Pedagogy Jan 2013

Suffering in Hell

John Alcorn

Abstract

This article applies several concepts from psychology to the interpretation of Dante Alighieri’s literary masterpiece Inferno and describes elements of pedagogy for this kind of interdisciplinary approach. A premise is that sinners in Hell experience emotional suffering. Core psychological concepts are outlined. A methodological distinction is drawn between “what is said” and “what is shown” in Dante’s text. Aspects of the psychologies of the glutton Ciacco, the blasphemer Capaneus, and the sinful lover Francesca are analyzed. Three broad patterns of emotional experience are identified. (1) Each class of sinners suffers its own peculiar complex of negative emotions. The article provides close analysis of one such local complex, the emotions that the pusillanimous suffer at the edge of Hell. (2) Sinners do not suffer remorse. The article discusses a paradoxical implication of remorselessness. (3) Damned souls engage in resistance against an imperative to despair. The article also identifies a tension between infernal justice and human psychology. It concludes with brief discussion of how literature, history, and psychology are complementary resources.

Journal
Pedagogy
Published
2013-01-01
DOI
10.1215/15314200-1814197
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
writing pedagogy
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References (10)

  1. Alighieri (1995)
    The Divine Comedy
  2. Armour (2000)
    Dante’s Contrapasso: Context and Texts
    Italian Studies  ↗
  3. Elster (1999)
    Alchemies of the Mind
  4. Hume (1978)
    A Treatise of Human Nature
  5. Leopardi (1991)
    Zibaldone di pensieri
Show all 10 →
  1. Alcorn (2010)
    The Nature and Scope of Contrapasso in Dante’s Divine Comedy
    Unpublished manuscript
  2. Frijda (1987)
    The Emotions
  3. King (2010)
    Emotions in Medieval Thought
  4. Smith (1994)
    Punishment in the Divine Comedy
    Cumberland Law Review
  5. Tambling (2010)
    Dante in Purgatory: States of Affect
     ↗
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