The Case Against Ulysses: Inferno, Canto XXVI, Lines 85 - 142

In the last episode of this podcast, we took apart Ulysses' speech to discover its poetics and uncover some of its historical roots. Now it's time to turn to the interpretation of his words.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as I build a case against Ulysses.

Yes, he's in hell. But that's not enough for us readers to condemn him, given his rousing rhetoric and gorgeous poetics. What can we learn from his speech that will help us put him far down in hell, as Dante does?

Here are the segments of this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:46] Once again, my English translation of the passage: INFERNO, Canto XXVI, lines 85 - 142. If you'd like to read along or drop a comment on this episode, go to my website, markscarbrough.com.

[05:09] The eight pieces of our case against Ulysses: 1. Why even make a case against him if he's already in hell? Because he's been turned into a Byronic hero over the years.

[06:33] 2. Ulysses is a Greek, enough in itself for Dante to condemn him.

[07:46] 3. Ulysses is not forthright about his motivations.

[11:04] 4. Ulysses rouses his companions with a speech that begins by quoting one by Julius Caesar in Lucan's PHARSALIA.

[13:48] 5. What then are Ulysses' motivations? Perhaps to find immortality without death.

[15:32] 6. Ulysses is a tempter toward destruction, like the snake in Eden.

[18:20] 7. Ulysses repeatedly uses a word--"picciola"--that minimizes his guilt and the humanity of the men who die with him.

[20:42] 8. Ulysses' entire speech is a masterpiece of false counsel toward Virgil, Dante the pilgrim, and, well, us, as we come to sympathize with him.