From Worldly to Divine: An Analysis of Beatrice Portinari in The Inferno

Taken from the works of Dante, it is evident that Beatrice Portinari went from being a symbol of a high social class to an abstract form of God himself. Dante Alighieri was a loyal Guelph who was raised in Florence, Italy. This Italian poet is best known for creating his own journey through Hell while maintaining his inspiration on the works of Aristotle. The entire comedy Alighieri comprises is in dedication to his Love, Beatrice Portinari. After meeting Beatrice at a festivity, Dante fell in Love with the worldliness and purity she offered. Throughout his most famous writings, Dante slowly changes Beatrice’s figure to represent God. When he meets her for the first time, she embodies a worldly, high-class girl. Then after another meeting, she represents virginity and purity. Finally, in The Inferno, Beatrice symbolizes Divine Love. In La Vita Nuova, Dante traces his entire relationship with Beatrice. He explains that in 1274, the then nine-year-old accompanied his father at a party hosted by Folco Portinari. There, Dante saw Beatrice for the first time. She wore a crimson dress. The color crimson is associated with a high social standing. He fell in Love with eight-year-old Beatrice immediately. Unfortunately, by the time Dante was twelve he had been promised an arranged marriage to ten-year-old Gemma Donati. Nine years later, an unexpected meeting of the two occurred: While walking down the