«Dove l’umano spirito si purga / e di salire al ciel diventa degno». Le mythe de Paolo et Francesca dans La Stravaganza de Véa Varèse

Varèse’s work reflects the cultural context of Belgium, a crossroads of multiple cultures. The concepts of «hollow identity» and «dehistory» highlight the absence of a distinct identity and the challenge of addressing history directly. Her use of myth and spatial-temporal shifts shapes the narrative and characters, especially in her rewriting of Dante’s myth of Paolo and Francesca. This article explores how Varèse reinterprets this symbolic tale, focusing on Dante’s Inferno quotes in La Stravaganza, the characterization of male and female characters, and the existential journey of the protagonists.