Dante, Purgatory and Paradise
Virgil, Dante’s Guide
Virgil identifies himself to Sordello as a poet deprived of Heaven for lack of faith, rather than a personal crime. His authority remains sufficient to lead and explain the difficult ascent through Purgatory. When Beatrice appears, Dante turns towards his beloved guide and discovers that Virgil has gone. The absence introduces another form of guidance while preserving the grief and gratitude of the earlier companionship.
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryVirgil identifies himself to Sordello as a poet deprived of Heaven for lack of faith, rather than a personal crime. His authority remains sufficient to lead and explain the difficult ascent through Purgatory.
Further detail
LiteraryWhen Beatrice appears, Dante turns towards his beloved guide and discovers that Virgil has gone. The absence introduces another form of guidance while preserving the grief and gratitude of the earlier companionship.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows Cary’s translation of Dante’s poem. The entry concerns the guide in the poem, not a full biography of the Roman author. Its people and places are presented within the literary vision, with the historical or theological subject distinguished from the role Dante assigns it.
Original passages
Source 1
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante
I am VirgilOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante, Purgatory and Paradise; active reader leaf 43
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0119-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0119-E001-P0043
- Original scan leaf
- 44
- Recorded leaf number
- 44
- Current Reader position
- 40
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante
Virgil had bereaved us of himselfOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante, Purgatory and Paradise; active reader leaf 183
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0119-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0119-E001-P0183
- Original scan leaf
- 184
- Recorded leaf number
- 184
- Current Reader position
- 180
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Literary & Visionary Figures ↗
Sordello
The Mantuan poet whose welcome to Virgil exposes the divisions of earthly Italy.
Shared source pageHarry of England in the Valley
The English king appears alone within the company of waiting rulers.
Shared source pageWilliam of Montferrat's Upward Gaze
A marquis sits lowest in the valley while looking upward.
Same subject and traditionBeatrice, Dante’s Heavenly Guide
The woman whose recognition leads through confession towards the celestial journey.