ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Beatrice replaces Virgil as Dante’s guide in the poem, and the poet makes clear that Beatrice represents not only a flesh and blood woman who Dante loved. As the woman who Dante loved in real life, she also represents the splendor of Christian revelation itself.

Detailed explanation-2: -Metaphorically speaking, Beatrice is a mirror upon which divine love is reflected and, consequently, serves as the pilgrim’s bridge to salvation. She is a powerful character and a woman of action who descends into hell to call upon Virgil for his help and to instruct him to lead the pilgrim on an otherworldly journey.

Detailed explanation-3: -Beatrice symbolizes indirect knowledge of God, or revelation. Throughout the ascent through the heavenly spheres, Dante often looks to Beatrice, therefore, for understanding of God, as well as reassurance, until his vision is sufficiently strengthened to gaze on the divine directly.

Detailed explanation-4: -The reader is encouraged to see the stuffed animals Beatrice and Virgil-who have endured torture, starvation and humiliation-as stand-ins for the Jews, and to equate the terrible things they’ve witnessed-referred to as “the Horrors”-to the atrocities committed by the Nazis.