1. The Journey's Purpose:
While the journey starts in Hell, it's not simply about punishment or despair. Dante's journey is ultimately a quest for spiritual understanding and salvation. He seeks to understand the nature of sin, divine justice, and ultimately, the path to redemption. This aligns with the concept of "divine" - a pursuit of the divine and a quest for knowledge of the higher realms.
2. The Journey's Structure:
The poem is structured in a tripartite structure reflecting the traditional Christian understanding of the afterlife: Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. This structure mirrors the journey of the soul towards salvation, making the work a "comedy" in the medieval sense – a work that ends happily and brings about a sense of joy and enlightenment.
3. The Journey's Tone:
While Dante encounters horrific and horrifying sights in Hell, his descriptions are not solely focused on terror. There is a sense of moral judgment and understanding that informs his observations. He encounters figures from history and literature, gaining insights into their lives and the consequences of their choices. This intellectual engagement with the material makes the journey more than just a gruesome spectacle.
4. The Journey's Significance:
The poem's exploration of sin, redemption, and the nature of God is ultimately a celebration of faith and divine love. Despite the dark aspects of the journey, the reader is ultimately led towards a vision of heavenly beauty and eternal salvation.
5. The Use of "Comedy" in Dante's Time:
It's important to remember that "comedy" in Dante's time didn't necessarily mean "funny." It referred to a work that ended happily and had a positive outcome, often with a sense of moral or spiritual upliftment. The "Divine Comedy" fits this definition perfectly, as it ends with Dante reaching Paradise and experiencing the divine light.
In conclusion, the title "Divine Comedy" is appropriate because it captures the essence of Dante's journey: a quest for spiritual understanding and redemption, culminating in a vision of divine love and eternal salvation.