Dante’s Devine Comedy

Paradiso

“Paradiso” is the final part of Dante Alighieri’s

long, narrative poem, Divine Comedy. In it,
Beatrice accompanies Dante as he journeys
through the nine levels or spheres of heaven,
which are represented by various celestial
bodies. In each section, Dante’s guides attempt
to teach him various lessons.
Nine Levels / Spheres
 1. MOON
Dante meets Piccarda Donati, who explains why the
souls kept here are so happy with their place in
heaven. Beatrice quizzes him on the reason for the
moon’s spots and explains how the waxing and waning
of the moon are associated with inconsistency. As
such, the moon houses souls whose word could not
be trusted and were lacking in courage. The pair also
meets Constance of Sicily, who was removed from her
convent against her will and forced to marry Henry VI.
Their visit concludes with Beatrice’s acknowledgement
of the sacredness of keeping one’s vows and the
importance of free will.
 2. MERCURY
Here is where Dante and Beatrice meet Justinian,
who explains the history and destiny of Rome. As
Mercury is difficult to observe due to its proximity
to the sun, this sphere of heaven represents those
who did good deeds out of a desire for recognition
and fame. Therefore, Justinian’s explanation of this
realm focuses on Caesar’s desire for power and
glory, and how such vain desires hold no relevance
in heaven. Beatrice also reminds Dante of God’s
discipline on Jerusalem for much the same reason.
 3. VENUS

Here, wherein Dante meets Charles Martel of

Anjou. Martel reminds Dante that the key to a
functioning, well-rounded society is the
inclusion of people from a wide variety of
backgrounds. The two also happen upon
another individual, the composer and poet
Folquet de Marseilles, who speaks to them of
the temptations of love.
 4. SUN

Here, Dante encounters examples of prudence,

the souls of the wise who help illuminate the
earth intellectually. Twelve bright lights,
representing the souls of twelve individuals,
encircle Beatrice and Dante. Another twelve
lights also surround the couple, including St.
Dominic, who warns Dante about the perils of
judging too hastily.
 5. MARS
As this planet is typically associated with the god of
war, Dante recognizes this sphere as the home of the
warriors of the faith who sacrificed their lives for God.
Here, Dante meets Cacciaguida, who discusses the
virtue of Florence while bemoaning the manner in
which the city has declined in recent years. Cacciaguida
comments on the noble Florentine families and conveys
to Dante the importance of his exile. He is to fulfill his
poetic mission by telling the world what he has seen in
hell, purgatory, and heaven. Dante and Beatrice then
meet other champions of the faith, including Joshua,
Charlemagne and Judas Maccabeus.
 6. JUPITER
This sphere is typically associated with the king of
the gods. Dante portrays this planet as the home of
the gods who display justice. They spell out a Latin
phrase that, in English, translates to “cherish justice,
you who judge the earth,” and then form a giant
eagle that speaks to Dante of divine justice and
inscrutability. The rulers comprising the eagle are
biblical kings, Constantine, emperor of Rome,
Trajan, a Trojan hero, and a pagan who was saved
by God due to his righteousness.
 7. SATURN
This sphere was identified by Dante as the home
of those who embody temperance and dedicate
their lives to prayer. Dante envisions these
people climbing up and down a golden ladder. It
is here that he meets the poet, St. Peter
Damian, who speaks of the corruption of the
church, as well as the doctrine of
predestination. He also meets St. Benedict who
is angered by what he sees as the moral decline
of the church.
 8. FIXED STAR
This is the realm of the constellation
Gemini. Here, the pair finds the Virgin Mary, as
well as other Biblical saints such as John, Peter,
and James, who test Dante’s hope, love, and
faith. Dante also sees Adam, who explains how
long he lived in Eden and why he incurred the
wrath of God. Before departing, Dante and
Beatrice witness St. Peter’s anger with the
papacy, specifically the incumbent Pope
Boniface VIII.
 9. PRIMIUM MOBILE
This is the last sphere of the physical universe. It
is directly controlled by God, and any action or
movement in this sphere affects all the spheres
beneath it. It is here that angels live, and where
Dante gets the first glimpses of God as an intensely
bright point of light surrounded by nine rings of
angels. As they slowly ascend to the Empyrean,
Beatrice shares with Dante the story of creation and
the history of the angels, while also touching upon
the creation of the universe.
 EMPYREAN

Dante and Beatrice have ascended to a realm

beyond physical existence, which is where God
lives. Throughout “Paradiso,” Beatrice has been
a metaphor for theology; now she is transformed
and made more beautiful than ever. Dante
becomes enveloped in light, which permits him
to see god.
As “Paradiso,” and the Divine Comedy ends,
Dante is trying to understand how the three
circles he saw, representing Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, work together. In an instant, he
understood and became more convinced of
God’s eternal love.
 EMPYREAN
EMPYREAN
GROUP I
• CALICA, CHRYSS JHYMM B.
• DERIJE, QUENNE ELIZABETH G.
• GO, KENNETH ALFRED M.
•
GROUP III
BRILLANTES, REESE A.
• CAJAYON, JOHN AMIEL A.
• DE GUZMAN, JOHN PAUL L.
• FERRER, VINCE WILL N.
• GABANES, DARIUS ANGEL M.
• LOPEZ, CHANTRICE JILLIAN A.
• REA, JUSTINE RIGGS BRIAN M.
• SATORRE, MIA KYLA V.