Final answer:
Virgil, as Dante's guide in the Divine Comedy's Purgatorio, meets his fate at the Earthly Paradise where he cannot proceed further and is replaced by Beatrice, indicating a thematic transition from human reason to divine revelation.
Step-by-step explanation:
At the conclusion of Purgatorio, the second cantica of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, Virgil, who acts as Dante's guide through Hell and Purgatory, meets his end as a guide when they reach the Earthly Paradise at the summit of Mount Purgatory. Here, Virgil's role is completed as he is not permitted to enter Heaven due to his status as a virtuous pagan. Dante is then entrusted to Beatrice, who takes over as Dante's guide for the remainder of the journey into Paradise. This transition marks a significant moment in the narrative, symbolizing the shift from human reason, represented by Virgil, to divine revelation, symbolized by Beatrice.
The underlying themes of Virgil's Elysium and the tripartite structure of the underworld borrow from the Greek mythology and Orphic traditions, with Virgil's interpretation adding a moral dimension to how the dead are segregated and purified. This context also enriches our understanding of Virgil's fate in Dante's work.