User:Christie1123/Cato the Younger

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In Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, Cato is portrayed as the guardian of the mount of Purgatory (Cantos I–II). Cato is one of the two pagans presented by Dante in Purgatorio, the other being Statius. Whilst Cato's suicide would have placed his soul in the seventh circle of Hell, Dante bases his decision to place Cato in Purgatory on Roman ethics instead of the Christian ethics. Since Cato was a follower of stoicism, he represents leading a virtuous life free from sin. Hence, Cato embodies the cardinal virtues and is referred to as an analogue of God by Dante. To Dante, Cato's sacrifice to his was for a just cause because he sought to preserve the freedom of the Roman Republic. Given his imperfect actions, Cato is not allowed into Purgatory proper; he instead exists on the shores of the "High Mount" in part of ante-purgatory.

Cato appears in Purgatorio not as a soul who is purifying himself of their sins but holds a more administrative role in the realm. Here, Cato welcomes the new souls who arrive on the shores of Purgatory in an angel-led ship. Cato is depicted as a solitary old me and a figure of reverence. Contrary to his unkempt depiction in Lucan's Pharsalia, Cato's appearance in The Divine Comedy has been modified to be enclosed in light. References to the four holy stars on Cato's beard strengthen his association with the cardinal virtues. At the shores of Mount Purgatory, Cato sternly questions the pilgrim's and Virgil's intentions as they are breaking the rules of the world by being here. After Virgil convinces Cato of their journey, Cato imparts geographical information on Mount Purgatory to the pilgrim and Virgil before promptly disappearing, preparing Dante the pilgrim for the climb of Mount Purgatory. In Canto II, Cato urges Virgil and the pilgrim to make haste and ascend to Mount Purgatory.