Commentary on the Seven Deadly Sins of Dante Alighieri (3 of 7)

 COMMENTARY ON THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF DANTE ALIGHEIRI: ANGER

 

Dante places anger on the third level of Purgatory, stacked just above envy, and at the very base, pride. Because Jesus directly links anger to the capital sin of murder prohibited by the fifth commandment, “Do not kill,” in order of decreasing gravity anger is rightly placed just above envy and pride.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.” (Matthew 5:21-22)

Building on Aristotle, Aquinas argues that anger is a passion that arises in response to injury—or at least to the perception of it—and seeks redress. As such, anger can be virtuous, particularly if we are speaking about advancing the virtue of justice. However, the sinfulness of human nature predisposes anger to excess and unreason, so that by default anger takes the form of vice.

Aquinas’ complex views on anger are discussed here:

https://www.newadvent.org/summa/3158.htm

—“Question 158. Anger,” Summa Theologiae, Second Part of the Second Part, New Advent

And here:

https://www.newadvent.org/summa/2046.htm

—“Question 46. Anger, in Itself,” Summa Theologiae, First Part of the Second Part, New Advent 

 

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

Some of the Angelic Doctor’s insights:

“If one is angry in accordance with right reason, one’s anger is deserving of praise.”

“If one desire the taking of vengeance in any way whatever contrary to the order of reason…or not for the due end, namely the maintaining of justice and the correction of faults, then the desire of anger will be sinful, and this is called sinful anger.”

“Lack of the passion of anger is also a vice, even as the lack of movement in the will directed to punishment by the judgment of reason.”

 

“To wish evil to someone under the aspect of justice, may be according to the virtue of justice, if it be in conformity with the order of reason. Anger fails only in this, that it does not obey the precept of reason in taking vengeance.”