Allusions In Dante's Inferno

Dante Alighieri was an Italian poet from Florence and was part of the White Guelphs. Alighieri openly opposed the Black Guelphs and observed that the usage of sins was becoming more common in Florence. As a result of Alighieri’s actions, he was exiled from Florence, which motivated him to write the epic poem, Inferno. In the epic poem Inferno, Dante Alighieri alludes to Judas as well as Greek mythology. He also uses visual imagery to describe the circles of Hell to correct the normalities of sin within Florence.

Dante Alighieri alludes to Medusa in canto IX and Judas Iscariot in canto XXXVI. Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil arrive at the Gate of Dis, the entrance of the Sixth Circle after they made their way through circle five. Three Furies, female

Or hide from Medusa, denying sin, like Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil, and allowing them to stay safe under God’s grace. Alighieri wants to demonstrate, through this allusion to a famous Greek figure, to correct the normalities of sin within Florence. Alighieri alludes to Judas during the 9th circle of Inferno. The 9th circle is the holder for traitors against God. The traitors are frozen in ice, differing in depth depending on the severity of their betrayal. In the center of the circle is Satan, each of Satan’s mouths holds the greatest sinners, in his left mouth holds Brutus and in the right Cassius, the murderers of Julius Caesar. In his front mouth resides the greatest of the three sinners, Julius Iscariot, the betrayer of Christ. When Dante the Pilgrim sees Judas, he illustrates that, “The forward sinner found that biting another/ when matched against the clawing, for at times/ his back was stripped completely of its hide./ ‘That soul up there who had to suffer most,’/ my master said: ‘Judas Iscariot--/ his head inside, he jerks his legs without…two others with their heads beneath” (Alighieri XXXIV.58-64). Judas Iscariot is one of the twelve apostles, appointed by Christ. Judas, however, was notorious for

Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil are in the Ninth Pouch of the Eighth Circle, where the sinners in life promoted scandals and schism. Their punishment is a perpetual cycle of being sliced in half, then healing, then immediately sliced again by a demon with a sword. Dante the Pilgrim is distraught by the sight of such gore, and says, “No barrel, even though it’s lost a hoop/or end-piece, ever gapes as one whom I/ saw ripped right from his chin to where we fart:/ his bowels hung between his legs, one saw/ his vitals and the miserable sack” (Alighieri XXVIII.22-26). Alighieri uses visual imagery to illustrate how demons feel no remorse for sinners. Demons are the cause for immense pain and suffering the sinners feel constantly, letting them heal from their wounds, just to be sliced in half again. Dante the Pilgrim is distraught by the sight of this pouch, even for someone who is desensitized to Hell’s punishments. The sinners in this section are sliced in half because, during their life, they sinned by promoting schism. Alighieri demonstrates, through this example of visual imagery, to warn Florentines that if they keep sin as an integrated part of their society, then Florentines will be punished in Hell. Dante Alighieri uses visual imagery when he illustrates Dante the Pilgrim