DANTE AND THE MUSIC OF THE AFTERLIFE –JERSEY LIBRARY
Dante’s Divine Comedy is one of the most significant works of literature in European history. In this great poem, Dante goes on a journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, interacting with the souls of the dead found in each realm.
During these interactions, the souls share their stories with Dante, telling him about their lives and their experiences of the afterlife. Most of this is communicated through dialogue, but in certain moments of the text, the characters sing. Music in Dante’s afterlife becomes a tool of repentance as well as a way to express joy and build community.
In this talk, Katie Bastiman will provide a brief introduction to Dante’s ‘Comedy,’ followed by an examination of where music appears within the poem and why.
The talk will last roughly 45 minutes with time for questions at the end.
