Post date: Feb 13, 2017 12:39:20 AM
I have to admit, my only knowledge of Dante's Divine Comedy comes from a Dan Brown book Mrs. Klinger said I should read and What Dreams May Come a beautiful movie with Robin Williams. So when I opened up Inferno, I didn't really know what to expect. 20 pages in had me googling Dante's age when he wrote this (he was in his forties). The reason I bring this up is because all of Dante's interactions with Virgil have undertones of hero worship turned crush. Dante's tone about himself is more befit of a much younger person, perhaps even a teenager, than a forty year old man, especially when compared to how Virgil is portrayed. Because of this, and perhaps my fever, I immediately went to a queer reading of the text.
Now obviously since Virgil is dead, he knows more about the underworld and how everything works but the amount of comfort Dante takes from Virgil, "when he had placed his hand on mine / with a cheerful look from which I took comfort" (III.19-20) Virgil says: "Comfort your weary soul and feed it with good hope, for I will never abandon you here in the world below" (VIII.106-108) "in fear I drew closer to my guide" (X.30) creates an image of Virgil heroic and strong and Dante weak and in need of help, a damsel in distress if you will. He even faints. Twice.** Obviously Dante isn't trying to build up a strong image of himself. Instead, Virgil takes on almost heroic qualities - with him being in charge, fighting and arguing with various gatekeepers, and having the most knowledge. Although Virgil in the Inferno plays the role of the mentor or supernatural help, the reverence portrayed by Dante toward Virgil, and the concern and affection seen in Virgil for Dante speak to something more.
When Dante is shown welcome by the ancient poets, it "made [his] master break into a smile" (IV.39). Why include this if not to show that Dante himself in on par with the ancient poets and that Virgil from whom Dante "acquired the beautiful style that has won me honor" (I.86-87) is proud of this fact. Virgil is overprotective, providing his hands as cover and protection from Medusa as well (IX.59-60). The amount of physical closeness enacted between the pair plays well into a queer reading and insight into Dante's views on Virgil. Dante was inspired by Virgil, but the way he writes Virgil bespeaks a crush. The most telling line "My trusted guide, I would not hide my heart from you except to speak more briefly, for this is what you have always had me do" (X.19-21) shows that Dante is willing and ready to bear his heart to Virgil and keep no secrets from him.
Dante's portrayal of Virgil as protective and invested in Dante's emotional well-being creates a scenario in which the relationship between Dante and Virgil blurs between bromance and romance. If this is indeed a bubbling romance, then let me tell you, a trip to hell is a horrible first date.
*As Chiron calls Dante in XII.81.
**Which begs the question, how exactly did Dante move while unconscious? Did he float? Did Virgil carry him? How do the dead interact with the living but not with the ground???