In addition to agreeing with what others have previously said, I found it refreshing to hear a college professor declaim St Augustine and the Christian scholar CS Lewis with belief in these same Christian tenets. Thank you, professor. Your students are blessed to have you as their pedagogue.
I was thinking how a professor might have responded if a student ever gave an oral presentation like this in class. I'm sure he or she would have been speechless. A pluses across the board, as you said!
Thanks Dr. Williams for highlighting the depth as well as the latent connections that we miss without such information. It's inspiring. I am impressed by the reference of the 666 the number of the beast in Apocalypse. And yet uncannily the sins in Canto 6 are everywhere around us ! Thanks for your excellent exposition.
Super enjoyed this as well as the previous teachings. To the producers of this Dante journey: is there any way that this same teaching format could be created for Milton's Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained?
Canto 6: As some are addicted to the physical pleasures associated with lust, others may be addicted to pleasures offered by extreme consumption, i.e. gluttony. One such sinner Dante met had the nickname “Piggy,” who was punished by cold rain, hailstones and snow falling in the form of sewage. In today’s world he might be called “Polluter,” one who desires every item which can be purchased, used and finally dumped onto the environment! “Piggy” was not bothered by his calling; he wanted Dante to remember him to those left behind! Today, some may agree. The more consumed, the better it is for the economy. For them, Consumerism is not a sin; neither is Gluttony. The self-harm resulting to one’s own body is a personal, medical problem, not a spiritual one. For Dante, gluttons wallowed in the mire of their own leftovers. It was, indeed, a fitting “contrapasso.” If this Circle were to be reconstructed with modern technology, its floor would no doubt be covered with plastic: six-pack holders, shopping bags, straws, containers of all sizes, and anything that floats in the gyres of the Pacific - along with a lot of left-over french-fries.
@Linda Strawn Thanks for the comment; I appreciate it. It's interesting that what might once have been thought of as "sinful" is no longer the case! Perhaps Dante, today, would need a different set of sinners to populate his Inferno. On the other hand, "sin" still, I believe, is any break in a relationship among self-other-God, repairable by forgiveness ... that does not change. I, too, await their exposition in later cantos.
Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins because it leads not only to the first death but the second. Gluttony is a spiritual blight. It is not addiction--that is the 21st century therapeutic application for all sin. I am not responsible because I am an addict. I am diseased. How sad and shallow is our culture. All sins are spiritual. No personal effort can save us from our sin. I think it's amusing to read this therapeutic nonsense. Redemption comes from outside ourselves--through Christ's covering of our sin by his blood on the cross. Repentance and forgiveness are not healing of an addiction. Redemption is the way to eternal life. Sin isn't self-harm--it is rebellion against God and the proper order of creation. It is a perversion of appetites.
@@martha1spur I agree that sin is spiritual and disease is physical. Your insightful comments may also address the relationship of Christ's forgiving sinners while healing the afflicted, especially when casting out the demons of addiction.
Brilliant reflection...much, much to chew on here! (Pun totally intended :) I love the resonant call to all of us to "let the story read us". That it does! Thank you!
So much in 12 minutes. I found this lecture remarkable in it's depth of understanding of Dante and his Florence, the referencing of other literature and theology, its application to our own personal and political situations today, and it's inspiring and compelling narrative. Thank you, Dr. Brian Williams, you have enhanced my understanding of this Canto immeasurably.
I am neither a wise nor widely read man. However, Dr. Williams presentation of Canto 6 struck me deeply and once again points out how much of the modern world is explained and then predicted by the Classics. Why, it's almost as if human nature is eternal and the severe lessons of the past are willfully set aside for fleeting satiation.
This was an impressive teaching by Dr. Brian Williams. I love the depth of insights and genius of Dante that he explains. I’m going to reread Canto 6 with enhanced understanding. Thank you.
I love love how Dr. Brian breaks down the simile for mere mortal like me, and makes it much easier to understand. Thank you so much! Always love his eloquence yet down to earth exposition.
Amazing! I love the point about the change from honey cake to mud for Cerberus- I love book 6 of the Aeneid so my mind kept going back to it as I was reading the canto.
Thank you for the great insights and your help to navigate the immense complex nature of this poem. This poem appears to be like a well that never runs dry and the more you draw; the more there remains to draw and seek.
Nice! The lecture contains a wealth of insights into the work and the journey which Dante the poet is taking Dante the pilgrim on, and us as readers as well.
Thank you. I really appreciate your clear explanation of your thoughts and insights to the meanings of much of the poem here. It really broadens my study.
Thank you so much for this teaching! It moved me to little tears and big smiles! This will inform my own discipleship as well as my intercessory prayer life! So rich! ❤️
Which translations are other readers using? I'd be interested to know. I'm following along in the Kirkpatrick translation in a Penguin Classic edition. I can't say I've liked it at all and fear I've made a mistake in my choice. Not only is the language often, to my mind, ugly and contrarian (why render the famous line as "Surrender as you enter every hope you have", for goodness sake?!) but also seems to frequently flat out diverge in content from some of what the lecturers here say the text contains.
I started out using both Hollander and Mandelbaum and eventually settled on the Hollander mainly for its clarity and readability. It may not be the most "poetic" translation, but for comprehensibility it's great. Also it has a wealth of notes.
I am reading the John Ciardi translation. It is what I had on the shelf and has enough notes to explain, but not overwhelm the text. I also like the verse rendering of his translation.
I'm reading Ciardi first, then listening to the video, then reading Hollander. I check the notes in each only when something is unclear, otherwise I'd be way behind.
I'm reading Longfellow's translation from Flame Tree Publishing. I got it for Gustave Dore's illustrations and stayed because of Longfellow's archaic style.
This canto analysis is exceptionally clear and thought provoking.
This canto should be required reading for any politician and also those tweeting about politics.
In addition to agreeing with what others have previously said, I found it refreshing to hear a college professor declaim St Augustine and the Christian scholar CS Lewis with belief in these same Christian tenets. Thank you, professor. Your students are blessed to have you as their pedagogue.
Wow, what a powerful lecture. From a former public speaking teacher: A+ for delivery, A+ for organization, A+ for impact. Thank you, sir!
I was thinking how a professor might have responded if a student ever gave an oral presentation like this in class. I'm sure he or she would have been speechless. A pluses across the board, as you said!
Thanks Dr. Williams for highlighting the depth as well as the latent connections that we miss without such information. It's inspiring. I am impressed by the reference of the 666 the number of the beast in Apocalypse. And yet uncannily the sins in Canto 6 are everywhere around us ! Thanks for your excellent exposition.
I know this wasn't meant to be the main takeaway, but I am SO going to be starting a bluegrass-funk-fusion band called "Virgilellian Mudpies".
Makes me wish I'd continued with those bass lessons. I can write lyrics??
Super enjoyed this as well as the previous teachings. To the producers of this Dante journey: is there any way that this same teaching format could be created for Milton's Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained?
Yes!!! Oh I hope so!!!
Wow!! This has been my favorite Canto analysis so far!!! Made me really think about things and the state of the world we are in now. Just Wow.
Thanks for your note, Heather. Very glad the talk was useful!
Canto 6: As some are addicted to the physical pleasures associated with lust, others may be addicted to pleasures offered by extreme consumption, i.e. gluttony. One such sinner Dante met had the nickname “Piggy,” who was punished by cold rain, hailstones and snow falling in the form of sewage. In today’s world he might be called “Polluter,” one who desires every item which can be purchased, used and finally dumped onto the environment! “Piggy” was not bothered by his calling; he wanted Dante to remember him to those left behind! Today, some may agree. The more consumed, the better it is for the economy. For them, Consumerism is not a sin; neither is Gluttony. The self-harm resulting to one’s own body is a personal, medical problem, not a spiritual one. For Dante, gluttons wallowed in the mire of their own leftovers. It was, indeed, a fitting “contrapasso.” If this Circle were to be reconstructed with modern technology, its floor would no doubt be covered with plastic: six-pack holders, shopping bags, straws, containers of all sizes, and anything that floats in the gyres of the Pacific - along with a lot of left-over french-fries.
@Linda Strawn Thanks for the comment; I appreciate it. It's interesting that what might once have been thought of as "sinful" is no longer the case! Perhaps Dante, today, would need a different set of sinners to populate his Inferno. On the other hand, "sin" still, I believe, is any break in a relationship among self-other-God, repairable by forgiveness ... that does not change. I, too, await their exposition in later cantos.
Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins because it leads not only to the first death but the second. Gluttony is a spiritual blight. It is not addiction--that is the 21st century therapeutic application for all sin. I am not responsible because I am an addict. I am diseased. How sad and shallow is our culture. All sins are spiritual. No personal effort can save us from our sin. I think it's amusing to read this therapeutic nonsense. Redemption comes from outside ourselves--through Christ's covering of our sin by his blood on the cross. Repentance and forgiveness are not healing of an addiction. Redemption is the way to eternal life. Sin isn't self-harm--it is rebellion against God and the proper order of creation. It is a perversion of appetites.
@@martha1spur I agree that sin is spiritual and disease is physical. Your insightful comments may also address the relationship of Christ's forgiving sinners while healing the afflicted, especially when casting out the demons of addiction.
Brilliant reflection...much, much to chew on here! (Pun totally intended :)
I love the resonant call to all of us to "let the story read us". That it does! Thank you!
So much in 12 minutes. I found this lecture remarkable in it's depth of understanding of Dante and his Florence, the referencing of other literature and theology, its application to our own personal and political situations today, and it's inspiring and compelling narrative. Thank you, Dr. Brian Williams, you have enhanced my understanding of this Canto immeasurably.
This video received a star on the reading schedule. Absolutely worth listening to again. Thank you.
I am neither a wise nor widely read man. However, Dr. Williams presentation of Canto 6 struck me deeply and once again points out how much of the modern world is explained and then predicted by the Classics. Why, it's almost as if human nature is eternal and the severe lessons of the past are willfully set aside for fleeting satiation.
This was an impressive teaching by Dr. Brian Williams. I love the depth of insights and genius of Dante that he explains. I’m going to reread Canto 6 with enhanced understanding. Thank you.
This is excellent, Dr. Williams!
Williams offered insights with every sentence. Excellent teaching!
Everything about this series is so perfect-the insights, the duration, the music… I love it!!
The professor goes deeper and gets to the core of this canto. Thought provoking. Excellent!
Great overview and explanation of Canto 6. Thank you.
Excellent. The references to Aristotle and C.S. Lewis were exceptionally helpful. This was stellar analysis.
Thanks Dr. Williams. This video is positively inspirational!
I love love how Dr. Brian breaks down the simile for mere mortal like me, and makes it much easier to understand. Thank you so much! Always love his eloquence yet down to earth exposition.
Wow! This was top notch! Thanks for this!
Absolutely fantastic!! I could listen to him lecture on Dante all day
Amazing! I love the point about the change from honey cake to mud for Cerberus- I love book 6 of the Aeneid so my mind kept going back to it as I was reading the canto.
Thank you for the great insights and your help to navigate the immense complex nature of this poem. This poem appears to be like a well that never runs dry and the more you draw; the more there remains to draw and seek.
I agree, Denise. Every time I come back to it, I see something different, in part because I'm a different person every time!
This is one of the best videos I have seen on 100 Days of Dante so far. Thank you!
Nice! The lecture contains a wealth of insights into the work and the journey which Dante the poet is taking Dante the pilgrim on, and us as readers as well.
Thank you. I really appreciate your clear explanation of your thoughts and insights to the meanings of much of the poem here. It really broadens my study.
Masterful commentary!!! 👏👏👏👏
Wow, Brian. That was amazing. You are an incredible teacher. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this teaching! It moved me to little tears and big smiles! This will inform my own discipleship as well as my intercessory prayer life! So rich! ❤️
Just jaw droppingly awesome.
Man. This was convicting. Very thought provoking!
I found this to be the most interesting and insightful video yet! I couldn't stop writing notes. Thank you for sharing!
A year later and this is still one of my favorite videos of the lot! Jam packed with so many great points and reflections. Thank you Dr. Williams!
Fantastic! Thank you Dr. Williams for your clear enthusiastic commentary.
I wish I could take a class from him. He is very good.
This commentary was amazing in its insight.
Exceptional commentary on Canto 6. Thank you very much for the insights.
Just loved it! SO much.
This is the best analysis yet
This one was perfect.
Excellent
He cool
Excellent and insightful.
Beatiful explanation. Thanks.
Outstanding
So relevant
Mic drop
Which translations are other readers using? I'd be interested to know. I'm following along in the Kirkpatrick translation in a Penguin Classic edition. I can't say I've liked it at all and fear I've made a mistake in my choice. Not only is the language often, to my mind, ugly and contrarian (why render the famous line as "Surrender as you enter every hope you have", for goodness sake?!) but also seems to frequently flat out diverge in content from some of what the lecturers here say the text contains.
I started out using both Hollander and Mandelbaum and eventually settled on the Hollander mainly for its clarity and readability. It may not be the most "poetic" translation, but for comprehensibility it's great. Also it has a wealth of notes.
Using Sinclair. I selected it specifically for clarity, since this is my first time reading Dante. It has great notes too. I recommend it.
I am reading the John Ciardi translation. It is what I had on the shelf and has enough notes to explain, but not overwhelm the text. I also like the verse rendering of his translation.
I'm reading Ciardi first, then listening to the video, then reading Hollander. I check the notes in each only when something is unclear, otherwise I'd be way behind.
I'm reading Longfellow's translation from Flame Tree Publishing. I got it for Gustave Dore's illustrations and stayed because of Longfellow's archaic style.
Come on, Baylor, you gotta give my man a better thumbnail picture. ☺
I´m the 393 like, do your maths.