Alexander Schmid Podcast

In this lecture we (a) conclude the analysis by Marco Lombardo of the relationship between the influence of the stars and free will; (b) we observe examples of the expiating virtue of "gentleness/meekness" and the vice of wrath; (c) we then spend the middle cantos of "Purgatorio" (and the entire Divine Comedy 16-17; 50-51) considering free will and its relationship to natural and rational love (one must liberate one's will in order to love appropriately, not enslaved by error or sin);

Note: Technically, the true center of Dante's "Purgatorio"/"The Divine Comedy" is Canto 16 where Dante's consideration of free-will is. Canto 17, thus, shows the appropriate use of the free will: rationally loving what is appropriate (the correct object) with appropriate vigor (neither too much: avarice, gluttony, lust), nor too little (sloth).

In this lecture, we (a) consider "The Returns" and which Achaians encounter difficulties on the way home and at home; (b) we consider the situation Odysseus finds himself in at the beginning of "The Odyssey"; and (c) we examine the proem (first ten lines) of the poem before embarking upon the narrative itself!

In this lecture, we (a) review the structure of Purgatory proper: (1) exemplary art, (2) penitent sinners, (3) vicious art; (b) we observed examples of love/charity as expiating virtue to envy and considered the nature of envy through (1) historical personages and (2) examples of envy in art (from the Old Testament (Cain and Abel) and Greco-Roman tradition (Aglauros and Herse); (c) we conclude by ascending to the acrid smoke and darkness of Cornice 3: Wrath, and there we meet Marco Lombardo and determine the relationship between free-will and astrology.

In this lecture, we discuss the events which take place between Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey". Specifically, we consider (a) the events of the lost epic "Aethiopis", and we see the fall of Penthesilea, Memnon, Antilochos, and Achilleus; next (b) we observe the cunning of Odysseus in the "contest of the arms of Achilleus" and his part in the making of the Trojan horse; (c) we conclude the day by witnessing "The Sack of Ilium" and the deaths and abductions of many Trojans we came to know during Homer's "Iliad". 

In this lecture, we discuss (a) the difference between vices and sins, (b) the structure of the terraces of Purgatory proper: (1) exemplary virtue in art, (2) sinner in process of expiation, (3) exemplary vice in art; and (c) we observed the art and sinners themselves in the Terrace of the Proud and a representative sinner of the Terrace of Envy.

In this lecture, we (a) revisit the dying speech of Hektor, (b) observe connections between Priam's journey to Achilleus' camp and a journey to the underworld (Hades), and (c) witness Achilleus regain his compassion and humanity while we (and Andromache, Hekabe, and Helen) sorrow over Hektor's death.

In this lecture, we discuss: (a) the late-repentant: unabsolved/violent death with Buonconte da Montefeltro and Pia Tolomei; (b) the late-repentant: negligent with Sordello; and (c) we consider the drama of the angels and serpent, the gate of Purgatory, and various ways Dante portrays the purgatorial act by means of allegory.

In this lecture, we discuss: (a) the rage of Achilleus: his capture of twelve Trojan youths, and his savage killing of Polydoros (Bk 20), Lykaon (Bk 21), and Asteropaios; (b) Achilleus' feud with the river-god Xanthos and the Theomachy (Bk 21); (c) and the battle between Achilleus and Hektor (Bk 22).

In this lecture we discuss (a) the major themes of Purgatory, especially rebirth (renaissance, renovatio); (b) the angel, Cato, Casella, and putting the past (one's body, loves, and memories) behind one's self; and (c) Manfred and the excommunicated and Belacqua and the Late-Repentant due to apathy.

Correction*: Belacqua is among the Late-Repentant: Apathetic (not Negligent as I erroneously said); the three types of Late-Repentant sinners are: (1) Apathetic (C4), (2) Unabsolved due to violent death (C5-C6), (3) Negligent (C6-C8).

In this lecture, we discuss (a) the battle over Patroklos' body and Achilleus' armor, (b) the making and design of Achilleus' new armor and shield by Hephaistos (and Homer's use of ekphrasis); and (c) we witness the reconciliation between Achilleus and Agamemnon.