Free Will Turns Personal: PARADISO, Canto IV, Lines 115 - 142

About this episode

Beatrice has answered the pilgrim's two unasked questions . . . but she doesn't yet know the one he really wants to ask. Having heard her doctrines about free will and unfulfilled vows, the pilgrim Dante winds himself up through flattery and intellectual curiosity to ask perhaps a personal question about his own unfulfilled vows. Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we look at the ways Beatrice's discussions of free will have only caused the pilgrim Dante more problems, even as they've satisfied his intellect. Here are the segments of this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE: [01:35] My English translation of PARADISO, Canto IV, Lines 115 - 142. If you'd like to read along or drop a comment on this episode, please find its entry on my website, markscarbrough.com. [04:20] The journey of the intellect is the journey of the desire that arises from doubt. [12:37] The pilgrim Dante flatters Beatrice . . . maybe too much. [17:43] Who is addressed in this passage? Isn't it too much to attribute to Beatrice? [20:26] The poet mixes the metaphors to further push truth into poetic space. [22:51] Dante asks a personal question about his unfulfilled vow . . . maybe. [26:24] Beatrice, Francesca, Dan