Woman Earthly and Divine in the Comedy of Dante

The book explores the portrayal of female characters in the Divine Comedy, analyzing traditional feminine roles like wife, lover, and mother, with a focus on Beatrice. It situates the discussion within the broader context of medieval literature, highlighting Dante's adherence to misogynistic traditions. Shapiro argues that while Dante's earlier works present a more nuanced view of women, the Divine Comedy reinforces binary oppositions of good and evil, reflecting a shift in his characterization of women.