Dante’s Paradiso begins in heaven, suffused by divine light. The poet invokes the muses and Apollo and then turns to the narrative, describing how Beatrice is looking towards the sun. Dante and Beatrice talk, and soon Beatrice reveals that they are on the moon. A light appears to them alongside opalescent faces. Beatrice prods Dante to speak with one of them, a woman named Piccarda. Piccarda points Dante to “the great Constance,” and the two women sing. Dante is somewhat confused that these souls are on the moon, but Beatrice explains that all saved souls, properly, are in heaven with God, but these have been sent down to greet Dante and as a sign of their lower rank in heaven. She explains, too, a question of theological doctrine. Dante thanks her, and his sight fails when she looks at him with “eyes so full/of the radiance of love.”
Dante and Beatrice soon ascend to the second sphere of heaven: Mercury. There, Beatrice and the planet shine even brighter than before. Souls come to them, inquisitive, and Dante asks one who it is. The soul reveals itself to be Justinian, emperor of Rome. He praises the accomplishments of Rome and even comments on the politics of Dante’s contemporaries. He soon transitions to singing a song that mixes Hebrew and Latin; his lights wheel about, as if dancing. Beatrice, sensing Dante’s doubts, clarifies things yet again. They ascend to Venus; Beatrice appears more beautiful. There, Dante meets Charles Martel, who discusses his own life and gives Dante prophecies. He then meets other souls, including the poet Folco of Marseilles, and he sees nested there the soul of the biblical Rahab.
They ascend to the sun. There, Dante meets Thomas of Aquino (or Thomas Aquinas), who describes the other wise men inhabiting his sphere. Aquinas goes on to praise St. Francis of Assisi, and he is immediately followed by Bonaventure, who praises St. Dominic. All of the souls praise “the divine nature in three Persons” but soon fall silent. Aquinas addresses Dante’s questions about the imperfections in the world and warns that people ought to withhold judgment. Beatrice then prods Aquinas to tell Dante about their eventual (and glorious) return to their flesh, and Dante’s eyes fail him as the other souls sing in assent. Dante and Beatrice then ascend to Mars, where Dante is overwhelmed by the nearby spirits singing.
When the spirits fall silent, one shoots like a star toward Dante. We learn that this is Cacciaguida, Dante’s great-great-grandfather. His ancestor describes Florence in its glory days, but he then moves on to tell the tales of Florentine families’ changing fortunes. He then bemoans the battling between the Ghibellines and Guelfs. Dante asks that he clarify the prophecy given about his future in the Purgatorio, and Cacciaguida explains clearly that Dante will be exiled from Florence. He then directs Dante towards a cross of lights, where biblical and historical military leaders are arrayed. Soon after, Beatrice and Dante fly upwards to Jupiter.
On Jupiter, the souls arrange themselves, wheeling, into letters. They then turn into an eagle and speak to Dante through it, criticizing the church’s corruption. These souls were “just and merciful,” and they speak as one to teach Dante that God’s creation is far superseded by his wisdom. They conclude their speech with a long prophecy and then sing. Afterward, their voice explains that David, Constantine, and others make up their eyes. Dante is confused by the presence of Ripheus, a pagan leader, among them, but the eagle gives clarification.
As Dante ascends to Saturn, Beatrice informs him that she cannot smile; to smile would be to strike him with the force of a lightning bolt, killing him. They see Jacob’s ladder and lights dancing about it, silent. They are unable to sing for the same reason Beatrice cannot smile: to do so would obliterate Dante. Dante is approached by a being of light, who gives him instruction and reveals himself to be Peter Damian, a saint. When Peter criticizes the religious officials of Dante’s day, the souls let out a terrifying scream of rage. Dante is taken aback, but Beatrice calms him. Another spirit approaches, explaining that all of the spirits here lived contemplative lives. We learn that this is the soul of Saint Benedict, who swirls back up the ladder.
Following suit, Dante and Beatrice ascend. Now in a sphere full of stars, Dante praises God. Beatrice has him look at how far they’ve come, and earth, from that height, seems impossibly small and insignificant. Dante looks to Beatrice, and the sight of her makes him feel a sort of ecstasy, as his mind is expanded and his sight strengthened. Beatrice points him towards Mary and the Apostles, who appear respectively as a rose and lilies. Beatrice addresses them, asking them to “refresh him at the very source of all his thoughts.” They move like clock wheels, and one spirit—Peter the Apostle—approaches them and interrogates Dante. Dante does well in answering his questions on hope, love, and faith.
Peter circles his brow, and James appears, asking Dante about hope. Finally, Dante meets John, and he loses his power of sight. John questions him, and Dante responds successfully; his vision is restored. Adam soon appears, and he informs Dante about his experience in Eden. The souls of Paradise sing, and Dante becomes drunk on joy. Peter criticizes the pope and prophecies, and after this, Beatrice and Dante ascend. Beatrice is now indescribably beautiful and tells Dante that they are nearing God.
A point of light appears, surrounded by nine rings; these are the different orders of Angels, Beatrice explains, aflame and moving. Beatrice explains why they are arranged as they are, and she comments on medieval studies of the angels. She then moves into an extensive theological discussion of creation and directs Dante towards the universe’s center. Dante the poet struggles to describe what he experienced in heaven, but when a light pours from the center, he drinks of it and has his sight improved. Now he can see the “Creator,” and the church appears as a white rose. Souls move about it; Beatrice disappears. Beside him is now Saint Bernard, who points to Beatrice, now set with figures like Rachel and Eve.
Bernard also directs Dante’s attention towards Mary, who is immensely bright. He is overwhelmed by her beauty. Bernard guides him towards all of the biblical figures in sight, including Sarah, Judith, John the Baptist, and many others. The angel Gabriel appears and sings Ave Maria. Bernard then directs Dante’s eyes towards “Primal Love” and asks Mary to help him to “rise higher.” Mary moves her gaze, and Dante is purified; as his sight rises, he sees a vision of God as three rings reflecting one another. He praises God, and soon his vision fails. Dante ends the Commedia, though, by ensuring that readers know his will and his desire now turn with those moving rings.
