Dante's virtù: Creation, Embodiment, and Revelation. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chester, Ruth
• Is Part Of: Italian studies. Volume 70:Number 1(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 19
• Page End: 32
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Italian literature -- History and criticism -- Periodicals; Italy -- Intellectual life -- Periodicals; Italy -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 945
• DOI: 10.1179/0075163414Z.00000000085
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0075-1634

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>This article addresses Dante's use of the term <italic>virtù</italic> in the <italic>Commedia</italic> and argues for its relevance as a key issue for exploring the poet's thinking on metaphysics, theology, ethics and the human body. Against the backdrop of a more richly contextualized idea of virtue in medieval thought, literary analysis of certain key passages of the <italic>Purgatorio</italic> and <italic>Paradiso</italic> throws new light on the way Dante explores the role of human existence in understanding the universe and working towards salvation.</p> </abstract>