Comparing Dante's Juxtaposition Between Himself And Pier Della Vigna

As Dante the pilgrim continues through the circles of hell, Dante presents readers with a powerful juxtaposition between himself and Pier della Vigna, a pitiable soul condemned to the second tier of hell for committing suicide. Both men come from strikingly similar histories, but when further examined, the roads they took explain their difference. Depicted as an upstanding man of high honor, della Vigna is shown as a character that is nearly impossible not to feel sympathy for. Punished for rebelling against God’s planned time for him, della Vigna and the rest of the sinners in circle 7 will remain eternally in the non-human plant forms forced upon them, never to reclaim their human flesh for the rest of eternity. della Vigna embodies a powerful representation of the road in which

Being the pilgrim, Dante still has not come to grips with reasoning of placing this poor soul in the seventh circle of hell, however questioning whether the punishment is just or not, in itself would be a mortal sin. Dante sympathizes with della Vinge, most likely because they have so much in common, and becomes divided in understanding that della Vigna committed a mortal sin against God and himself. However, Dante in his journey through Hell, recognizes the interview with della Vigna a learning opportunity and asks his virtuous teacher ask the questions, “Do you continue; as of him/ whatever you believe I should request;/I cannot, so much pity takes my heart.” This interview in some ways showcases Dante’s journey from pilgrim to poet. While Dante may not understand the logic behind the characters placed in the different levels of Hell and may still sympathize with the immensely, at this point readers are provided with an opportunity to see that Dante the pilgrim still understands that the characters still committed a sin unto God and must be punished all the