Partisanship
Index 
20131118 Law
"For some oppose the universal emblem with yellow lilies; others claim that emblem for party: it is hard to see who is worse." The Divine Comedy, Paradiso Canto VI:100-103 Spoken by Justinian, the Roman emperor known for compiling the Justinian Code of Roman law. Yellow lilies represent the fleur-de-lys of France, and further the Guelphs who fought against the empire (universal emblem of the Roman eagle, perhaps now the American eagle) in opposition to the Ghibellines (others) who factionalized the empire into pro-church and pro-empire. Dante thought the empire was God's instrument by which humans control society by implementing Justinian Law, and the church regulated only the soul's destiny based on one's actions in "Caesar's" world. Dante was an active Ghibelline before his banishment from Florence by Guelphs. This passage is a poetic way of saying it is partisanship that leads to misery, not whether your side is right or wrong, or wins or loses, or is in power or out. There is a modern phrase, "Can't we all just get along?" Dante says "No, but you end up in hell if you don't" Family: In each section of the Commedia (Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso) Canto VI refers to the negative effects of partisanship. This refers to disputes between White Guelphs and Black Guelphs which emerged after the Guelphs defeated the Ghibellines, indicating that if an "enemy" does not occur, we will make one from our own. So this Canto refers to fights among family members, because families were either Guelph or Ghibelline. In Purgatorio Canto 6, disputes among Guelphs and Ghibillines are emphasized, i.e. disputes in Italy between parties. Finally in Paradiso, Emperor Justinian speaks (see above) of world disputes between Emperor and Pope, church and state. So the scale of dispute increases from hell (Inferno) to heaven (Paradiso). Florence: A lament by Dante, the pilgrim, a "false praise" of Florence, with a harsh conclusion. Do we have changing laws and customs (gay rights) in our utopia today?, as Florentines considered themselves. Dante here implies such superior thinking was based on superior power, riches, or even superior morality. But, without a firm foundation in ancient law, change reflects political confusion about the proper course for people and society; and that is the sin, according to Dante. | ||
Family "After long controversy, they'll come to blood, the party of the woods will chase the other out with much offense; But then, within three suns, they too must fall: at which the other party will prevail. This party will hold high its head for long and heap great weights upon its enemies, however much they weep indignantly. Two men1 are just but no one listens to them. Three sparks that set on fire every heart are envy, pride, and avariciousness. The Divine Comedy, Inferno Canto VI:64-75 |
Florence "For all the towns of Italy are full of tyrants, and each townsman who becomes a partisan is soon a new Marcellus.2 My Florence, you indeed may be content that this digression would leave you exempt: your people's strivings spare you this lament. Others have justice in their hearts and thought is slow to let it fly off from their bow; but your folks keep it ready -- on their lips. Others refuse the weight of public service; whereas your people -- eagerly -- respond, even unasked, and shout: "I'll take it on." You might be happy now, for you have a cause! You with your riches, peace, Judiciousness! |
If I speak truly, facts won't prove me wrong. Compared to you, Athens and Lacedaemon, though civil states, with their ancient laws, had merely sketched the life of righteousness; For you devise provisions so ingenious -- whatever threads October see you spin, when mid-November comes, will be unspun. How often, in the time you can remember, have you changed laws and coinage, offices and customs, and revised your citizens! And if your memory has some clarity, then you will see yourself like that sick woman who find no rest upon her feather bed, but, turning, tossing, tries to east her pain." The Divine Comedy, Purgatorio Canto VI:127-151 |
|
1 Two in all of Florence, no one knows who Dante referred to, perhaps its understating that nearly everyone climbs on the bandwagon of partisanship justifying punishment of the "immoral" other party they just threw out. 2 Roman demagogue opposed to Julius Caesar | ||