Chapter 47
The Terrace of Envy
We reach’d the summit of the scale, and stood Upon the second buttress of that mount Which healeth him who climbs. A cornice there, Like to the former, girdles round the hill; Save that its arch with sweep less ample bends. Shadow nor image there is seen; all smooth The rampart and the path, reflecting nought But the rock’s sullen hue. “If here we wait For some to question,” said the bard, “I fear Our choice may haply meet too long delay.” Then fixedly upon the sun his eyes He fastn’d, made his right the central point From whence to…
Public-domain chapter text, formatted for reading.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"A third exclaiming, “Love ye those have wrong’d you."
Context: A key line from the opening of the chapter
The invisible voice commands the hardest human act: loving those who have wounded us. This divine instruction cuts against every natural impulse for revenge or withdrawal.
In Today's Words:
A third voice cried out, 'Love those who have hurt you.' This command strikes at the heart of envy's opposite, choosing compassion over resentment when others have caused us pain. You see the same squeeze when a manager passes blame down and the person with no exit absorbs the cost.
"To my sage counsel therefore did I turn."
Context: A key line from the middle of the chapter
Dante recognizes his need for guidance in this delicate moment of approaching suffering souls. Wisdom lies in knowing when our own judgment falls short and seeking counsel.
In Today's Words:
So I turned to my wise guide for advice. When facing others' pain, we need trusted voices to help us navigate the right words and actions. Ground it in the scene: who holds power, who absorbs risk, and what changes if you name it early.
"He,” answer’d I, “who standeth mute beside me."
Context: A key line from the closing third of the chapter
Dante identifies Virgil not by name but by his silent presence and guidance. The most profound relationships often transcend words, existing in quiet companionship and shared purpose.
In Today's Words:
He who stands silently beside me, I answered. Sometimes our most important relationships are defined not by conversation but by faithful presence through difficult journeys. Ground it in the scene: who holds power, who absorbs risk, and what changes if you name it early. Ground it in the scene: who holds power, who absorbs risk.
"I turn’d me to them, and “O shades!"
Context: A key line from the middle of the chapter
Dante addresses the penitents directly, acknowledging their humanity despite their punishment. True compassion requires seeing the person within the suffering, not just the consequence of sin.
In Today's Words:
I turned to them and said, 'O souls.' Even in their punishment, he recognizes their dignity and speaks to them as fellow human beings deserving respect. That is how it feels when institutions treat your survival as someone else's paperwork problem. That is how it feels when institutions treat your survival as someone else's paperwork.
Thematic Threads
Envy
In This Chapter
Souls have their eyes sewn shut, representing how envy blinds us to our own blessings and possibilities
Development
Introduced here as a specific sin being purged, showing its destructive power
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you feel secretly pleased about a coworker's mistake instead of focusing on your own performance.
Self-awareness
In This Chapter
Sapia honestly admits her ugly truth about taking pleasure in enemies' defeats rather than her own victories
Development
Building on earlier themes of confession and honest self-examination
In Your Life:
This appears when you have to admit uncomfortable truths about your motivations and reactions to others' success or failure.
Community dependence
In This Chapter
The blind souls must lean on each other for support, learning interdependence
Development
Continues the theme of how individual growth requires community connection
In Your Life:
You see this when you realize you need others' help and support to overcome your own destructive patterns.
Reputation and legacy
In This Chapter
Sapia asks Dante to restore her reputation on earth, showing concern for how she's remembered
Development
Builds on ongoing theme of earthly connections mattering even in spiritual transformation
In Your Life:
This shows up when you worry about how your mistakes will be remembered and want opportunities to make things right.
Spiritual blindness
In This Chapter
Physical blindness represents how envy cuts us off from seeing beauty and joy in the world
Development
Extends the metaphor of sight and blindness from earlier circles
In Your Life:
You experience this when negative emotions prevent you from seeing good opportunities or positive aspects of your situation.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
This is not a test. Five prompts guide you through the chapter, from how it opens to how it closes, so you notice context and rhythm rather than facts to memorize. Sit with each question in your own words. When you see "One way to read it," treat it as a starting point, not the only answer.
- 1
Why does Virgil choose to follow the sun rather than wait for guidance from the penitents on this terrace?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
Virgil recognizes that envy creates isolation and withdrawal, so waiting for invitation might mean waiting forever. Active pursuit of divine light becomes necessary.
- 2
What does the image of the penitents with sewn eyes, leaning on each other like beggars, reveal about the nature of envy's punishment?
analysis • deepOne way to read it
Envy blinded them to others' good fortune in life, so now they cannot see at all but must depend on community support, learning interdependence.
- 3
How does Sapia's confession about rejoicing in her fellow citizens' defeat illuminate the psychology of envy?
analysis • deepOne way to read it
Envy makes others' suffering more satisfying than our own success, revealing how it corrupts natural community bonds and turns neighbors into enemies.
- 4
When have you found yourself more pleased by someone else's failure than by your own achievements?
reflection • mediumOne way to read it
This reveals how envy can poison our relationships and make us find satisfaction in the wrong places, damaging both others and ourselves.
- 5
How might Sapia's request for Dante to restore her reputation among her living relatives change your understanding of the relationship between earthly fame and spiritual growth?
application • deepOne way to read it
It suggests that earthly reputation still matters for spiritual healing, and that the living have responsibility to help restore the dignity of those who have repented.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Create Your Personal Scoreboard
Think of an area where you often compare yourself to others - work, parenting, finances, relationships. Create a personal scoreboard that tracks only your own progress, not your position relative to others. List 3-5 specific metrics that measure your growth in this area over the past month. Then identify one action you can take this week to improve your own score.
Consider:
- •Focus on metrics you can actually control and influence
- •Choose measurements that reflect genuine progress, not just activity
- •Notice how it feels to evaluate yourself without comparing to others
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you felt genuinely happy about someone else's success, even in an area where you were struggling. What made that possible, and how did it feel different from comparison or envy?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 48: The Poison of Envy Revealed
A mysterious question echoes around the mountain about someone who can open and close his eyes at will. The souls are curious about this living visitor who walks among the dead, and Dante's unique status as a living person in Purgatory becomes a source of wonder and hope for those seeking redemption.
