3. Once created, does a work of art have its own existence, separate from its creator?


In Canto 5, on Dante’ Inferno, Dante is shown Francesca and her lover Paolo. Francesca and Paolo found themselves reading the story of Lancelot and Guinevere. As the read on, they found each other’s eyes and very soon put down the book and let their passions take hold of them, and so they were condemned to the circle of hell, where those that are lustful are found. This story brings up the amount of responsibility that can be placed on an artist. In the Inferno, this Canto seems to affect Dante very much since as a writer, the concern becomes whether or not any of his works could have ever possibly landed others in the same situation as Paolo and Francesca. One can agree that art can have a tremendous influence on others, and since this the case, can the artist be at blame for what his art enables or motivates others to do? Even when it was not the original intention of the artist.

Does the artist have any responsibility to his audience?