ipl-logo

Human Nature In Dante's Inferno

564 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Understanding concept of human nature in literature

In the epic poem, Dante’s Inferno by Dante Alighieri, human nature is an unexplored concept. Several characters Dante interacts with show feelings such as shame and remorse; however, one thing almost all of the characters in Hell have in common is that they are all concerned with their reputation in the world of the living. These characters suffer eternal punishment in Hell, yet they are concerned with how they are perceived on Earth. The fact of the matter is that humans take life for granted, they care what others think, and they are selfish. Through this exploration, interactions with the three noble Florentines, Bocca Degli Abati, and some Tuscan leaders support how reputation is an overlooked ingredient in human nature. Regret is a timeless entity seen throughout this epic poem. It is an emotion portrayed by most, if not all, of the sinners down in Hell. When Dante appears to them, it is as if they are staring their savior in the eyes. In one of Dante’s interactions, the three noble Florentines are quick to plead, “Please, speak about us to the living” (XVI. 85). It is obvious that these nobles did not take advantage of the time given to them on Earth; thus, expressing their desperation for a good reputation to Dante. …show more content…

Dante most likely knows this because he uses the idea of fame in the world of the living to bribe souls into talking to him. As seen towards the end of the epic poem, Dante attempts to persuade Bocca in understanding who he is by promising him, “If you should look for fame:/ I’ll make note of you…” (XXXII. 92-93). Dante is using his previous experience with other souls in Hell concerning their asking of him to help their reputation on Earth to draw out more information from another

Show More
Related
1139 Words | 5 Pages

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

Read More
272 Words | 2 Pages

In Dante’s Inferno, the ideas of justice, good and evil, and suffering in hell are implied. The idea of suffering in hell and the idea of justice are closely related. Dante indicates that those suffering in hell have committed crimes that are being punished in a reasonable way and that we should not have pity for them. He uses the setting and his organization of hell to transmit these ideas and his philosophy regarding these ideas. The organization of hell helps us understand that Dante believed it was a person’s poor decisions and not cruel fate that got a person in hell.

Read More
1247 Words | 5 Pages

Dante’s Inferno is an epic poem by Durante “Dante” degli Alighieri, written in the 1300s. He wrote a trilogy, known as the Divine Comedy, consisting of Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise. Dante was inspired by many events and issues happening at that time, such as the war between Guelphs and Ghibellines, the Battle of Montaperti, and Christian religious beliefs. In this paper, I will explore the first book, Inferno, on the topic of Hell and how the sinners had a significant impact on Dante’s journey through Hell. In Circle 5: Styx, Canto VIII, Filippo Argenti, a sinner of Wrathful, helped Dante to symbolize to readers his anger towards Black Guelphs, political enemies of the White Guelphs.

Read More
665 Words | 3 Pages

1. In the epic poetry, The Inferno of Dante translation by Robert Pinsky (1320), Dante Alighieri implies that whatever punishment the sinners get it is well deserved due to the actions and decisions they made in the mortal world that got them a place in Hell. Alighieri supports this claim by introducing the backstories and the sins that the sinners committed to compare it to the punishment they receive in Hell to show how they are related to each other. The author purposely emphasizes the sinner’s sins in order to show how their punishment is based off those sins and that the sinners are not just getting random punishments but actual well-deserved ones instead.

Read More
856 Words | 4 Pages

Dante is terrified after hearing these instructions, “As we approach him, thus his words struck home; And it was so with me when this I heard. Even as with one who’s carried to the tomb” (Purgatorio, XXVII. 9-15). Virgil encourages Dante saying, “My son, though here there may be torment, death there cannot be” (Purgatorio, XXVII. 19-21).

Read More
190 Words | 1 Pages

The Divine Comedy's Inferno presents a profound theme of divine justice and its impact on the souls condemned to Hell. This theme is developed through two specific examples that vividly portray the consequences of sinful actions. Firstly, the character of Francesca da Rimini serves as an embodiment of the consequences of lust. As she laments her fate to Dante, she reveals, "Love, which permits no one to be loved in return, took hold of me so strongly with delight in him that, as you see, it has not left me yet" (Canto V, lines 100-103).

Read More
950 Words | 4 Pages

Dante's behavior should not be incredibly bizarre to us, however. People can often read about mass shootings and terrorist attacks, and rightfully describe them as awful and terrible; yet, they cannot grasp the truest extent of the suffering in these tragedies until they experience them firsthand. When Dante witnesses what awaits the Prideful not just in Hell, but even in Purgatory, he appears to comprehend how vital repentance

Read More
982 Words | 4 Pages

5.141). This reaction seems misplaced since Dante is talking to two people who committed a deadly sin; however, this reaction conveys that Dante believes that love itself is a valuable virtue, but the reader must be aware that adulterous love is not virtuous. The position that Dante the Poet establishes is that the souls in Hell are there not only because they committed sins, but because they corrupted pure virtues to work in their favor. In Purgatory, Dante encounters lust and love again, but the souls have a love for God in addition to the perverted love they had in their life. Virgil presents to Dante that there is a love that is naturally within everyone and that the “natural is always without error /

Read More
789 Words | 4 Pages

This pope is not physically in Dante’s Hell, because he was not yet dead at the time he was writing the poem. However, to Dante, Pope Boniface VIII was one of the most corrupt and fraudulent because he led a false perception of wanting to make peace. This false perception undermines the church and all of its followers, causing him to eventually join Pope Nicholas III in his misery, following the theme of how the abuse of power, particularly in the church and politics, is despicable towards

Read More
463 Words | 2 Pages

These condemned lustful souls suffer there judgment by spending eternity in a whirlwind (110-111). One of the souls catches Dante’s attention so he speaks with her, readers learn a few things about the nature of lust, sin, the need to repent, and eternal judgment. First, lust and deception are close companions, when Francesca explains her story she refuses to take responsibility for her actions, “ One day we read…of Lancelot, of how he fell in love…”(113). Secondly, Francesca’s spiritual blindness prevents her from repenting, therefore, she must spend eternity in hell for her sins forever attached to her lover as a constant reminder of the moment they were exposed and killed for their lustful passion(119). After hearing her story and seeing her torment, Dante becomes overwhelmed to the point of fainting.

Read More
1633 Words | 7 Pages

“Durante Degli Aligheries Inferno {Part of the Divine comedy} is widely regarded as the greatest poem in modern european language, its allegorical comparisons, metaphors and satirical critisism of italy in the 15th century all contribute to its level of prestige. However, what influenced Dante Aligherie to create such a masterpiece? By looking at Dante Aligheries participation in Florentine Politics and comparing it to the extensive amount of political references used in Dantes Inferno it is clear that Politics played a vital role in creating Dantes depiction of Hell. Furthermore, by examining the importance of religion in medieval Italy and Dantes connection to the church, one can easily see that Dante heavily uses religious references to the pope of the church. Finally, this essay will investigate how Dantes connection to Florentine art influenced the poems content.

Read More
1874 Words | 8 Pages

But, as the poem continues to progress, it becomes quite clear the there is a perfect balance within God’s justice as the degree of each sinner’s punishment perfectly reflects upon the gravity of the sin. Furthermore, the inscription on the gates of Hell explicitly states that Hell exists as a result of divine justice; “ll. “ Justice moved my great maker; God eternal / Wrought me: the power and the unsearchably / High wisdom, and the primal love supernal (III.4-6).” Prior to delving into the structure of Hell and how it displays God’s divine justice, one must first familiarize themselves with both the historical context of Dante’s life, along with the beliefs of the medieval church.

Read More
667 Words | 3 Pages

In Dante’s Inferno, he writes about his journey through hell for the purpose of recognizing his sins. He goes through this journey with Virgil, a voice of reason for Dante. Dante meets people through his journey of the many circles in the Inferno that lead him down into the center of hell, where Satan is. Satan is seen as being monster-like with three heads, representing a mocking of the Trinity and blowing his wings around the cocytus river. The final thing seen here is the fact that Dante’s description of Satan is a bit disappointing compared to the other descriptions he has written about the inferno.

Read More
1080 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout ‘Inferno’, sins and their punishments are structured from the least morally corrupt and

Read More
456 Words | 2 Pages

For Dante, the punishment was fitting for both sinners because the sullen spent their lives moping and pitying themselves, when they had a promising life while the wrathful were reenacting their rage that they expressed throughout their time. There is a balance between the sin committed in Earth and the punishment received in hell. At the beginning of the poem and through the circles, Dante was a little sympathetic but after traveling to the fifth circle and encountered Philippo Argenti his feelings change. Argenti a former member of the Black Guelf was rival of Dante who was a member of the White Guelfs. When Dante was force to exile Florence, Argenti’s brother took all his property.

Read More

More about Human Nature In Dante's Inferno

Open Document