# Matilda — The Divine Comedy character guide

> Matilda in The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the Countess Matilda

**First appearance:** 0065-canto-xxviii

## Who they are

Lady who prepares Dante for ascent to Paradise in the Earthly Paradise.

## In the story

### [Canto XXVIII: The Terrestrial Paradise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_divine_comedy_se/chapters/canto-xxviii)

Matilda appears as a solitary lady singing and gathering flowers, who explains the nature of the earthly paradise and the rivers Lethe and Eunoë.

### [Canto XXIX: The Triumph of the Church](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_divine_comedy_se/chapters/canto-xxix)

Dante's guide in the Earthly Paradise, who chides him for focusing only on the lights and directs his attention to the figures behind them.

### [Canto XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_divine_comedy_se/chapters/canto-xxxi)

Matilda draws Dante through the stream of Lethe and immerses him in the water to purify him.

### [Canto XXXII: The Tree of Knowledge and the Vision of Corruption](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_divine_comedy_se/chapters/canto-xxxii)

Matilda is the conductress who awakens Dante and points him to Beatrice seated beneath the tree.

### [Canto XXXIII: The River Eunoë and Beatrice's Prophecy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_divine_comedy_se/chapters/canto-xxxiii)

Matilda is instructed by Beatrice to lead Dante to the river Eunoë to revive his virtue.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_divine_comedy_se/characters/matilda
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_divine_comedy_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_divine_comedy_se/characters