Why was Beatrice so important to Dante?
Metaphorically speaking, Beatrice is a mirror upon which divine love is reflected and, consequently, serves as the pilgrim's bridge to salvation. She is a powerful character and a woman of action who descends into hell to call upon Virgil for his help and to instruct him to lead the pilgrim on an otherworldly journey.
In the Vita Nuova, Dante told the story of his admiration for a Florentine woman named Beatrice. When seeing her for the first time at the age of nine, Dante fell in love, and he remained in love for the rest of his life. Years later, Beatrice died at the young age of twenty-four and Dante fell into a deep sadness.
Dante Alighieri first saw and fell in love with Beatrice Portinari when he was nine years old. He would later write about his instant love for her in Vita Nuova, saying “Behold, a deity stronger than I; who coming, shall rule over me.” He loved her from afar for the rest of her life.
Beatrice serves as Dante's muse and inspiration. In The Divine Comedy it is Beatrice who, out of love for the poet, initiates Dante's journey because she believes that he has strayed from a righteous path and she thinks that this divine journey will save him from himself.
In this case, Virgil explains in canto 2 that he was summoned to Dante's aid by Beatrice, who was herself summoned by Lucia at the request of a woman able to alter the judgment of heaven (Inf. 2.94-6).
Beatrice replaces Virgil as Dante's guide in the poem, and the poet makes clear that Beatrice represents not only a flesh and blood woman who Dante loved. As the woman who Dante loved in real life, she also represents the splendor of Christian revelation itself.
Feeling defeated and understanding that he was to blame for what Beatrice became, Dante agreed with her, telling her that he belonged in Hell and he would no longer attempt to redeem her.
Dante's mother died when he was just six years old. Beatrice was Dante's literary muse and inspiration for the Divine Comedy. At the age of nine Dante met Beatrice for the first time and immediately fell in love with her.
Whereas Hero is polite, quiet, respectful, and gentle, Beatrice is feisty, cynical, witty, and sharp.
Beatrice, the niece of Leonato, who is governor of Messina, and Hero's cousin in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Beatrice is a feisty, witty foil to her docile, gentle cousin and a perfect match for Benedick, who also shuns marriage.
How is Beatrice presented as a strong character?
Beatrice speaks her mind.
When Benedick returns from the wars, she shows her boldness by speaking out against him. She contrasts with Hero who is quiet and well-behaved. Leonato warns her that she will never be married if she continues to be so sharp in the way she speaks.
The actual Beatrice Portinari met Dante Alighieri in 1274 at the age of nine. The young Dante was immediately smitten with her, and remained so even after she married in 1287 and eventually died in 1290 at the age of 25.
Beatrice, the woman to whom the great Italian poet Dante dedicated most of his poetry and almost all of his life, from his first sight of her at the age of nine (“from that time forward, Love quite governed my soul”) through his glorification of her in La divina commedia, completed 40 years later, to his death in 1321.
In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, Hero and Beatrice are cousins as well as close friends. It is clear from their interactions with each other that they care very much about one another; they tease each other lovingly and defend one another when times are tough.
Beatrice keeps up a “merry war” of wits with Benedick, a lord and soldier from Padua. The play suggests that she was once in love with Benedick but that he led her on and their relationship ended. Now when they meet, the two constantly compete to outdo one another with clever insults.
Beatrice is described as very lovely, with “eyes... flashing brighter than the stars” and an “angel's voice”; her beauty represents the beauties of heaven and inspires Dante to press forward in his spiritual journey. Ultimately, Beatrice is a compelling symbol of the wonder and power of divine grace.
However, in Canto 31 Beatrice speaks of how Dante had betrayed her over the last ten years of her death. He had been attracted to other women and was not faithful to her beauty, which was not the false beauty of others.
Beatrice has a divine knowledge that will guide Dante and lead him to the truth about his life, and through that salvation. She is his inspiration to keep him on this arduous journey through hell, and the prize she offers is divine love and salvation.
Dante claims to have met a “Beatrice” only twice, on occasions separated by nine years but was so affected by the meetings that he carried his love for her throughout his life.
During his teens, Dante demonstrated a keen interest in literature; he undertook an apprenticeship with Brunetto Latini, a celebrated poet and prose writer of vernacular Italian, and befriended the poet Guido Cavalcanti.