Commentary on the Seven Deadly Sins of Dante Alighieri (1 of 7)

Icarus (1940) by Francesco S. Palozzi, Piazzale della Vittoria, Forli, Italy

COMMENTARY ON THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF DANTE ALIGHEIRI: PRIDE

Dante rightly places pride at the foot of Mount Purgatory because it is the primordial sin and the origin and foundation of every sin. The sin of Lucifer, the refusal to serve God, was motivated by pride. So was the Original Sin of Adam and Eve—they were tempted by the desire to be like God and to free themselves from servitude to him.

What is pride? It is the desire for one’s excellence over and above first, obedience to God, and second, service to neighbor. It is the ever-present self-centeredness of the human condition. Pride is present in every sin and every sin demonstrates pride.

Pride is the sin of idolatry wherein the self is the idol worshipped over, above, and against God. The sin of pride directly transgresses against the first two commandments. Rightly then does Dante give the sin of pride “pride of place” at the beginning of the soul’s purgative ascent.

 

Dante’s Aligheiri’s universe, Mount Purgatory in particular, is discussed here:

 
https://poetryofgonzalinhodacosta.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-universe-of-dante-alighieris-divine.html