Where Is My Son? A Thematic And Structural Overview Of INFERNO, Canto X

The answers to these important questions--why is Farinata in the sixth circle of hell and why is he damned at all?--may lie in the structure of Canto X of INFERNO. And it also may lie in the nature of the self as Dante understands it.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, in this interpolated episode of the podcast WALKING WITH DANTE. I'll step back from the weeds of Canto X to talk about Farinata, Cavalcante, the thematics of this very wild canto, and even its structure, all in a way to get at the central problems of this canto, Dante's art, and the very nature of the self for Dante.

Here are the segments of this episode:

[01:03] Why is Farinata damned? He was accused of the Cathar heresy. I'll explain what that was--and why it may or may not be enough to damn him to this circle of INFERNO.

[10:12] A quick look at the difference between Farinata and Cavalcante in Canto X. Their differences may have more to do than just physical affect but may bring to light certain thematics in this difficult canto.

[12:39] The basic structure of Canto X: a chiasmus. If we look how this canto runs, it's something like this: Dante hides something from Virgil--Farinata arises--Cavalcante arises--Farinata continues--Dante tells Virgil everything. That means that Cavalcante is the fulcrum of the canto. What does that mean for its meaning?

[19:36] Farinata isn't the only one who tells the future. Ciacco back in Canto VI did as well. What's the difference between these two?

[24:40] Shame, vendetta, and the nature of the self for Dante.