This is an archived UW-P news item,
originally posted: 11/2/2009.
Meet Dante’s “Sinful Lovers” Nov. 3
The Friends of the UW-Parkside Library at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside invites fans of Italian literature and anyone who loves a good tragedy to its next program on the classic story "Devine Comedy." Titled "Dante's Sinful Lovers," the presentation by Dr. Lawrence Baldasarro is Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. in the Library's second floor lounge.
Although not as eternally captivating as the young Italian couple Shakespeare made famous, Alighieri'sFrancesca and Paolo are every bit as tragic. Their adulterous love affair leads to their murder by Francesca's husband, condemning them for all eternity to "Upper Hell," the first of the Inferno's five Circles.
"In condemning all mortal sinners to hell, Dante seems to be a traditional medieval Christian," said Professor Baldassaro. "However, in conceding that sins of violence and malice are worse than those of self-indulgence, he seems to be a Renaissance humanist."
Professor Baldassaro said this contradiction in Dante's story is addressed during the program. An internationally recognized authority on Italian literature, Dr. Baldasarro is professor emeritus and former chair of the Dept. of French, Italian, and Comparative Literature at UW-Milwaukee.
"Dante's Sinful Lovers" with Dr. Lawrence Baldasarro is free and open to the public. For more information, call 262-595-2356.Publish date: 11/2/2009
