Dante on Lightness of Soul

One poetic simile of Dante’s Comedy is that half the reason people are in hell is because they simply won’t admit their faults. Mount Purgatorio’s 1st terrace is that of pride, and it’s in shedding our pride, and admitting our faults that we begin atonement. That’s the 1st step. And as you climb the mountain your soul lightens, unburdened from each terrace’s sin. This lightness of soul is the strengthening of the soul in preparation.