Manchester University Press
7 Staging the Inferno in How It Is
Abstract
This chapter addresses the argument that How It Is mobilises Inferno VII to produce a notion of reality as the unreliable outcome of repetition. It studies the canto where Virgil translates the incomprehensible gurgling that is coming from the bubbles on the surface of the river Styx into the ‘hymn’ sung by the invisible slothful damned. This discussion shows that this illustrates how ‘credence’ for the reality of such scenes is taken from the quickly diminishing ‘incontrovertibility’ of Virgil's authority. This chapter also shows that the mud in How It Is is what allows the passing of the murmuring and what prevents it.
Abstract
This chapter addresses the argument that How It Is mobilises Inferno VII to produce a notion of reality as the unreliable outcome of repetition. It studies the canto where Virgil translates the incomprehensible gurgling that is coming from the bubbles on the surface of the river Styx into the ‘hymn’ sung by the invisible slothful damned. This discussion shows that this illustrates how ‘credence’ for the reality of such scenes is taken from the quickly diminishing ‘incontrovertibility’ of Virgil's authority. This chapter also shows that the mud in How It Is is what allows the passing of the murmuring and what prevents it.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
- 1 Dantes in Limbo 10
- 2 Belacqua does not observe ‘the rule of the road’ 35
- 3 Strata and mysteries 57
- 4 Fatigue and disgust 81
- 5 Who is the third beside you? 102
- 6 Déjà vu beyond reach 120
- 7 Staging the Inferno in How It Is 148
- 8 ‘In the words of the poet’ 183
- Conclusion 201
- Bibliography 206
- Index 226
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
- 1 Dantes in Limbo 10
- 2 Belacqua does not observe ‘the rule of the road’ 35
- 3 Strata and mysteries 57
- 4 Fatigue and disgust 81
- 5 Who is the third beside you? 102
- 6 Déjà vu beyond reach 120
- 7 Staging the Inferno in How It Is 148
- 8 ‘In the words of the poet’ 183
- Conclusion 201
- Bibliography 206
- Index 226
