Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Paradiso, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Earthly and Heavenly Justice
Creation and God’s Providence
God’s Character and Will
Vision, Knowledge, and the Pursuit of God
Language and the Ineffable
Summary
Analysis
Justinian and other souls whirl out of sight, singing. Dante has a question for Beatrice, but, embarrassed by her radiant smile, he stays silent. But Beatrice perceives and speaks his question: how is it just, Dante wonders, for vengeance to befall just vengeance? Beatrice explains that the first human being, Adam, sinned and condemned subsequent generations to sin—humanity having abandoned its creator, God. Then, centuries later, God chose to become incarnate as a human being, out of love—thereby uniting fallen human nature with himself.
Dante’s discussion of earthly justice with Justinian prompts questions about divine justice. His somewhat obscure question requires some unpacking. “Just vengeance” refers to the Crucifixion, which atoned for humanity’s sins. Traditionally, Christians claimed that the Crucifixion was avenged by God through the destruction of Jerusalem by Roman forces in 70 C.E. Dante wonders how the just punishment of humanity could justly be avenged by God. In response, Beatrice first explains that, to bring about humanity’s atonement, God chose to become man—human and divine natures being united in the person of Jesus Christ.
Themes
Beatrice continues her explanation. At the Cross, when Christ was crucified, human nature (as united to Christ) underwent the just penalty for its sin. From an earthly perspective, therefore, Christ’s death pleased his persecutors; from a heavenly perspective, Christ’s death satisfied God’s justice, too. The “vengeance” wrought for this event—the fall of Jerusalem in 70 C.E.—can thus, in Beatrice’s view, be understood as just vengeance.
When Christ died, multiple things were happening at once. Christ was being unjustly killed by his tormentors; but, at the same time, humanity (human nature being united to divine nature in Christ) was undergoing just punishment for sin. Therefore, from an earthly perspective, the destruction of Jerusalem could be viewed as a just response to those who, not having God’s purposes in view, condemned Christ to death.
Themes
Dante wants to know why God chose this means of redemption and not some other. Beatrice explains that nobody whose mind is immature can understand it fully. However, God’s chosen means of redemption springs from his generosity of character, which constantly “unfolds eternal beauties.” Anything that’s directly created by God, in fact, perfectly reflects God’s goodness. However, human beings, because of their sinful nature, have forfeited this perfect dignity and must make amends for sin. God could have made this possible either by simply pardoning humanity outright, or by allowing for humanity to offer satisfaction.
Ultimately, human beings cannot fully understand God’s justice. However, the Crucifixion does clearly reveal God’s character—specifically, his generosity. God didn’t have to provide this specific means of redemption; he could simply have disregarded human sin, for example. But God’s enabling humanity, through Christ, to participate in their own redemption is a greater display of God’s generous character.
Themes
Left to themselves, Beatrice goes on, human beings could not give satisfaction for their sin. That’s why God provided the means, in himself, by which humans could make satisfaction. Because of God’s innate generosity, it pleased God most to provide the means that best displayed his generosity. His humble action on humanity’s behalf is therefore even more generous than free pardon would have been.
Human beings are not capable in themselves of making restitution for their sins to God—the debt is too great. In Beatrice’s view, God’s generosity in humbly becoming a human being in order to atone for human sin is the clearest revelation of God’s character.
Themes
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As a final point, Beatrice discusses secondary causes. Elements like fire, air, earth, and water eventually fail and decay. Beatrice explains that all created things have this characteristic. The human soul is a key exception, because God himself directly breathes a soul into people. This explains why human beings will eventually be resurrected.
Beatrice’s final point touches on human beings’ ultimate destiny. Basically, things directly created by God do not suffer decay. This includes the soul, which explains why human souls are ultimately immortal. This implies, too, that somehow human bodies—Adam’s having been created directly by God in the beginning—will, in conjunction with souls, enjoy immortality, too.
Themes
