Most political satire isn’t funny a century after all the targets are dead, especially from foreign lands. And yes, Dante absolutely SKEWERED many of the political, religious, and financial elites of his day.
Those pesky words will keep changing meaning. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Ital. commedia meant “a narrative poem intended to entertain and perhaps edify, with an up-beat ending”. (Which in the case of the Paradiso, is pretty darn tedious.)
BasilBruce almost 2 years ago
Forget it, Horace; nothing “divine” is ever funny.
Jesy Bertz Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Edith Wharton’s “The House of Mirth” is a disappointment, too.
JH&Cats almost 2 years ago
As in “pleasure vehicle,” or “The Toil and Tedium of Cooking.”
Say What Now‽ Premium Member almost 2 years ago
The funny part is that some people actually believe that stuff.
Richard Howland-Bolton Premium Member almost 2 years ago
But the best bits are a h e l l of a read, especially in the original Klingon.
danketaz Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Odd, I found it a real laugh riot.
Nebulous Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Most political satire isn’t funny a century after all the targets are dead, especially from foreign lands. And yes, Dante absolutely SKEWERED many of the political, religious, and financial elites of his day.
Doctor Toon almost 2 years ago
Try reading it backward
JeromeBlue Premium Member almost 2 years ago
When I worked at Borders Books a customer a came in and asked, “Who wrote Dante’s Inferno?”
Doug K almost 2 years ago
It’s all a joke until somebody goes to …
InTraining almost 2 years ago
maybe if Sine read it to you out loud…?
JoshHere almost 2 years ago
Finding Comedy in Drama Side of the Horse
mistercatworks almost 2 years ago
It’s a LOT funnier in the original Italian, if you’re not already halfway to Hades. :)
Dante’s whole point is that the joke is on you.
AndrewSihler almost 2 years ago
Those pesky words will keep changing meaning. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Ital. commedia meant “a narrative poem intended to entertain and perhaps edify, with an up-beat ending”. (Which in the case of the Paradiso, is pretty darn tedious.)
BlueFin Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Gladly they never published Dante’s Divine Tragedy
Asriel over 1 year ago
this isn’t a comedy, this is comedy itself.