The Gates of Hell of Dante Alighieri’s The Inferno say: “Abandon all Hope ye Who Enter Here”. Dante awakens on the bottom of the hill and discovers that in order to get to Paradise he needs descend through Hell. Dante is guided by Virgil after Dante has failed to climb up the hill. As the two begin their journey through Hell, it becomes clear that Dante alone is still alive. In spite of this, they continue to travel through the Inferno and give the reader an in-depth tour of Dante’s design for Hell. Virgil introduces Dante’s to the sinners of each level as they journey through Hell. Readers will experience Dante’s emotional highs and lows as he empathizes and becomes indifferent to the suffering of the sinners. The Inferno, the most famous part of The Divine Comedy has been a favorite for more than six centuries. The poem contains references to religion, politics, and the spiritual world. It is an allegory that takes place in a literary universe and has multiple layers.
Inferno makes many references both to literary and historical figures. Dante, the protagonist, is more than just the poet or narrator. Dante also represents mankind. Dante as a writer and Dante as a character can be difficult to differentiate at times. Dante as a writer chooses how to punish sinners while the character has empathy for them. The story is viewed in a different way and allows for deeper thinking. Virgil is also a man of many identities. He is Dante’s Guide, and also the Roman Author of Aeneid. Virgil has also experienced Hell firsthand because he lives in Limbo for eternity, which is where all pagans live. In addition to being able to convince and reason, Virgil is a good guide to Hell. The Inferno contains many characters who appear in Virgil’s work. Dante introduces Dido to Dante in the first Hell. Dido committed suicide for love. She is carried by the winds of hell to symbolize her life-long passions. Dante’s work features many other literary and mythological characters. This work is primarily Christian, but also contains many Greek and Roman references. Dante begins the journey of his Hell-bound adventure on Good Friday afternoon. He does encounter many non-Christian figures from mythology and literature. Charon is a ferryman. Minos is a judge of sins that assigns Hell level. These two characters are based on Greek mythology. This includes ancient literary figures including Virgil and Ulysses. Dante introduces characters like these to show his admiration for their literary talent. Dante uses mythological characters as well as pagan ones, such the rivers Styx & Acheron. These non-Christian allusions enhance the story and allow it to be understood by a larger audience. Dante believed that everyone should be able to take part in his journey.
Each soul in hell will be punished for their sins against God, as Dido was for abandoning reason to follow her passion. Dido has a relatively minor sin, which is why she’s not punished harshly. Dido should probably have been placed in the seven circle, which contains people who killed themselves and are made into trees with a limited ability to speak. In the seventh circle, flatterers spend their eternity submerged in excrement. Traitors are punished by Lucifer with his head constantly chewed. The severity of the sin and its extent are reflected in the punishment. God’s justice is evident in the punishment he administers. Dante’s respect for God can be seen in his balance of punishment and sin. The Inferno’s structure, rhyme scheme, and organization are all perfectly balanced.
Dante contains a wide range of religious and political symbols. These symbols are used in his structure and even the organization of his poetry. Each book has 100 chapters. The cantos stand for the Trinity. Each set of cantos contains thirty-three, and an extra chapter represents the Holy One. The rhyme scheme in the poem also makes a reference religiously, as it is made up of tercets. This poem is a reflection of the political turmoil that was raging in Florence at the time. Every sixth and 16th canto contains a political undertone. These cantos are usually Dante’s opinions or assumptions about his political adversaries. Dante intended for his literary work to be a mixture of religion and politics. This adds a new layer to an already complex poem. The poem is transformed from an entertaining tale to one that expresses religious values and political unrest. Dante’s religious and political life is portrayed through symbols.
The Inferno represents the zeitgeist in medieval Florence. Marriam Webster defines the zeitgeist of a time as “the overall intellectual, cultural, and moral climate”. Dante accurately portrays each of these values. The Inferno addresses these ideals accurately in ancient Italy. They are still true today. The poem’s popularity has remained high for centuries. The Inferno has been referred to countless times because of its popularity. There are many movies, songs, and videogames that portray Dante personifying Hell. Dante is also an influence on many other writers. John Milton, T.S. Elliot often quotes The Inferno from his works. Inferno is the New York Times Bestseller that shows Dante’s impact on modern society. Brown’s novel uses Dante’s images, quotes, and allusions in order to create a thrilling story set in Florence. Dante’s complex work of literature captures the human spirit so well that it has been admired by people all over. The Inferno is Dante Alighieri’s masterpiece. It was difficult to overcome the cultural and age gaps in our society because of its impermanence.
