Looking at Hell through Dante's Translator’s Eyes

The Translator is Important

Dante--- I'd call this one a heavily edited
glammer shot. 

It would be hard to prove that translation of a text like Dante’s Inferno is irrelevant.  In fact, the translation of a text is massively important on many levels.  A writer composes a piece of literature in a specific language and chooses words, rhythmic flow, structure and so on from that language. 

Putting that text into a new language requires a person (usually a different person) to choose new words, rhythmic flow, structure and so on.

 Translator's Voice 

Sure, a translator’s intent should be to, as closely as possible, transmit the same work into a new language.  

But the act of translating even one word into a different language requires the translator to choose a word.  This word choice is part of the translators (hopefully quite) voice in the translated work.   

Example 1:

I will give an example from Korean because I am a nerd.

형(pronounced/Romanized as “Hyung”) is a term that younger brothers or friends use to call/ speak politely to an older brother or friend. It denotes a certain level of respect or closeness between male friend relationships and/or brotherhood.  Many translators simply use the person’s name in subtitles instead of “Hyung”.

They have a good reason for doing so (makes it less confusing for a Korean newbie).  But the way one speaks to someone (honorifics), or what someone calls someone else in the Korean language speaks volumes about their relationship.  If one chooses not to translate this a lot is lost.

Example 2:

I think that the English language must be particularly difficult for translators.  Because of how the English language developed, we have a lot of different words that mean the same thing.

Attribution: Michael Gäbler

Pig   

Swine

Hog

Boar  

all describe the animal commonly associated with mud and bacon.

On page1516 in our books, Canto XIII line 107, the text reads “wild boar”.

Why not “wild pig” or “swine”?  Because the translator chose “boar”

From some searching on Google translator (not exactly the most accurate source) I can see that the Italian language also has quit a few words for this animal.

I am assuming that either “Verro” which according to Google translate is literally “boar” or “cinghiale” which means “wild boar”, was what that the translator was working off of, but I have no idea.  I don’t speak Italian. 

Could the translator have chosen to put “wild pig” and kept the meaning the same but perhaps made it more readable? Maybe.  I saw a translation that just said “boar” not “wild boar”. So was the original “verro” or “cinghiale”.  

Remind me to never be a translator!  

Either way my point is loosely proven, the translator has far more input in the way a piece turns out then given credit for. 

Oh and. . . .

the end of Canto XIII is particularly lovely! though I could easily name 50 other parts that are particularly lovely.  

Rabbit Trail-- Catholicism in the time of Dante

I noticed many people discus on their blogs and in class the role of Christianity in Dante's Inferno.  Perhaps, I will start by clarifying that Catholicism in the middle ages was far different then it is now and is even more dramatically different the modern protestant Christianity.

Started when Dante was about 31 (1296),
 the Florence Cathedral was not competed
until 115 years after his death (1436).
 The story of  it's dome is quite interesting. 

I think one can safely assume that no one who is a true protestant Christian would ever claim to be the same religion(spirituality) as even a modern day Catholic, let alone one from the middle ages.

It is good to point out that the Bible was not translated into the vernacular (common people language).  And it was not fitting for someone besides the Catholic church leadership to read the Bible.  

Therefore, the Bible itself had far less influence on beliefs than the Catholic church ( it had practically no influence at all until the protestant reformation and even then the influence of the Bible was dramatically limited until literacy rates improved world wide because if one can't read it they have to rely on other peoples interpretations).  

I think Dante influenced to a greater extent by "Dark Age" Catholic doctrine than the Bible (though middle age Catholic doctrine was influenced to a small extent by the Bible)  

There are some good videos on YouTube that explain the role of the Catholic Church and the "Dark Ages". 

This is the most compact video on the subject I could find. 

If you YouTube search "Dark Ages" you can probably find the History channel's documentary on it, which is very good.   However, I can not encourage watching copyrighted material on YouTube.  Here is the Link to the History Channels page  ---->  History Channel -- Dark Ages 

(\__/)

(='.'=) – “Who needs College when one has the History Channel?”

(")_(")

                  

(the bunny doesn't understand why I can't put "has watched massive amounts of History Channel and National Geographic programming" on a job resume) 

       

Looking at Hell Through Dante's Eyes

Fraught with Background  

Unlike the Odyssey, Dante’s Inferno is extremely fraught with background.  Even the structuring of the poem is fraught with background.  Three is an extremely important number in Catholicism (as well as protestant Christianity). Not only is the poem separated into three line stanzas, but one cannot go even a short time without seeing that things in the poem are often grouped in threes.  

The work is filled with references to people.  Understanding these people’s place in history, their sins, and their relationship to Dante is important in order to understand the inferno. 

     

Doesn’t Lean on Background

It is important to note that just because a piece is “fraught with background” does not mean the work leans on background.  Dante’s Inferno does not in any way shape or form lean on background.

The piece is lovely in structure, idea and imagery apart from the background.  The Inferno does not need the background it simply makes it more complex and beautiful.

This adds to the incredible readability of the Inferno.  If the poem needed the background, it would be hard to understand the work without understanding the background. 

This is not simply because the piece is lovely, but also because the ideas of the inferno can stand without leaning on the background.

Bible and Inferno

One could say that the Bible leans more heavily on background than the Inferno.  I see this point.  However, I think this is only the case because most readers drag more presumptions along when reading the Bible than when reading the Inferno. 

One could (if they allowed themselves) read the Bible simply for its amazing poetic and literary accomplishments.  I think most people read the Bible assuming they already know what it says and what it means.  The inferno does not have this problem (or at least not nearly as dramatically).  The Bible (because it is a Religious text) is far more polarizing. 

Response Post

Biblical Afterlife

I was extremely happy to see the Biblical perspective of what happens after death on Jake’s Blog (http://jakeslitblog.blogspot.com). 

Biblical Afterlife vs Dante's Inferno 

How does this relate to my post? You tell me! :)

We don’t get to study the Biblical perspective on the afterlife in class and it would be amazing to be able to compare and contrast what the Bible says about heaven and hell to Dante’s Inferno. 

One could infuse so much into an essay that leans on the text and meaning of the Bible and Dante’s Inferno.  One could even end up comparing works based and grace based Christian theology just by examining this texts! 

Or for an even more dramatic theological dialogue one could compare Dante’s understanding of why one goes to heaven/ hell   or what makes a one evil (an medieval Italian catholic perspective heavily affected by his personal life) with what the Bible says (even looking at the Greek/Hebrew text).

Essay?

Either way I think this would make a great essay.  Hmmm my final essay? Maybe, maybe not. I always have at least 10 ideas for essays brewing in my head at any given moment (and like 15 poems).  Which English teacher can I blame for making me enjoy writing essays??? How could this possible be my natural state? 

Killing a Goddess

Inanna’s Decent into the Underworld

   

In the Sumerian tale of Inanna’s decent into the underworld, Inanna journeys down into the underworld is stripped of her power and killed.  The gods are then forced to bargain with the underworld for her return.

Basis for Greek Myths?

This piece reminded me of the story of Aphrodite’s lover Adonis.  Who, I have to mention, she was a surrogate mother too (creepy Greek mythology with all its incest and sorta incest—Adonis was also the result of incest). Well I think the tale goes something like this—

Aphrodite (I chose one who was clothed) 

Aphrodite finds baby Adonis, pities him and sends him to the underworld to be raised.  He grows  up to be very attractive so she goes and takes him back.  He ignores her advise and is castrated by a bear resulting in his death (why so much castration in Greek myth?). Then Aphrodite has to share him with the Queen of the underworld and Adonis spends half the year with each of the woman. 

                                                                                    Similarities and Differences

The spending half the year in the underworld reminds me of the myth of Inanna in which her husband has to spend half the year and his sister volunteers for the other half (I think that is how it goes) and that is also that story of a goddess descending into the underworld.

The big difference is the reason for the journey, upholding burial rights vs. love/lust.  Another big difference is that Aphrodite, while not strong enough to reject the will of the underworld, is not harmed like Inanna.

Inanna-- Ishtar 

Inanna, Ishtar, Aphrodite, Oh my!

There is a further connection because Inanna is a goddess of the same type (perhaps same goddess just different views) as Ishtar and Aphrodite.

And in the Ishtar version of the story, Ishtar descends into the underworld to retrieve a dead lover (like Aphrodite and Adonis).  Furthermore Inanna isn’t exactly dressed in funeral garb as she descends into the underworld and everything else is Inanna’s story is strikingly similar to Ishtar’s.  

They were all the same goddess right? (I left out Venus since it is well known to be a copy of Aphrodite.)  Do the later myths make the simply take the same character--  the goddess and make her stronger because she is not killed?

Repetitive Nature

I love the structure and flow of this piece.  Its repetitive nature makes it songlike and enchanting.  It feels creepy and ethereal when read aloud.  I understand this help memorization of what was likely an oral myth for a long time before it was written.  But it also adds to the beauty of the piece. 

Preparing to Discuss Beowulf

Step 1 – Coffee

3 extra shots of espresso please 

Both before reading a long and sometimes drawn out piece of literature it is helpful to insure ones ability to stay awake.  This is especial important because I do most my school work at night. 

Step 2—Read

I will admit that I hardly ever read my textbooks. This doesn’t mean I don’t use them just that I don’t read them.   Literature classes are a huge exception because you pretty much have to read the text book.   Even still, I often read quickly for the sake of time and only look back if it is needed for an assignment.   When preparing for this discussion I actually tried to READ the text and come to some deeper understanding before I started working on the assignment.  Also, I marked up my book as I do even if I am just scanning.  My English 102 professor would be pleased to know he created such a habit, but I will point out that this tendency makes it really hard to read library books. 

Step 3—Research (attempted)

After reading I tried to some basic research on a few of the handout questions.  My basic Ebsco host/Google scholar search did not easily give me the answers I was looking for so I abandoned this mode of thought. 

Step 4 – Explore the questions

Next, I scanned and flipped through the text to answer the questions on the handout and in my head.

Step 5—Mark up, Write down

I then went through my book and further highlighted (I always write books when reading it anyways) the passages I might want to find easily in a discussion and tabbed the pages according to subject matter.   After which I wrote down answers for most of the questions on a piece of paper.

Step 6—More Coffee

Self explanatory!

And what did I learn?

Preparing for class/discussing literature is not in itself a difficult task.  It is overcoming my own innate and sometimes excusable (relaxing keeps a single mom from madness) laziness.  I have also once again noticed my undeniable knack for stressing myself out (to the point of a tension headache) over a school assignment when I have nothing to worry about.  I am not the brightest bird in the blueberry bush but if I even try I always end up doing fine.  So I was again reminded not to stress because most of the time it is not necessary.  

Beowulf- the static hero

One of the things that struck me about the character of Beowulf was that he was not a dynamic character.   He was unchanging and shockingly void of emotion. Before I get accused of bashing one of the greatest pieces of ancient literature I will elaborate.

The reason I am so turned off by Beowulf is that he fulfills an entirely different role as a character than the characters I am so fond of (i.e. Gilgamesh and Genji <3). 

Beowulf’s purpose seems not to be a character but a cultural ideal.  I say this because I am bias and feel that if a character is multi-dimensional he/she should at least either

•          change or develop (static vs dynamic)  
•           give the reader some kind of emotional cues (be they cold and distant- or warm) 

It is possible these elements were lost in translation.  And that Beowulf sending away his men at the end could have been his change or development.  However, this is not a new attribute of Beowulf.

Because one cannot throw whatever opinion they want onto a text and call it valid without being able to support it with the text or at least a good dose of logic based on the text, I will try to prove my point.

Release from Comitatus

The release from Comitatus definitely adds tension to the story; however I do not feel that it necessarily adds any depth, tension, or change to Beowulf’s character. 

When Beowulf and his men prepare for the coming of Grendel, Beowulf says they must “forego our swords” because Grendel does not know the “arts of war”(1209).  While this is different than sending your men away he is still making himself (or his side) weaker to fight a villain.  This means that Beowulf sending away his men is not necessarily the result of a shift in his character.

Learning from Beowulf?

There are lessons to learn form the story of Beowulf however; Beowulf is not the one who teaches us.  Wiglaf teaches us comitatus is so important that one is never released from it. 

It could be said that Beowulf teaches us this lesson though his “mistake” this point is valid, but I side with the idea that Beowulf represents the ideal leader who is willing to repeal comitatus when needed.  

 

Which leads me to ask is a leader tied to the same type of comitatus as his/her subjects?

I say no because Beowulf is never vilified in the text for releasing, only his men for running. Beowulf releasing his men seems A-okay culturally but the men using the release as an excuse to run is not okay!     

 Does Gilgamesh display hubris?

Again he is never vilified or spoken ill of because of his pride.

The release from Comitatus definitely adds tension to the story; however I do not feel that it necessarily adds any depth or tension to Beowulf’s character.

This leads me to believe Beowulf is a stagnant character.

The fact that Beowulf is stagnant character does not mean he is a poorly written character as I said earlier he serves a different purpose as a character.  The character himself is a an ideal and the reader does not need details about his emotions or personality or him to change. 

 I think Beowulf serves more as an ideal, while Gilgamesh’s growth and emotion give us an example and a lesson to learn and Genji gives a struggle between society, the individual and emotion.