All The Hopeful Ambiguity Of The Second Canticle: PURGATORIO, Canto XXXIII, Lines 124 - 145
From Walking With Dante by Mark Scarbrough
April 8, 2026 · 20 min · Season 2 · Episode 257
About this episode
Mark Scarbrough explores the final passage of PURGATORIO, highlighting its ambiguity and hopeful themes as Dante concludes the second canticle.
We come to the end of the second canticle, of PURGATORIO . . . and it includes all the ambiguity and humanness we've come to expect, plus hopeful notes for the journey ahead into Paradise. Dante complicates his ending of PURGATORIO with notes about his own dark mind and the incomplete work of this second part of his masterpiece COMEDY. At the same time, we're ready for the stars. Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we explore the final passage of PURGATORIO. Here are the segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE: [01:22] My English translation of PURGATORIO, Canto XXXIII, Lines 124 - 145. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me, please find the entry for this episode on my website, markscarbrough.com . [03:26] Dante, ever the medieval poet, no matter how modern we try to make him. [05:28] The final address to the reader in PURGATORIO and the tricky question of the "woven bridle." [10:58] Matelda, apparently doing what she's always done . . . which only makes her character more complex. [12:49] The threat to memory, the threat to COMEDY as a whole. [15:23] Four hopeful notes that conclude PURGATORIO. [17:55] Rereading the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XXXIII…
People in this episode
Host: Mark Scarbrough
Topics covered
- Dante
- PURGATORIO
- literary analysis
- medieval poetry
- hope
- ambiguity
- spiritual journey
Keywords
- Dante
- PURGATORIO
- Canto XXXIII
- literary analysis
- hopeful ambiguity
- spirituality
- medieval poetry
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: PURGATORIO, COMEDY
More episodes of Walking With Dante
- An Update about PARADISO and WALKING WITH DANTE · May 28, 2026 · 3 min
- Walking With Dante is going on a short hiatus · April 30, 2026 · 3 min
- Final Thoughts On PURGATORIO · April 26, 2026 · 20 min
- The Seven Addresses To The Reader In PURGATORIO · April 19, 2026 · 25 min
- Dante's Theories Of Writing Across INFERNO and PURGATORIO · April 12, 2026 · 31 min
- At Long Last, Matelda: PURGATORIO, Canto XXXIII, Lines 103 - 123 · April 5, 2026 · 33 min
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