Research Symposium

BIO

Harrison Betz is a first-year Honors student at Florida State University. Although he is currently planning on double majoring in International Affairs and Spanish, Harrison was inspired to undertake his current research due to his longstanding love of literature, especially Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy.

Harrison would like to thank all of the people that have supported him on his journey over the past year: all of the friends who have proofread (and proof-reread) papers, all of the faculty members who have provided a firm structure of support (both academically and personally), his family, and, above all, his research mentor, Dr. Elizabeth Coggeshall. Grazie mille!

“Un libro, un sueño”: Latin American Adaptations and Interpretations of Dante’s Francesca

Abstract

Since its publication in the 14th-century, the Inferno by Dante Alighieri has supplied artists with a well of inspiration. Multiple archival attempts have been made to define the literary impact of Dante’s poems; however, the way in which many cultures interpret these works remains uncatalogued. One such culture is Latin America. To rectify this epistemological gap, this investigation seeks to track Latinx representations and reimaginings of one of the most well-known characters of the Inferno: the semi-historical, semi-literary figure of Francesca da Rimini. Analyzing how Latin American poets and authors employ Francesca in their work, a greater understanding of culturally specific interpretations of the Inferno and the motivations behind them may be reached. Initial research has indicated that Francesca (and the literary authority that her character holds) is often referenced in attempts to redefine notions of sexual and romantic relationships. Furthermore, some scholars have pointed to subversions of Francesca’s narrative and cultural significance as possible attempts to establish an independent, non-Eurocentric Latin American identity given Dante’s entrenched connection to European culture. Amassing a greater body of literary references and analysis may reinforce or reinterpret these initial findings.

Keywords: Latin America, Dante, Literature