Dante the narrator sees the Dame Fortune as a significant symbol of Divine Fate. As Virgil, Dante's guide through Hell, explains the importance of the the Dame, he emphasizes, "He made earth's splendors by a like decree/ and posted as their minister this high Dame,... She rules her sphere/ as the other gods rule theirs" (54-55). The tone with which Dante the narrator describes this creature inspires awe for her. His words words such as high, rules, and gods in her reference accord the Dame a certain magnificence that Dante bestows upon few during the course of his narration. The 'He' Dante describes can only reference God, so Dante is implying that this God appointed the Dame to her task. When he talks about 'the other gods', Dante surely means the other angels, treating the Dame herself as an angel. In his explanation of her importance, Virgil also notes, "No mortal power may stay her spinning wheel" (54). The Dame Fortune is a notable figure in medieval mythology. She is usually depicted as a female figure holding an ever-revolving wheel, a representation that coincides well with Dante's. This spinning wheel, which Virgil describes, is representative of chance, and by telling that this wheel may not be stopped by mortal power, Dante implies that fate is entirely divine. By ranking a symbol of divine fate among the angels and giving her a special place for the Catholic God, Dante definitely believes that fate should be celebrated. However, he is also saying that fate is divine and therefore implying that it is ultimately beyond human control.
Dante's view of fate is both similar to and different than Sophocles' view in the plays Oedipus Rex and Antigone. The two pieces of literature are remarkably similar in that both present the idea that people have some degree of willpower, but are ultimately fated to the will of a higher power. Dante writes that God's gift to mankind is free will but also describes how god is all-powerful and fates human kind to salvation or damnation based on their choices in life. Similarly, the characters in Sophocles' plays demonstrate an unshakable power of will, yet they often end up subjecting themselves to divine fate because of their independent willpower. The play differ in that Dante's God gifts free will to mankind out of love while Sophocles' gods come across as much less affectionate in their sympathy for the human race.
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This illustrative clip shows how the Dame Fortune and fate should be celebrated. It is both vibrant and symbolic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eleqWoi-Ro
Hey this really helped man. Youve done a lot for this world. You are a hero
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