intertextuality in Song of Solomon

Coming of age is a theme found in the context of intertextuality. When one "comes of age" he or she has reached maturity, assumed responsibility for his/her actions, has grown aware of other feeling and emotions, and has had a loss of innocence through sexual experiences. Milkman, the son of Macon and Ruth and brother to Corinthians and Magdalene, has yet to come of age despite being in his late twenties. Milkman's lack of change from childish behavior is evident through his actions. He lives to go out, get drunk, and have sex with women he barely knows. Although Milkman works and makes his own money he is not enthused and finds little satisfaction while working. the only reason he continues his job is because his father wants him to, not because he wants too. Milkman's lack of self awareness and identity makes him a tough character to like and understand.

I enjoyed The Inferno of Dante but thought it was a very difficult book to read. There was so much theological, mythological, and historical background to the book that reading it took a long time and required constant stoppage to research unknown information. I felt as if Dante was trying to show off by cramming so much knowledge into his book. The book was really well written and fun to read but I found it overwhelming to read.

I did not understand why Dante talked about Satan as being a beautiful creature. In the Canto Dante describes Satan as having three faces: one black, one yellow, and one red. Satan also has six eyes which is kind of akward and creepy. He also had wings on his chin which is wierd and gross. And bloody foam dripping from his mouth. all these disgusting description made me wonder how Satan could have once been beautiful. After some research I found that Satan was once one of gods most important angels and after trying to take the thrown of heaven from god he was sent to hell to suffer for eternity.

There are a few reasons our society has been so intrigued with Dante for so many years. The first is the continuous references to political practices at the time. Dante mentions such political figures he meets in hell including people like Santa Zita, Polydorus, Pier della Vigna. Dante encounters all these individuals in his journey through hell and given their lives before death puts them in their appropriate place of hell.
Dante also includes many historical figures. “I saw Electra with many companions, among whom I knew well which shades were those of Aeneas and of Hector, and Caesar.” Aeneas was a Trojan hero who was very well known with both the Romans and the Greeks. Hector was a Trojan prince who was known for his courageous and noble nature. And Caesar, one of the most famous Roman political and military leaders. I love how Dante can take all these famous historical figures and include them in his walk through hell.
I find it amazing the amount of political, historical, and religious, knowledge Dante incorporates into the book. But one element that I think makes the book so appealing are the brutal punishments placed on the dead and the grotesque characters. These punishments can range from people being turned into trees and people who’s heads are turned 180 degrees. These disgusting images make the story interesting and make the reader want to continue reading. I don’t know what it is about movies or literature but the more conflict and violence in the work the more engaging the story is.

"O Malebranche, here is another one of Santa Zita's elders! While i go back to bring more from his homeland, trust him below. His city gives us an abundant stock. Every citizen there except Banturo practices burratry." (CantoXXI 36-40) I have never heard of Santa Zita and have no idea what city he is from and why what they did in the city sent them to hell. After some research I discovered Santa Zita was from the city of Lucca. The reason people from Lucca were sent to hell was for the crime of barratry. Barratry is the crime of selling public offices. At the end of the text I picked out Bonturo is mentioned as not being a part of the corruption. But after looking into it Bonturo was apparently the worst and practiced barratry the most. Dante's mentioning of Bonturo reveals his sarcastic nature.

"the present Fracas turned my mind to Aesop's fable of the frog and the mouse."(Canto XXIII 3-4) I am not familiar with the fable about the frog and the mouse and how it is related to the story. The story is about a mouse asking a frog if he could ride on his back across a river. The mouse is tied to the frog but while crossing the river, the frog continually dives under water to try to kill the mouse. But a mouse swoops and picks up the frog. the moral of the story is that bad things happen to those who try to hurt others. In relation to the story, Dante and Virgil could be the innocent mouse and the frog could be the people and demons directing them through hell.

“I reached my hand a little in front of me and twisted off one shoot of a mighty thornbush-and it moaned, “why do you break me?” then after it had grown darker with blood, it began again and mourned, “Why have you torn me? Have you no pity, then?”(Canto XIII 29-34) People as trees, awesome. That is a very cool creative punishment. It sucks for the person but is an interesting idea. When Dante first observes the trees he describes them as the leaves not being green, the earth hued, boughs not smooth, knotted and crooked forked, no fruit but poisoned thorns. All the individuals cast to this layer of hell have brought death upon themselves. Now as trees, which cant move, cannot harm themselves.

Before I started reading this book I always thought of Heaven and Hell as two nonrelated places. But now I think that hell is a part of heaven and if God does not see you worthy enough to enter heaven he will send you to hell. Hell is so orderly and divided into its own separate layers that divide people by crime. Another reason I think Hell is controlled by god is that the people are punished. Since the people did not worship him in there short lifetime he is making that up to them my punishem them for eternity.

Deeper in Hell

“The sin of gluttony brought me here. You see me soak to ruin in battering rain-but not alone, for all of these around me share the same penalty for the same transgression as mine.” I noticed the weather in this place, the third circle, is constantly cold and raining hail heavily. Since the people are in this circle for greed because they were so demanding of certain things it makes perfect sense that they receive a continuous torture of hail. These people are now forced to carry the weight and burden that they put on others while they were living. The three-headed Cerberus is in the circle to control the dead and keep them in line and control there gluttony.

I am glad the 11th Canto goes into a lat of detail about the seventh level of Hell and how it is divided into three other sublevels. After reading the tenth Canto which is quite dense and contains a good bit of historical reference, the 11th is a nice well needed break. The seventh layer of Hell is broken down into three smaller levels. “the whole first circle is for the violent; but, because violence involves a deed against three persons, it apportionment and fabrication are in the three rings: to God, to one’s self, or one’s neighbor.”(Canto XI 28-32) The first level is violence upon ones neighbor. Crimes that one can commit to be sent to the first ring are arson, robbery, and being offensive. The second ring is violence against one’s self. Including such things as gambling or being sad in happy times. The third and final ring of the seventh layer is violence against God.

"Abandon all hope, you who enter here." (Canto III line 7) These word scribed in dark colors are read by Dante as he enters. The people are there because they did not have hope or believe in god in the first place. Virgil then explains to Dante that it means the fear of the people was to be left there as they entered. the people who cross that line loose there intellect. throughout the story he constantly mentions the screams and terror of the people he sees.

I have noticed a pattern of Dante passing out. this does not surprise me at all. if I encountered some of the things he does I would also be scared shit-less. "then, the earth of that grim shore began to shake: so violently, i shudder and sweat recalling it now. A wind burst up from the tear-soaked ground to erupt red light and batter. my senses-and so i fell, as though seized by sleep." (Canto III 109-112) Fire is shooting up from the ground and the land is violently shaking. i would be terrified. He is starting his journey through hell where you are bound to see some crazy things and have weird experiences.