Lo Stand-By della coscienza nel Purgatorio di Dante

Abstract

In the Divine Comedy, the word ‘talent’ equates with ‘desire’. Thus, it conveys energy leading to personal, social, political, cultural and religious deviations. Its trajectory may tend downward, ending in utter failure through an existence lived “sub specie aeternitatis” (infernalization).
This deviated vector in its stark tragedy takes the shape of retaliation and essence (‘damnation’), when no longer stimulated by the fruits/idols of its “operari”. Divine mercy provides a middle state, an expectation, a suspension, a halfway time (either cyclic or directional) to those who have accepted the burden of salvation for the “restitutio ad integrum” of freedom and original innocence (Adam). This temporal suspension is not structured “per calendi” (XVI, v. 27) but by duration. The temporary ‘attachment’ to the starkness of the deviated vector is the ‘burden’, “lo dolce assenzio” (XXIII, v. 86) of rehabilitation. The (quantic) transition to the higher plane begins when the descent is terminated.
The second cantata may be seen as a reflection on current society. However, we could say that the deviations appear characteristic of a progressive section of the vector stripped of desire, where the outcome no longer offsets its tragic, overt truths. Indeed, the lack of planning and confusion within the whole of society does not foretell good hopes for positive change.

Keywords: Letteratura, comunicazione, simbolismo, complessità, incertezza