"No mortal power may stay her spinning wheel.
The nations rise and fall by her decree.
None may foresee where she will set her heel:
she passes, and things pass. Man's mortal reason
cannot encompass her. She rules her sphere
as the other gods rule theirs. Season by season..." (54).
I think Dante is trying to convey that fate and fortune are unable to be controlled. By stating that mortal reason cannot understand "her," he places a focus on Fate being a higher kind of power. He compares her to a God in his last lines, writing that she will rule as She sees fit and without the interferance of man.
Dante compares Dame Fortune to the likes of a God, stating that she behaves like one. Since this passage is used to show that man cannot defy her will, it conveys that man cannot defy God's will either. This, however, appears to be the only thing that Dante truly likens to his God as he does not share this opinion of Him being fickle. Dante does evidence that he beieves in God and His decisions above all else, however, though he only places a certain degree of respect when he references Dame Fortune.
Dante also gives Fortune a sort of personification by titling her as a dame, a form of address given to a woman of rank or authority. The use of a woman, especially a high-ranking one, to depict Fate could be used to allude to her being fickle and maicious by nature as many Catholics of the time did. Dante was most likely a Catholic man, especially considering his former life in Italy, and might have shared or used the opinions of the Church to get the idea across that Fortune was unpredictable and untrustworthy.
Others have also claimed that Fortune is unpredictable, such as the highly influential Renaissance writer Machiavelli. Machiavelli claimed that “fortune is the arbiter of half of the things we do, leaving the other half or so to be controlled by ourselves,” meaning that man was inneffective against fortune because it judges and determines without control or influence (The Prince). He makes the argument that you must always be ready for change, but to not depend on Fortune as she is a fickle being. Fate's decisions cannot be controlled and Machiavelli outright states this as a fact when he goes on to say that “men have no influence whatsoever… he should submit to the rulings of chance” (The Prince).
The symbolism of the wheel is also important, as the wheel rotates and changes. This is most likely intentional as the wheel seems rather random and fluid by nature, always changing where it lands.
Many versions of Tarot cards contain a Major Arcana card titled the Wheel of Fortune, pertaining to Dante's time period as the Deck has been traced back to the Italian Renaissance, among other places. The card has been interpreted to exhibit many of the same ideas that Dante represents with Dame Fortune.
The Wheel of Fortune when upright represents unexpected events and changes in a cycle that are usually well percieved or beneficial in the long run as the change envokes growth and wisdom. The reverse of this card represents a failure or particularly difficult change in a person's life. This complete reversal is used to depict the fickleness of Fortune as is the card's use of day and night.
Sophocles, unlike Dante, believes that Fate has the highest power above all else. He has shown in all of is works that prophocies will always come true despite the will of the character while Dante gives Fate little credit. Dante evidences some belief that Fate only has a partial role in the events, paying her little regard in relation to the Christian faith. Dante references God, Christ, and Beatrice, who sent Virgil to Dante and represents Divine Love, much more than he references the Dame. For instance, Dante remarks on Christ's descent into Hell shaking not only the Earth above, but all of Hell as well. This is developed in multiple Cantos, first expanded upon by Virgil in Limbo and reaccuring throughout.
You have some insightful ideas here Lindsey but you struggle to instill structure and cohesion. I would like to see clearer claims and transition between paragraphs and ideas. Also - this should be one prompt - not separated by questions. Your connections to The Prince are insightful - overall, look to organize more clearly in your next post.
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