Paradiso, Canto 29

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Summary

For an immeasurably brief instant (in terms of time), Beatrice gazes on the infinitesimal Point which is God (here manifested as spaceless and indivisible). Reading Dante’s desire therein, she unfolds to him the mysteries of the Creation, the relationship of the angels to the universe, and to God, since the fall of Lucifer. Although Dante is now fit to contemplate Heaven, Beatrice adds further clarification concerning the endowments of angelic nature, and goes on to denounce the vain and pretentious habits of present-day preachers who prefer to elaborate fables of their own rather than abide by the Scriptures. Finally, returning to the subject of the angels, she bids Dante reflect upon their innumerableness, their individual diversity, and the immeasurable indivisibility of God.​

The Prepatory Lecture

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Questions for Reflection

• In lines 8 and 9, we see that Beatrice is starting intently into the bright point of light (the Empyrean), which Dante describes as “the point that overcame me.” This echoes Francesca’s being overcome by desire in Inferno Why would Dante bring up Francesca at this point in the story?
• What does Beatrice mean when she describes the Empyrean as where every ubi (where) and quando (when) have their center (29.12)? How is God related to God’s creation?
• How does Beatrice articulate creation as an act of divine love (29.13-18)? What are the “three arrows” of creation (29.28-30)?
• After listening to Beatrice’s discourse on angels and creation in the last three canti, how should Dante see and understand creation (29.142-145)?
• Why might Dante have chosen to make the penultimate section of the Comedy so dense with metaphysical discussions about the nature of reality itself?

Paradiso, Canto 29 © Jan Hearn

The Images

The Primum Mobile: See Canto xxvii, under Images.
The Angels: see Canto xxviii, under Images.

Tom LA Books