 3. Division and numeration; Part II. Competing Values: 4. Aristotelian values through Dante's eyes; 5. Christian values through Dante's eyes; 6. A courtly value in Dante's hands; Part III. Arch-vices and the Supreme Virtue: 7. Covetousness; 8. Pride; 9. Justice; Part IV. Amid Such Wisdom ('tra cotanto senno'): Preface to Part IV; 10. The worth and vices of Ulysses: a case-study; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"An admirable book..." Speculum

"The ten chapters of the volume, subdivided into four parts, are accompanied by invaluable notes and an extremely well organized bibliography." Italian Bookshelf

From the Publisher