Ulysses and the Limits of Dante’s Humanism / Ulisse o dei limiti dell’umanesimo dantesco

Dante subjected the legendary Greek hero to a thoroughgoing revision, making him an ingenious but profoundly restless character who finds not fulfillment but death. This tragic story embodies the dilemma that human intelligence poses for our civilization today, torn between the endless pursuit of innovation and its ever more catastrophic risks.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 24 October 2023
Publisher: Harvard University Press

In his depiction of Ulysses in Canto XXVI of the Inferno, Dante subjected the legendary Greek hero to a thoroughgoing revision. The Homeric Ulysses, after ten years of war and a further ten of fabulous adventures throughout the Mediterranean, returns home to Ithaca and resumes his position as son, father, husband, and king of the island. In contrast, Dante's Ulysses—and that of Tennyson, inspired by Dante and so beloved in America—is an ingenious but profoundly restless character who, in his unceasing quest for knowledge, novelty, and happiness, finds not fulfillment but death. His tragic story embodies the dilemma that human intelligence poses for our civilization today, torn between the endless pursuit of innovation and its ever more catastrophic risks.

Ulysses and the Limits of Dantes Humanism offers a bilingual English and Italian examination of that revision. The book explores the ways in which Dante reimagined the character of Ulysses, drawing on his own experiences and philosophical beliefs to create a new and complex portrayal of the human condition. It examines the themes of exile, nostalgia, and the search for meaning in a world that is constantly changing and evolving.

Through a close reading of the text, the book demonstrates how Dante used Ulysses as a vehicle for exploring the limitations of humanism and the dangers of pursuing knowledge and power at the expense of empathy and compassion. It also explores the ways in which Dante's portrayal of Ulysses reflects his own political and social concerns, particularly his opposition to the corruption and tyranny of the Italian Renaissance.

In addition to its academic value, Ulysses and the Limits of Dantes Humanism is a compelling and accessible read for anyone interested in Dante's work, literature, and philosophy. The book is filled with insightful analysis and engaging commentary, making it an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and general readers alike.

Dimension: 203 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674296190