Examples Of Light And Dark In The Inferno

The Strive for Perfection
Light and dark: a common perception of good and evil, is seen throughout Dante’s depiction of Hell through his masterpiece, The Inferno, as he describes a personal experience through the Land of Sinners. One can see throughout his novel, he writes as if there is a supernatural desire to reach the “light” again, and this need to be in the goodness of God, the light, allows for the reader to connect: as this gives the character Dante more relatable human problems and describes the common goal of all humans- to strive for perfection. Dante’s mission to reach the light describes the human desire for perfection as his need to achieve the faultless and complete Road of Heaven mirrors that of all humans’ need to be perceived

. A prime example can be seen through the first lines of the play as Dante describes his immediate downfall into the realm of darkness, the quote reads, “Midway in our life’s journey, I went astray from the straight road and woke to find myself alone in a dark wood”(Ciardi I:1-3). Dante uses this metaphorical road to depict perfection through life without sin; when he strays from the sinless course he is implying a need to return to that path as he desires that perceived life. t Another example of Dante’s use of the common message of endurance of the dark to reach the light can be described through the end of the novel where Dante finally reaches the light, as described, “We climbed the dark until we reached the point where a round opening brought in sight the blest and beauteous shining of the Heavenly cars. And we walked out once more beneath the Stars” (Ciardi XXXIV:140-143). The ending of the story shines light on Dante, the character’s, relief when he has finally passed into the good light from the endless land of torture. There is a metaphorical breath that the reader can sense where Dante has finally understood his faults and recognizes his own true path to perfection - through God. Thus, one can see that Dante’s use of light and dark as an element of desire is shown directly through his first experience with the darkness, as the light withdraws from him, and the last where he finally reaches that