Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri was a citizen, minor politician, and poet of 13th- and 14th-century Florence, Italy. He is the author of The Divine Comedy and the protagonist of Paradiso. In this last segment of his…
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Beatrice
The soul of Beatrice, Dante’s earthly beloved, escorts him through Paradise. Beatrice symbolizes indirect knowledge of God, or revelation. Throughout the ascent through the heavenly spheres, Dante often looks to Beatrice, therefore, for understanding…
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Piccarda dei Donati
Dante meets Piccarda in the sphere of the Moon. She is a sweet-tempered former nun who died not long after her brother forced her into a politically advantageous marriage. Because of her failure to stick…
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Empress Constance
Constance was a 12-century Sicilian queen, wife of Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI. Like her fellow nun Piccarda dei Donati, Constance left the religious life she preferred on the urging of family members and…
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Justinian
Dante encounters the soul of the emperor Justinian in the heavenly sphere of Mercury. Justinian was the emperor of the Roman Empire, based at Constantinople, in the sixth century C.E. Though he had military triumphs…
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Charles Martel
Dante meets Charles Martel while visiting the heavenly sphere of Venus. The historical Charles Martel was roughly Dante’s contemporary, a 13th-century member of the Angevin dynasty. As a young prince, Martel visited Florence, supported the…
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Cunizza da Romano
Dante meets Cunizza in the heavenly sphere of Venus. Cunizza lived in the 13th century, was married four times, and was the mistress of the poet Sordello, who appears in Purgatorio. Cunizza is portrayed…
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Folco of Marseilles
Folco talks with Dante in the heavenly sphere of Venus. Folco was a 12th-century poet who later became a bishop; he was said to have been an amorous figure when young. Folco explains to Dante…
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Thomas Aquinas
Aquinas was a 12h-century Roman Catholic theologian whose Summa Theologiae became the basis for Catholic theology thereafter. In Paradiso, he appears in the sphere of the Sun along with other Christian intellects. After introducing…
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Eagle
In Cantos 18–20, in the heavenly sphere of Jupiter, the souls of the just come together to form a great, glittering eagle across the sky. The eagle’s voice speaks as the collective voice of all…
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St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux was a 12th-century Benedictine monk and contemplative theologian. In the Empyrean, where he is depicted as a kindly, fatherly soul, he takes Beatrice’s place as Dante’s guide. He is…
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Adam
Adam was the first human being God created. Although Adam’s sin resulted in humanity’s fall into corruption and death; however, he is now among the redeemed souls in Paradise. After his examination by the apostles…
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Minor Characters
Francis of Assisi
In the 1300s, St. Francis renounced his riches and founded a monastic order, the Franciscans, devoted to poverty and humility. Francis does not speak directly but is praised by Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican (member of a rival monastic order).
Dominic
In the 1300s, St. Dominic founded the Dominican monastic order. He was known for his great learning and zealous opposition to heresy. Dominic does not speak directly but is praised by Bonaventure, a Franciscan (member of a rival monastic order).
King Solomon
Solomon, an Old Testament king of renowned wisdom, appears in the heavenly sphere of the Sun. He explains to Dante the nature of the future resurrection of the body.
Cacciaguida
Cacciaguida is Dante’s great-great-grandfather, who speaks to him in the heavenly sphere of Mars. He died a martyr’s death while fighting in the Second Crusade. Cacciaguida prophesies Dante’s exile but exhorts Dante not to back off from writing honestly about Florence’s moral decline.
Peter Damian
Peter Damian was an austere 11th-century monk, abbot, bishop, and monastic reformer. In the heavenly sphere of Saturn, Dante asks him a question about predestination, which Damian rebuffs as presumptuous for any human being to ask. He also castigates the corruption of the Church in Dante’s day.
St. Benedict
Benedict was the 6th-century founder of Monte Cassino, the first monastery in the Western Church, and author of its monastic Rule. Dante meets Benedict in the heavenly sphere of Saturn and, like Peter Damian, Benedict laments the decline in monastic discipline since his own day.
St. Peter
St. Peter was one of Christ’s apostles and is the founder of the Catholic Church. In Paradiso, he examines Dante in the articles of his faith in the sphere of the fixed stars. St. Peter also furiously denounces the corruption of the papacy.
St. James
St. James, one of Christ’s 12 apostles, examines Dante in the virtue of hope in the sphere of the fixed stars.
St. John
St. John, one of the 12 apostles, was especially loved by Christ. Because of this closeness, John’s brightness temporarily blinds Dante in the sphere of the fixed stars. He asks Dante questions about love.
The Virgin Mary
The Virgin Mary, the mother of God (Christ), shines brightest in the sphere of the Empyrean. Though she does not speak in the poem, Mary’s intercession enables Dante to have a direct vision of God.
