Dante, Inferno
The Condemned Souls’ Distant Knowledge
Farinata likens the souls’ knowledge to poor sight: remote things remain visible, but understanding fails when those events approach or become present. News of the living must come through others. He says that their knowledge will expire when the future closes. Dante then asks that Cavalcante be told his son is still alive, recognising how the earlier misunderstanding arose.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryFarinata likens the souls’ knowledge to poor sight: remote things remain visible, but understanding fails when those events approach or become present. News of the living must come through others.
Further detail
LiteraryHe says that their knowledge will expire when the future closes. Dante then asks that Cavalcante be told his son is still alive, recognising how the earlier misunderstanding arose.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows the supplied Thompson & Thomas edition of H. F. Cary’s translation. It describes Dante’s literary vision, distinguishing its assignments and reported claims from historical biography, other classical traditions and independently established accounts of an afterlife.
Original passages
Source 1
Dante's Inferno
objects far remote ; So much of his large splendor yet imparts The Almighty Ruler: but when they approach, Or actually exist, our intellect Then whollyOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 80
Passage read in the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace-normalised anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Associated plates separately inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0080
- Original scan leaf
- 87
- Recorded leaf number
- 87
- Current Reader position
- 80
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
on futurity the portals close." Then conscious of my fault, and by remorse Smitten, I added thus : " Now shalt thou say To him thereOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 80
Passage read in the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace-normalised anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Associated plates separately inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0080
- Original scan leaf
- 87
- Recorded leaf number
- 87
- Current Reader position
- 80
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Golden Outside, Lead Within
The hypocrites’ bright garments conceal a burden that slows every step.
Same subject and traditionThe Epicureans in Dante’s Cemetery
The group defined in the poem by the belief that spirit dies with the body.
Same subject and traditionWrath and Gloom beneath the Water
The fifth circle’s paired expressions of anger and inward gloom.