Dear Everyone,
If one wanted to make sense of the references in Dante’s Divine Comedy, the first book to start with would be the Bible. Biblical characters, themes and allusions are woven throughout the three parts of Dante’s great work.
Although much of western literature once included biblical allusions, literature has changed. Today’s fiction is more likely to draw on feature films and comic books than the Bible. Much of what I consider to be the literature of the Bible is unfamiliar to many people. (MIT has an online course that some of you might find interesting)
In this post, I’d like to draw your attention to one book from the Hebrew Bible and one passage from the New Testament, solely for the purpose of enjoying their words. I’m not interested in questions of interpretation with these passages. I’m simply asking readers to approach the texts as pieces of literature and see what they think of them.
Part of the first text is quoted in “Gabriel’s Inferno,” and is taken from the Song of Songs 1: 1-4, 15-16:
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth–for thy love is better than wine.
Thine ointments have a goodly fragrance; thy name is as ointment poured forth; therefore do the maidens love thee.
Draw me, we will run after thee; the king hath brought me into his chambers; we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will find thy love more fragrant than wine! sincerely do they love thee….
“Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thine eyes are as doves.
Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant; also our couch is leafy.”
Song of Songs 3:1-5
“By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but I found him not.
‘I will rise now, and go about the city, in the streets and in the broad ways, I will seek him whom my soul loveth.’ I sought him, but I found him not.
The watchmen that go about the city found me: ‘Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?’
Scarce had I passed from them, when I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles, and by the hinds of the field, that ye awaken not, nor stir up love, until it please.’”
Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil; thy hair is as a flock of goats, that trail down from mount Gilead.
Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes all shaped alike, which are come up from the washing; whereof all are paired, and none faileth among them.
Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy mouth is comely; thy temples are like a pomegranate split open behind thy veil.
Thy neck is like the tower of David builded with turrets, whereon there hang a thousand shields, all the armour of the mighty men.
Thy two breasts are like two fawns that are twins of a gazelle, which feed among the lilies.
Until the day breathe, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
Thou art all fair, my love; and there is no spot in thee.
As a piece of literature, the verses quoted above seem to fall into the category of erotic poetry. There’s a sweetness to the descriptions of the lovers’ interactions, which is coupled with a tremendous desire and an appreciation of physical beauty.
Notice how the voice shifts from the female lover to the male beloved in the last two verses of the first passage, and again in the third passage. The female lover extols the virtues of her beloved and describes her longing for him. In the third passage, the male beloved describes the beauty of his female love. We’re treated to an insight into ancient views of beauty in the analogies he uses for her appearance. (I’ll leave you to your own inferences as to what the mountain and the hill refer to.)
I welcome you to share your thoughts in the comments below.
The second passage I’d like to draw your attention to is the parable of the prodigal son from the Gospel according to St. Luke 15: 11-32. This text is important within the context of “Gabriel’s Inferno” and Dante’s Divine Comedy in that both works explore aspects of forgiveness, love and redemption. Here is the text from the Bible:
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
I don’t think that one needs to be religious in order to be moved by this story. Anyone who has ever disappointed his or her family, or felt alone and abandoned can surely relate to the despair of the prodigal. The prodigal’s longing for his home is another important image, contrasting sharply with his disgust with himself.
The forgiveness and welcome communicated by the father is something that provides hope and inspiration, despite the jealousy and condemnation manifested by the son of constancy.
Sex, love, faith, hope, redemption, sin, virtue …. all of these concepts are presented in the literature of the Bible, providing inspiration for their presentation in other literary works throughout history.
All the best and thanks for reading,
SR
Jennifer Lane (Author of “With Good Behavior” and “Bad Behavior”) just posted an interview with me and a review of my book on her website.
I am honoured to have had all three of my novels appear on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists. I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. {
This was a beautiful analysis. Thank you for sharing the passages. It is never easy to forgive someone and even harder to those who see themselves as perfect. Having done no wrong to see the forgiven, forgave. It means one has to admit that try as you might to be perfect, we all make mistakes. Sometimes more often than another, but the forgiveness should be shared by all.
Dear SR,
I continue to be fascinated with your writing and your brilliant mind. This blog post was yet another example.
It’s a bit odd, I suppose, to think of the Bible as containing erotic/romantic poetry but the Song of Songs is just that.
And the story of the prodigal son – well, we all deserve mercy and forgiveness upon doing wrong and admitting so, and oftentimes our own guilt is punishment enough.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks SB and TMOT very kindly for your comments.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
I agree – the message of forgiveness is universal.
All the best and thanks for reading, SR
I enjoyed this post and your thinking on the passages of the Bible. Often people do get so caught up in interpretation and miss the beauty of the words in the book. Although I have no religious beliefs, I have read the Bible a number of times from when I was young and have always been able to find parts I can relate too.
That was a beautiful post , SR. Thank you for writing it.
The Songs of Songs is truly one of the most beautiful parts of the Bible. And the parable of the prodigal son is one of my favourites. I think we all can relate to it. The father who forgives the son, regardless of what he did, is the image of a true father and of a man who loves freely and unconditionally. It’s not always easy to forgive, I admit, but I believe that forgiveness is a gift both for the person who gives it and for the one who receives it. I may sound pretentious but every time you forgive someone you feel something well up within you that makes you love and care for the other person even more than you did before. We all make mistakes, no one is perfect, so when we are able to forgive we can also rely on the fact that others will forgive us… How will we be able to seek forgiveness, if we are the ones that can’t perform it? In GI Gabriel receives that gift and it really changes his life. He had sunk deep in sin and egocentrism but the love of his family and, most of all, of his beloved Julia made him resurface. Forgiveness was his sheet-anchor, as it should be.
Thank you again SR! I never tire of reading your words.
Elena_twiarcady
When I think of the Bible, I think first of the parables that have become famous over time. I tend to forget there is so much that’s beautiful and lyrical, such as the passages from Song of Songs you’ve cited here. They are further proof that the Bible is among the finest pieces of literature we’ve had through the ages.
I interpret the phrase “our couch is leafy” as a reference to the newness of love. The excitement and passion of this passage sound as if they come from someone discovering the qualities, physical and otherwise, of the person they desire. “Couch” seems like a reference to some type of comfort, though I’m not sure that’s accurate. Perhaps they take comfort in each other even as they are excited at the stirrings of this fresh experience.
Is it fair to say the Bible is among the earliest written compilations of human experiences? If so, maybe all literature is derivative. Especially with fiction, much of what’s been written in the subsequent 2,000 years seems to be variations on Biblical themes.
The parable of the prodigal son is very familiar; I’m sure I heard it among my earliest catechism lessons. I find the character of the resentful brother to be very interesting. He faces the biggest hurdle to forgiveness. He’s been a faithful and good son, yet his profligate brother returns home to find all is forgiven. (Not much incentive there to remain the dutiful sibling.) But all this time, the obedient son has enjoyed his father’s bounty. He’s escaped the hard lessons his wayward brother had to learn, including the pain that accompanies alienation from your family, especially when it’s self imposed.
Reading this now, I see it more from the father’s perspective, too. It’s easier to understand, as a parent, his unbridled joy at the son’s return. Imagine the relief at knowing your child is safe and wanting to return to his family. The father gave him his inheritance and let him go, likely with the unspoken hope that the youth would some day return poorer yet wiser. The errant son has truly learned the value of home, family, and parental love. The father’s forgiveness, abundant and freely given, is more valuable than any material riches. Such unquestioning amnesty is a great act of charity. I can appreciate it all the more as a mother of a strong-willed teenager.
I’ve really enjoyed the literary references you’ve explored here, and I looked forward to every new one that was posted. I’ve learned something and found new ideas to ponder every time. I’m certain that was your goal, along with enhancing our understanding of “Gabriel’s Inferno.” Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Hmmm The Song of Songs. I tends to gravitate towards these passages in the bible, much in Song of Solomon and Psalms because they can be sung and I connect with and can remember those. They literally sing to me. These passages are beautiful in the way they speak of love between partners. The prodigal son speaks of forgiveness and unconditional love of a father. I had a father like that thankfully, but I also understood the frustration of the other son. I hope he to learned that his father did not love him less for always being there and that his efforts were still being counted and appreciated.
Shucks, Blogger is messing with me again *sigh* tries again…
Basically I sad that I love looking at the Song of Songs, and Psalms, the passages that are truly poetry and songs. The flow and to love story theses passages tell between partners so often used in weddings are truly beautiful. I also can remember them easier because they can be sung and the cadence of the verse flows.
The story of the prodigal son tells of of a father’s unconditional love and forgiveness. I had a father like that thankfully but I also feel for the the other son and understand his frustration. I hope he knows his father loves him as well and is thankful for him always being there.It is not about what each as done. It is who they are and their father loved them both.
The great thing about you publishing new posts, SR, is that I get to browse your site and enjoy the wisdom you previously shared with your readers.
I’d like to introduce you to the song “Hinach Yafah” (which in Hebrew means “Thou Art Beautiful”) by Idan Raichel. The lyrics are inspired by the passages you sited above from Song of Songs. They’ve have been slightly modernized, but not by much.
You can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdxuz2h_P_0
(and also hear what these passages sound like in the Holy tongue :-))
The translation of the lyrics is available here:
http://www.idanraichelproject.com/en/the-idan-raichel-project (scroll down to the song)
Idan Raichel is an Israeli musician and poet. He is one of my favorite and is a truly talented artist, exploring different types of music, and partnering with other respected musicians from around the globe. If you get a chance to see him in concert, I’d highly recommend it 🙂
Cheers and Enjoy!
Efrat
Of course the verse of the prodigal son deserves some attention as well 🙂
I had to reread this verse a few times, as it was unfamiliar to me (vs. Song of Songs).
The verse obviously talks about the father’s forgiveness and unconditional love in the son’s return, but in the short phrase “And he divided his property between them.” lies a whole different aspect of humility and acceptance. of others.
It describes the father’s willingness to let the son go when he wanted to. As a parent, letting a child spread his wings and fly, or accepting his/her character or way of life (even if it’s different than your own) is by far a harder task and demonstrates a greater act of love than accepting a loved child back. The prodigal son wanted to explore and learn on his own, which every man at one point or another wants to do, but as a loving parent, it is not always easy to let go (at any age).
In reference to Gabriel’s Inferno, this verse teaches us a lot about the character of Grace and Richard. The unconditional love that both have given Gabriel (and Julia) is truly apparent both in their adoption and also in dedication throughout; but mainly in their letting Gabriel go despite his direction being contrary to their morals. Of course, they provided a net for him to fall into and saved him, but they did have to let him go afterwards, which lent a far greater pain for them both, Grace in particular.
Lastly, thank you SR, for your great teachings in these blogs. Reading them is always a joy, as they give me so many things to think about while reading your novels. They just make the pleasure of reading more special 🙂
Cheers!
Efrat