 Now one of the things I want to say about the way that Dante's often misread and mistalked so often in an academic environment, whether it's high school or college When Dante is taught or read, it's only the Inferno that's read. It's only hell That's read and this is scandalous and there's some sort of myth some sort of misunderstanding That is because it's superior to the other two books of the divine comedy. That is absolute nonsense The whole purpose of the divine comedy is to get Dante to the presence of God In the beatific vision in heaven to cut him off when he gets down to the bottom of hell in the presence of Satan Is obviously to miss the whole point and in a very deep way