Purgatory

Purgatory is the second part of Dante's The Divine Comedy. We find the Poet, with his guide Virgil, ascending the terraces of the Mount of Purgatory inhabited by those doing penance to expiate their sins on earth. There are the proud -- forced to circle their terrace for aeons bent double in humility; the slothful -- running around crying out examples of zeal and sloth; while the lustful are purged by fire. Though less well-known than Inferno, Purgatory has inspired many writers, including, in our century, Samuel Beckett, and has played a key role in literature. As poet, playwright and actor, Heathcote Williams has made a significant contribution to many fields. He is best known for his extended poems on environmental subjects, Whale Nation, Fallingfor a Dolphin, and Sacred Elephant. But his plays have also won acclaim, notably AC/DC, produced at London's Royal Court, and Hancock's Last Half Hour. As an actor he has been equally versatile -- among his most memorable roles was Prospero in Derek Jarmen's film of The Tempest.