Summary
Dante finds himself paralyzed between two equally compelling spiritual questions, like a starving person caught between two equally distant meals. Beatrice recognizes his dilemma and addresses his doubts with characteristic wisdom. She explains that the souls he saw in different spheres of heaven aren't actually assigned to those locations - they were shown there symbolically so his human mind could understand celestial hierarchy. All blessed souls actually dwell in the same place but experience different degrees of divine joy. Beatrice then tackles a more complex question about free will and moral responsibility. Using examples of historical figures who were forced into terrible choices, she distinguishes between absolute will (what we truly want) and conditional will (what we do under pressure). When someone acts against their deepest desires due to external force or threat, their absolute will remains pure even if their actions appear compromised. This explains how someone like Piccarda could maintain spiritual integrity despite being forced from her religious vows. The chapter reveals how divine justice accounts for the complexity of human circumstances, recognizing that perfect moral choices aren't always possible in an imperfect world. Dante's understanding deepens as he grasps how truth builds upon itself, with each answer naturally generating new questions that drive the soul's eternal quest for knowledge.
Coming Up in Chapter 72
Beatrice's eyes blaze with such intense divine love that Dante must look away, overwhelmed by a vision that transcends normal human perception. She prepares to reveal how earthly love connects to eternal truth.
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An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1067 words)
Between two kinds of food, both equally Remote and tempting, first a man might die Of hunger, ere he one could freely choose. E’en so would stand a lamb between the maw Of two fierce wolves, in dread of both alike: E’en so between two deer a dog would stand, Wherefore, if I was silent, fault nor praise I to myself impute, by equal doubts Held in suspense, since of necessity It happen’d. Silent was I, yet desire Was painted in my looks; and thus I spake My wish more earnestly than language could. As Daniel, when the haughty king he freed From ire, that spurr’d him on to deeds unjust And violent; so look’d Beatrice then. “Well I discern,” she thus her words address’d, “How contrary desires each way constrain thee, So that thy anxious thought is in itself Bound up and stifled, nor breathes freely forth. Thou arguest; if the good intent remain; What reason that another’s violence Should stint the measure of my fair desert? “Cause too thou findst for doubt, in that it seems, That spirits to the stars, as Plato deem’d, Return. These are the questions which thy will Urge equally; and therefore I the first Of that will treat which hath the more of gall. Of seraphim he who is most ensky’d, Moses and Samuel, and either John, Choose which thou wilt, nor even Mary’s self, Have not in any other heav’n their seats, Than have those spirits which so late thou saw’st; Nor more or fewer years exist; but all Make the first circle beauteous, diversely Partaking of sweet life, as more or less Afflation of eternal bliss pervades them. Here were they shown thee, not that fate assigns This for their sphere, but for a sign to thee Of that celestial furthest from the height. Thus needs, that ye may apprehend, we speak: Since from things sensible alone ye learn That, which digested rightly after turns To intellectual. For no other cause The scripture, condescending graciously To your perception, hands and feet to God Attributes, nor so means: and holy church Doth represent with human countenance Gabriel, and Michael, and him who made Tobias whole. Unlike what here thou seest, The judgment of Timaeus, who affirms Each soul restor’d to its particular star, Believing it to have been taken thence, When nature gave it to inform her mold: Since to appearance his intention is E’en what his words declare: or else to shun Derision, haply thus he hath disguis’d His true opinion. If his meaning be, That to the influencing of these orbs revert The honour and the blame in human acts, Perchance he doth not wholly miss the truth. This principle, not understood aright, Erewhile perverted well nigh all the world; So that it fell to fabled names of Jove, And Mercury, and Mars. That other doubt, Which moves thee, is less harmful; for it brings No peril of removing thee from me. “That, to the eye of man, our justice seems Unjust, is argument for faith, and not For heretic declension. To the end This truth may stand more clearly in your view, I will content thee even to thy wish “If violence be, when that which suffers, nought Consents to that which forceth, not for this These spirits stood exculpate. For the will, That will not, still survives unquench’d, and doth As nature doth in fire, tho’ violence Wrest it a thousand times; for, if it yield Or more or less, so far it follows force. And thus did these, whom they had power to seek The hallow’d place again. In them, had will Been perfect, such as once upon the bars Held Laurence firm, or wrought in Scaevola To his own hand remorseless, to the path, Whence they were drawn, their steps had hasten’d back, When liberty return’d: but in too few Resolve so steadfast dwells. And by these words If duly weigh’d, that argument is void, Which oft might have perplex’d thee still. But now Another question thwarts thee, which to solve Might try thy patience without better aid. I have, no doubt, instill’d into thy mind, That blessed spirit may not lie; since near The source of primal truth it dwells for aye: And thou might’st after of Piccarda learn That Constance held affection to the veil; So that she seems to contradict me here. Not seldom, brother, it hath chanc’d for men To do what they had gladly left undone, Yet to shun peril they have done amiss: E’en as Alcmaeon, at his father’s suit Slew his own mother, so made pitiless Not to lose pity. On this point bethink thee, That force and will are blended in such wise As not to make the’ offence excusable. Absolute will agrees not to the wrong, That inasmuch as there is fear of woe From non-compliance, it agrees. Of will Thus absolute Piccarda spake, and I Of th’ other; so that both have truly said.” Such was the flow of that pure rill, that well’d From forth the fountain of all truth; and such The rest, that to my wond’ring thoughts l found. “O thou of primal love the prime delight! Goddess! “I straight reply’d, “whose lively words Still shed new heat and vigour through my soul! Affection fails me to requite thy grace With equal sum of gratitude: be his To recompense, who sees and can reward thee. Well I discern, that by that truth alone Enlighten’d, beyond which no truth may roam, Our mind can satisfy her thirst to know: Therein she resteth, e’en as in his lair The wild beast, soon as she hath reach’d that bound, And she hath power to reach it; else desire Were given to no end. And thence doth doubt Spring, like a shoot, around the stock of truth; And it is nature which from height to height On to the summit prompts us. This invites, This doth assure me, lady, rev’rently To ask thee of other truth, that yet Is dark to me. I fain would know, if man By other works well done may so supply The failure of his vows, that in your scale They lack not weight.” I spake; and on me straight Beatrice look’d with eyes that shot forth sparks Of love celestial in such copious stream, That, virtue sinking in me overpower’d, I turn’d, and downward bent confus’d my sight.
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Forced Choices - When Circumstances Override Values
When external pressures force us to act against our deepest values, creating a gap between what we truly want and what we must do to survive.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to separate what people truly believe from what they're forced to do under pressure.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone's actions seem to contradict their stated values, then ask what pressures they might be facing before judging their character.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Moral paralysis
The state of being unable to choose between two equally compelling options, often leading to inaction. Dante compares this to a starving person equidistant from two meals who dies because they can't decide which to pursue.
Modern Usage:
We see this when people get stuck between equally good job offers or when facing difficult family decisions where every choice hurts someone.
Absolute will vs. conditional will
Absolute will is what you truly want in your heart; conditional will is what you do when forced by circumstances. Even if external pressure makes you act against your values, your true will can remain pure.
Modern Usage:
Like when someone takes a job they hate to feed their family - their absolute will wants meaningful work, but conditional will accepts what's necessary.
Divine accommodation
The idea that God presents truth in ways humans can understand, even if it's not literally accurate. The souls appearing in different heavenly spheres were symbolic representations for Dante's benefit.
Modern Usage:
Similar to how we explain complex topics to children using simplified examples that aren't technically correct but help them grasp the concept.
Seraphim
The highest-ranking angels in Christian theology, closest to God's throne. Beatrice uses them as examples of souls who achieved the highest spiritual state possible.
Modern Usage:
We use this concept when talking about people who've reached the pinnacle of their field or achieved the highest possible status.
Spiritual hierarchy
The belief that souls in heaven experience different levels of closeness to God based on their earthly virtue and spiritual development. However, all blessed souls share the same essential joy.
Modern Usage:
Like how employees at different levels in a company all work for the same mission but have varying responsibilities and perspectives.
Forced compliance
Acting against your true beliefs or desires because of external threats or pressure. Medieval examples include being forced from religious vows or committing acts under duress.
Modern Usage:
Seen today when people compromise their values due to economic pressure, family expectations, or workplace demands they can't refuse.
Characters in This Chapter
Dante
Protagonist seeking understanding
He's paralyzed by spiritual doubt, caught between two equally compelling questions about heaven and free will. His honest confusion shows how even sincere seekers can become overwhelmed by complex moral questions.
Modern Equivalent:
The person in therapy working through deep questions about life choices and moral responsibility
Beatrice
Divine wisdom teacher
She recognizes Dante's paralysis and systematically addresses his doubts with patience and clarity. Her teaching method reveals how wisdom helps others work through confusion rather than simply providing answers.
Modern Equivalent:
The mentor who helps you untangle complicated problems by addressing them one piece at a time
Daniel
Biblical example of moral courage
Referenced as someone who freed a king from destructive anger through wisdom and truth-telling. His example shows how speaking truth can redirect harmful power toward justice.
Modern Equivalent:
The employee who speaks up to management about harmful policies, risking their job to do what's right
Moses
Example of highest spiritual achievement
Listed among the most blessed souls to demonstrate that all truly holy people share the same essential spiritual status, regardless of how they're symbolically represented.
Modern Equivalent:
The respected community leader whose reputation transcends any specific role or title
Piccarda
Case study in forced moral compromise
Though not present in this chapter, she's referenced as someone whose forced removal from religious vows illustrates how external violence can't corrupt the absolute will of a pure heart.
Modern Equivalent:
The person who maintains their integrity despite being forced into situations that compromise their values
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Between two kinds of food, both equally remote and tempting, first a man might die of hunger, ere he one could freely choose."
Context: Dante describes his paralysis between two equally compelling spiritual questions.
This metaphor perfectly captures how overwhelming choices can lead to inaction. Sometimes having too many good options is as paralyzing as having no options at all.
In Today's Words:
When you're stuck between two equally good choices, you can waste so much time deciding that you miss both opportunities.
"Well I discern how contrary desires each way constrain thee, so that thy anxious thought is in itself bound up and stifled."
Context: She recognizes Dante's mental paralysis and prepares to help him work through it.
True wisdom involves recognizing when someone is stuck and needs help organizing their thoughts. Beatrice doesn't judge his confusion but acknowledges it as natural and workable.
In Today's Words:
I can see you're torn between different wants, and it's got your mind all twisted up inside.
"Have not in any other heav'n their seats, than have those spirits which so late thou saw'st."
Context: Explaining that all blessed souls actually dwell in the same place despite appearing in different spheres.
This reveals that spiritual truth often requires symbolic representation to be understood by limited human minds. What appears as hierarchy is actually accommodation to our need for concrete imagery.
In Today's Words:
The most holy people aren't actually in different places than the souls you just saw - they're all in the same heaven.
Thematic Threads
Moral Complexity
In This Chapter
Beatrice explains how divine justice accounts for the difference between absolute will and conditional will under pressure
Development
Evolved from earlier black-and-white moral judgments to nuanced understanding of human circumstances
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you feel guilty about choices you made under financial or social pressure.
Truth Building
In This Chapter
Each answer Dante receives naturally generates new questions, showing how understanding deepens through inquiry
Development
Developed from Dante's initial confusion to his growing ability to ask sophisticated questions
In Your Life:
You see this when solving one problem at work reveals three more issues you hadn't noticed before.
Symbolic Understanding
In This Chapter
The souls aren't actually in different spheres - they were shown there symbolically so Dante's human mind could grasp hierarchy
Development
Builds on earlier themes about the gap between appearance and reality
In Your Life:
You experience this when you realize the 'successful' people you envied actually struggle with problems you never saw.
Spiritual Integrity
In This Chapter
Piccarda maintained her spiritual purity despite being forced from her religious vows
Development
Continues the thread of how external circumstances can't corrupt internal truth
In Your Life:
You might feel this when you're forced to compromise at work but maintain your personal values at home.
Divine Justice
In This Chapter
God's justice recognizes the complexity of human circumstances and judges accordingly
Development
Evolved from fear of punishment to understanding of compassionate judgment
In Your Life:
You see this when you stop judging yourself harshly for decisions you made during difficult times.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What's the difference between what Piccarda truly wanted (absolute will) and what she was forced to do (conditional will)?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Beatrice say that divine justice recognizes the difference between our deepest intentions and our forced actions?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people today being forced to act against what they truly believe is right?
application • medium - 4
How would you maintain your sense of integrity when circumstances force you into choices that violate your values?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter teach us about judging others when we don't know what pressures they're facing?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Forced Choices
Think of a time when you had to choose between two things you valued, or when external pressure forced you to act against what you truly believed was right. Draw a simple diagram showing your 'absolute will' (what you really wanted to do) versus your 'conditional will' (what you actually had to do). Then identify what external forces created this conflict.
Consider:
- •What would you have chosen if there were no external pressures or consequences?
- •What specific forces (financial, social, family obligations) shaped your actual choice?
- •How did you maintain your sense of self even when your actions didn't match your values?
Journaling Prompt
Write about how you can honor your absolute will in small ways, even when big circumstances force you into compromised positions. What tiny acts of integrity are still possible within your constraints?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 72: The Sacred Weight of Promises
The coming pages reveal breaking promises to yourself is more dangerous than breaking them to others, and teach us to distinguish between commitments worth keeping and those worth reconsidering. These discoveries help us navigate similar situations in our own lives.
