Talk:Beatrice Portinari
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Text written by User:FLpatty on "Beatrice Portinari,"
Beatrice Portinari, born in Florence, Italy, lived from 1266- 1290 and is the principal inspiration for Dante Alighieri's "Vita Nuova". She also appears as his guide in "La Divina Commedia" (The Divine Comedy) both in the first book, "L'Inferno" (The Inferno) and in the second half of "Purgatorio" (Purgatory) as well as the whole of the "Paradiso" (Paradise). Beatrice must take over as guide from the Latin poet Virgil because Virgil was born a pagan and cannot enter Paradise.
The real Beatrice was the daughter of Folco Portinari. Dante met her when his father took him to the Portinari house for a May-Day party. Dante was instantly smitten with her and remained so throughout her life even though she married a banker, Simode dei Bardi, in 1287. She died two years later but Dante continued to hold an abiding love and respect for the woman after her death. Dante himself married and had his own children.
Beatrice has been immortalized not only in Dante's poems but in paintings by Pre-Raphaelite masters and poets.
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[edit] Did she know him?
Do we know what she thought about him? Did she even know his name?
[edit] A mention of Beatrice in the movie Hannibal
Even though it seems only superficial, Hannibal seems to be mostly based on La Vita Nuova (The New Life), especially for a number of symbolisms that put Clarice Starling as if she were Beatrice. But most importantly because there's a little opera scene that is based on La Vita Nuova. It could be used as a fun fact, not to mention that in the book "Demian" there is another Beatrice alusion, for a girl that's actually called Beatrice as well.
[edit] Does this article have the wrong name?
This article says pratically nothing about Beatrice, it is all about Dante's reactions to her. Should it be merged with the main Dante article, or renamed something like Dante's love for Beatrice? --JeffW 18:12, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
- I agree, but I think the solution is to change the focus of the article somewhat, as per the text at the top of the talk page. The stuff about Dante can stay, but the main point should be about Beatrice herself. In fact, I am going to do that now. Cantara 20:31, 17 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Birth name or nickname?
"Her birth name is Bice Portinari, the daughter of Folco Portinari."
Beatrice must have been her real name, since Bice is the Italian nickname for Beatrice. My oldest living relative, who grew up in the North End of Boston in the early 20th century, is named Beatrice and nicknamed Bice. Gildir 22:13, 5 April 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Does Beatrice appear in Inferno? And "L'Inferno".
The article says: 'She also appears as his guide in "La Divina Commedia" (The Divina Comedy) both in the first book, "L'Inferno" (The Inferno)...' It has been a while since I read Inferno, but I don't think this is correct. Beatrice is discussed in Inferno, and Virgil describes her intercession on Dante's behalf (Virgil's guidance of Dante is a direct result of this intercession), but she does not make an appearance until Purgatorio, and I'm fairly certain that she does not actually guide Dante while he is in Hell. Her person is too pure to appear in that demesne. Unless someone can find a place in Inferno where she puts in a personal appearance and directly guides Dante, I think this should be changed.
[EDIT: On rereading the canto in question (II), a case could be made for "appears in", even though it is only in a narrative related by Virgil to Dante, but I still think 'She also appears as his guide in ... "L'Inferno"...' is not accurate.]
Also, I believe that the name of the first book of the Commedia is "Inferno", not "L'Inferno". Is this correct? My Italian could be better, so I will defer to any native speakers on this one, but my understanding is that saying "L'Inferno" is a conversational device that could be translated (awkwardly) into English as "The book called Inferno". I've always seen it written "Inferno" when directly named (which would match the use in the article of "Purgatorio" and "Paradiso" to refer to the other books of the Commedia). The main Wikipedia article for the Commedia also calls it "Inferno". Also, the translation of "La Divina Commedia" should read "(The Divine Comedy)", rather than "(The Divina Comedy)".
Apologies if I seem to quibble. I would make some of these changes myself, but I am new to Wikipedia, and a bit unfamiliar with its protocols, so I am afraid of stepping on toes by making changes without soliciting comment.
Saitotarou 04:04, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
I read it recently, the Ciardi translation. She doesn't show up until late in The Purgatorio, in The Earthly Paradise. --24.51.94.14 21:50, 15 May 2006 (UTC)
