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While the concept of purgatory for the departed has long been part of many cultures' beliefs, it was Dante who offered Western thought one of the most detailed architectures of this transitional space to date. The second book in the Divine Comedy trilogy, the Purgatorio is Dante's most relatable of the three otherworldly realms. For one, purgatory is not eternal. It is also a highly organized system, explores a kind of justice that seems more fair than eternal punishment, and it offers something the two other realms do not: hope. In reading the Purgatorio closely, students will explore medieval theories of divine justice, human justice, penance, piety, and morality—many of which still inform our thinking today about right action and the common good. Much attention will be given to literary analysis of the poem. Students will also read commentaries and critical studies on Dante’s Purgatorio, as well as on “purgatories” from other cultures and traditions. Offered in English.