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Canto 22
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Paradiso, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Earthly and Heavenly Justice
Creation and God’s Providence
God’s Character and Will
Vision, Knowledge, and the Pursuit of God
Language and the Ineffable
Summary
Analysis
As Beatrice gazes toward the stars, Dante gazes at her bright face and happy eyes. Then Dante looks into the stars, too, and sees one overpoweringly bright glow, which Beatrice says is Christ himself. Because Dante has been strengthened by all he’s seen thus far, Beatrice urges Dante to now look upon her smile. Dante describes Beatrice’s smile as a “Paradise” unto itself, which defies description.
The stars Dante looks at in this passage are the fixed stars, or the firmament—the highest region of the starry spheres. They’re home to all the Church Triumphant, or all souls in Heaven. Dante also gets a glimpse of Christ for the second time. This time, he glimpses Christ as the head of his Church. Dante’s strengthened vision, even able to endure Beatrice’s smile, indicates that Dante’s knowledge of God has increased; he can take in much greater understanding of indirect revelation now, and soon will be able to gaze on God directly.
Themes
Beatrice urges Dante to look around to see the other beauties this sphere offers—the Virgin Mary is here, for one. As Dante gazes on this fiery star, another light streaks through the sky and circles her, singing. The light identifies himself as the Angel Gabriel, come to lead Mary in procession back to the highest sphere, where Christ is. The rest of the stars sing Mary’s name in praise.
Though Dante is much strengthened in his ability to look directly at Beatrice, she warns him not to neglect the higher beauties of Heaven—the reason that he’s here. Mary is the figure through whom Christ became the human means of redemption, so she receives honor second only to her Son in Heaven.
Themes
