Canto 33 is the final chapter of The Divine Comedy, marking the culmination of Dante’s journey as he encounters God. Having ascended through the outer rings of heaven, Dante finds himself in what he describes as the far reaches of outer space. His experience is one of shock and awe, as he struggles to comprehend the divine presence. This canto represents the ultimate preparation for Dante’s direct encounter with God, the culmination of his spiritual and physical journey.

Vision is a central theme throughout The Divine Comedy. Dante describes a “cloud” of obscuring haze that gradually dissipates as he progresses through his journey, preparing him for the ultimate revelation—a direct encounter with God. God is depicted as an inter-dimensional being of perfect geometry, an ever-changing form that defies human comprehension. Dante rationalises this divine presence as three luminous circles, representing the Holy Trinity.

From the Primum Mobile, Dante and Beatrice traverse the nine angelic spheres of heaven, ultimately reaching its centre. At the heart of heaven lies a point of infinitely bright light—God Himself. The spheres of heaven revolve with blinding speed and brilliance, their velocity increasing with their luminosity. Dante initially portrays paradise as a comprehensible structure, but at its core lies infinity, the source of all light and the essence of God.

During Dante’s time, religious texts were predominantly published in Latin, accessible only to the educated elite. The Divine Comedy broke this tradition by being written in Italian, making it accessible to everyone. In a modern context, I chose to create a website as the medium for this project, as it represents the most accessible platform for information today. This decision aligns with Dante’s intention of democratising knowledge.

My design seeks to adapt and animate this climactic scene, using typography to guide the narrative. The white letters emerge from the darkness of the outer universe, starting slowly and building in intensity until they become chaotic and blinding. This crescendo reveals a final window, where the typography transforms into an ever-changing form, symbolizing the incomprehensible nature of God.

The decision to make this an interactive experience, rather than a static video, is rooted in the theme of free will that permeates The Divine Comedy. On the website, users can choose to read the chapter patiently or scroll continuously to animate the typography, where the words literally paint an image of what is written, creating a dynamic visual narrative. This interactivity allows users to engage with the story at their own pace, mirroring Dante’s journey of discovery and choice.