Dante’s Lucifer in the Commedia: music, pride, and the corruption of the divine

The entity of Lucifer has long been an area of study and confusion throughout
history. Among notable literary minds, Dante Alighieri stands out as an illuminating poet
who brings to light the essence and nature of this nefarious character and his influence on mankind. In his revelatory work, the Commedia, Dante touches on but does not explicitly detail the scope and importance that music and specifically, song, has on the redemptive purgation of the soul. This work provides a more in depth investigation into the generally overlooked issue, that is, the origin and initial intent of song, the perversion of which, by whom and why, and Dante’s perception of the subject revealed in his missive to mankind. Along scientific theory, along with other works by Dante to provide a link between Lucifer, music, the sin of pride, and the corruption of the divine.