Summary
Dante discovers something profound about human attention: when we're completely absorbed in something, time passes without us realizing it. He's been so focused on listening to the previous spirit that fifty steps of the sun's movement went unnoticed. This sets up a key insight about how our minds work—we can only truly focus on one thing at a time, despite what we might think about multitasking. The journey up the mountain becomes physically demanding, requiring hands and feet to navigate the broken rock. Virgil points out that this climb will be hardest at the beginning, but as they progress, it will become easier—like how a boat going downstream feels effortless once you catch the current. This isn't just about mountain climbing; it's about any difficult change in life. The first steps are always the hardest. They encounter Belacqua, a figure from Dante's real life, sitting in the shade looking completely exhausted. But his tiredness isn't from effort—it's from inactivity. He's waiting in Purgatory because he delayed repentance until the very end of his life, and now he must wait as long as he lived before he can begin his purification. His posture—head down, arms wrapped around his knees—perfectly captures someone who has given up. The contrast is striking: Dante is struggling upward through difficult terrain, while Belacqua sits motionless. Yet Dante is making progress toward his goal, while Belacqua remains stuck. The chapter suggests that productive struggle, even when exhausting, is better than comfortable stagnation. Belacqua's situation shows how postponing important changes in life can lead to much longer periods of waiting later.
Coming Up in Chapter 39
As Dante continues climbing, other souls notice something unusual about him—his shadow proves he's still alive, causing wonder and excitement among the spirits. This discovery will change how others in Purgatory see him.
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An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1086 words)
When by sensations of delight or pain, That any of our faculties hath seiz’d, Entire the soul collects herself, it seems She is intent upon that power alone, And thus the error is disprov’d which holds The soul not singly lighted in the breast. And therefore when as aught is heard or seen, That firmly keeps the soul toward it turn’d, Time passes, and a man perceives it not. For that, whereby he hearken, is one power, Another that, which the whole spirit hash; This is as it were bound, while that is free. This found I true by proof, hearing that spirit And wond’ring; for full fifty steps aloft The sun had measur’d unobserv’d of me, When we arriv’d where all with one accord The spirits shouted, “Here is what ye ask.” A larger aperture ofttimes is stopp’d With forked stake of thorn by villager, When the ripe grape imbrowns, than was the path, By which my guide, and I behind him close, Ascended solitary, when that troop Departing left us. On Sanleo’s road Who journeys, or to Noli low descends, Or mounts Bismantua’s height, must use his feet; But here a man had need to fly, I mean With the swift wing and plumes of high desire, Conducted by his aid, who gave me hope, And with light furnish’d to direct my way. We through the broken rock ascended, close Pent on each side, while underneath the ground Ask’d help of hands and feet. When we arriv’d Near on the highest ridge of the steep bank, Where the plain level open’d I exclaim’d, “O master! say which way can we proceed?” He answer’d, “Let no step of thine recede. Behind me gain the mountain, till to us Some practis’d guide appear.” That eminence Was lofty that no eye might reach its point, And the side proudly rising, more than line From the mid quadrant to the centre drawn. I wearied thus began: “Parent belov’d! Turn, and behold how I remain alone, If thou stay not.”—” My son!” He straight reply’d, “Thus far put forth thy strength; “and to a track Pointed, that, on this side projecting, round Circles the hill. His words so spurr’d me on, That I behind him clamb’ring, forc’d myself, Till my feet press’d the circuit plain beneath. There both together seated, turn’d we round To eastward, whence was our ascent: and oft Many beside have with delight look’d back. First on the nether shores I turn’d my eyes, Then rais’d them to the sun, and wond’ring mark’d That from the left it smote us. Soon perceiv’d That Poet sage how at the car of light Amaz’d I stood, where ’twixt us and the north Its course it enter’d. Whence he thus to me: “Were Leda’s offspring now in company Of that broad mirror, that high up and low Imparts his light beneath, thou might’st behold The ruddy zodiac nearer to the bears Wheel, if its ancient course it not forsook. How that may be if thou would’st think; within Pond’ring, imagine Sion with this mount Plac’d on the earth, so that to both be one Horizon, and two hemispheres apart, Where lies the path that Phaeton ill knew To guide his erring chariot: thou wilt see How of necessity by this on one He passes, while by that on the’ other side, If with clear view shine intellect attend.” “Of truth, kind teacher!” I exclaim’d, “so clear Aught saw I never, as I now discern Where seem’d my ken to fail, that the mid orb Of the supernal motion (which in terms Of art is called the Equator, and remains Ever between the sun and winter) for the cause Thou hast assign’d, from hence toward the north Departs, when those who in the Hebrew land Inhabit, see it tow’rds the warmer part. But if it please thee, I would gladly know, How far we have to journey: for the hill Mounts higher, than this sight of mine can mount.” He thus to me: “Such is this steep ascent, That it is ever difficult at first, But, more a man proceeds, less evil grows. When pleasant it shall seem to thee, so much That upward going shall be easy to thee. As in a vessel to go down the tide, Then of this path thou wilt have reach’d the end. There hope to rest thee from thy toil. No more I answer, and thus far for certain know.” As he his words had spoken, near to us A voice there sounded: “Yet ye first perchance May to repose you by constraint be led.” At sound thereof each turn’d, and on the left A huge stone we beheld, of which nor I Nor he before was ware. Thither we drew, find there were some, who in the shady place Behind the rock were standing, as a man Thru’ idleness might stand. Among them one, Who seem’d to me much wearied, sat him down, And with his arms did fold his knees about, Holding his face between them downward bent. “Sweet Sir!” I cry’d, “behold that man, who shows Himself more idle, than if laziness Were sister to him.” Straight he turn’d to us, And, o’er the thigh lifting his face, observ’d, Then in these accents spake: “Up then, proceed Thou valiant one.” Straight who it was I knew; Nor could the pain I felt (for want of breath Still somewhat urg’d me) hinder my approach. And when I came to him, he scarce his head Uplifted, saying “Well hast thou discern’d, How from the left the sun his chariot leads.” His lazy acts and broken words my lips To laughter somewhat mov’d; when I began: “Belacqua, now for thee I grieve no more. But tell, why thou art seated upright there? Waitest thou escort to conduct thee hence? Or blame I only shine accustom’d ways?” Then he: “My brother, of what use to mount, When to my suffering would not let me pass The bird of God, who at the portal sits? Behooves so long that heav’n first bear me round Without its limits, as in life it bore, Because I to the end repentant Sighs Delay’d, if prayer do not aid me first, That riseth up from heart which lives in grace. What other kind avails, not heard in heaven?” Before me now the Poet up the mount Ascending, cried: “Haste thee, for see the sun Has touch’d the point meridian, and the night Now covers with her foot Marocco’s shore.”
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Delayed Action
Postponing necessary action doesn't eliminate difficulty—it compounds it exponentially over time.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when difficulty signals growth versus when comfort signals decay.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you feel exhausted—ask yourself if it's from effort toward something better or from carrying the weight of unchanged problems.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Purgatory
In medieval Catholic belief, a place where souls go after death to be purified of their sins before entering Heaven. Unlike Hell, it's temporary - souls here are working toward redemption. Dante imagines it as a mountain where people climb upward through different levels of spiritual growth.
Modern Usage:
We use this concept when talking about any difficult but temporary situation we must endure to reach something better, like saying 'This job is purgatory, but I need the experience.'
Procrastination
The act of delaying or postponing important decisions or actions. In this chapter, it's shown as spiritually dangerous - those who wait until the last minute to change their lives face consequences even after death.
Modern Usage:
We see this everywhere today - people putting off important life changes, health decisions, or relationship issues until it becomes a crisis.
Focused attention
The mental state of being completely absorbed in one thing, where time seems to stop and you lose awareness of everything else. Dante describes how true focus means the soul 'collects herself' entirely on one power or faculty.
Modern Usage:
This is what psychologists now call 'flow state' - when you're so engaged in an activity that hours pass like minutes.
Spiritual laziness
A state where someone becomes spiritually inactive or complacent, avoiding the hard work of personal growth or moral improvement. It's different from physical tiredness - it's the exhaustion that comes from doing nothing meaningful.
Modern Usage:
We see this in people who feel drained and depressed not from overwork, but from avoiding personal responsibility or growth.
Productive struggle
Difficulty or hardship that leads to positive change or growth. The idea that some suffering is worthwhile because it moves you toward a better state, unlike suffering that keeps you stuck in the same place.
Modern Usage:
This applies to any challenging but worthwhile effort - going back to school, learning new skills, or working through relationship problems.
Deferred consequences
The idea that avoiding necessary work or change in life doesn't eliminate the consequences - it just postpones them, often making them worse. What you don't deal with now, you'll have to deal with later.
Modern Usage:
We see this with debt, health problems, relationship issues - putting them off usually makes the eventual reckoning harder.
Characters in This Chapter
Dante
Protagonist on spiritual journey
He's climbing the difficult mountain path, struggling physically but making progress. His complete absorption in listening to the previous spirit shows how focused attention works - when we're truly engaged, time passes unnoticed.
Modern Equivalent:
The person working hard to change their life, even when it's exhausting
Virgil
Guide and mentor
He encourages Dante by explaining that the climb will get easier as they go, like a boat moving downstream once it catches the current. He provides both practical guidance and emotional support for the difficult journey ahead.
Modern Equivalent:
The experienced mentor who's been through the struggle and knows it gets better
Belacqua
Example of spiritual procrastination
A real person from Dante's life, now sitting exhausted in Purgatory. He's tired not from effort but from inactivity. He delayed repentance until his deathbed and now must wait as long as he lived before beginning his purification.
Modern Equivalent:
The person who always says they'll make changes 'someday' and ends up stuck waiting
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Time passes, and a man perceives it not"
Context: Dante explaining how he lost track of time while completely focused on listening
This reveals how true attention works - when we're genuinely absorbed in something meaningful, we enter a different relationship with time. It's not about being distracted, but about being so present that normal awareness shifts.
In Today's Words:
When you're really into something, hours feel like minutes
"Here a man had need to fly, I mean with the swift wing and plumes of high desire"
Context: Describing how steep and difficult the mountain path has become
Physical climbing becomes a metaphor for spiritual aspiration. You need more than just determination - you need genuine desire and hope to carry you through the hardest parts of personal change.
In Today's Words:
This is so hard you'd need wings - or at least really want it badly enough to keep going
"The sun had measured unobserved of me full fifty steps aloft"
Context: Dante realizing how much time passed while he was listening intently
This shows the power of complete focus. When we're truly engaged with something important, we can lose ourselves in a productive way. It's the opposite of mindless distraction - it's mindful absorption.
In Today's Words:
I was so focused I didn't even notice how much time had gone by
Thematic Threads
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Growth requires immediate action despite discomfort, while delay creates longer periods of stagnation
Development
Evolved from earlier themes about facing truth—now showing the cost of avoiding that confrontation
In Your Life:
Every skill you've delayed learning, every difficult conversation you've postponed, every health issue you've ignored follows this same pattern.
Class
In This Chapter
Working-class people often can't afford to delay action—economic reality forces immediate response to problems
Development
Building on earlier class themes, showing how privilege includes the luxury of postponement
In Your Life:
When you have limited resources, you learn to act quickly because waiting often means losing opportunities entirely.
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Dante's recognition of Belacqua shows how we see ourselves in others' failures and choices
Development
Continuing the theme of human connection, but now focused on learning from others' mistakes
In Your Life:
The people in your life who seem 'stuck' often mirror patterns you're avoiding in yourself.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Belacqua's comfortable position in the shade represents choosing social comfort over personal progress
Development
Introduced here as counterpoint to earlier themes about breaking from social norms
In Your Life:
Sometimes the most socially acceptable choice—not rocking the boat—is actually the path to personal stagnation.
Identity
In This Chapter
Belacqua's identity has become defined by his inaction and waiting rather than by forward movement
Development
Contrasts with Dante's evolving identity through active engagement with his journey
In Your Life:
When you consistently choose delay over action, 'procrastinator' or 'stuck person' becomes how others see you and how you see yourself.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What's the difference between how Dante and Belacqua are spending their time, and what results is each approach producing?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Virgil tell Dante that climbing will get easier as they go, and how does this connect to Belacqua's situation of waiting?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people in your life choosing Belacqua's approach of 'waiting for the right time' instead of starting the difficult climb?
application • medium - 4
Think of a change you've been postponing - what would taking the first difficult step look like, and what might happen if you keep waiting?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about why we choose comfortable stagnation over productive struggle, even when we know it costs us more in the long run?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Postponement Pattern
Think of three important changes you've been putting off - could be health, relationships, career, or personal growth. For each one, write down what you're waiting for, how long you've been waiting, and what the cost of continued delay might be. Then identify the smallest possible first step you could take this week.
Consider:
- •Notice if your reasons for waiting are actually fear disguised as strategy
- •Consider whether your 'ideal conditions' for starting will ever actually exist
- •Think about how the difficulty might compound the longer you wait
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you finally stopped waiting and started a difficult change. What made you take that first step, and how did the experience compare to what you'd imagined while you were postponing it?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 39: The Living Among the Dead
Moving forward, we'll examine to stay focused on your goals when others distract you with gossip, and understand helping others with their unfinished business can be meaningful. These insights bridge the gap between classic literature and modern experience.