Pride In Dante's Inferno

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Down to the penultimate Canto, Dante meets the second pair of sinners bound together: Ugolino and Ruggieri. Ugolino bites the skull of Ruggieri—the vengeance that he badly wanted on earth is given to him for eternity. This image of Ugolino and Ruggieri reminds us of the image of Paulo and Francesca as the only sinners in Hell that are bound together. The juxtaposition of Ugolino and Francesca ultimately demonstrates two facets of love: A fatherly love that was rejected because of pride and a passionate love that was pursued despite its unlawful nature. (Inf. XXXIII) When Dante and Virgil reach the last Canto of the Inferno, they are introduced to Dis, the ultimate embodiment of Pride. Moreover, the grotesque perversion of the Holy Trinity in this Canto is a symbol of isolation and the self as a well-defended prison. This is a reminder of how the most …show more content…

According to him, the stars may influence the desires of a man. Nevertheless, the will compels him to focus while the commanding self is mouldable. Libero Arbitrium, on the other hand, is the discerning will that contains Libero Voler. It means that man has to contend with his habitual self. Man can go against the stars if his will has been well-trained. This discussion on free will is important because it gives emphasis to the reality that man is not credited to his own instincts and that man’s action will always come from him because he is free to do so. Whereas Dante views free will as the freedom to make judgement that is supported by reason. (Purg. XVI). Furthermore, Virgil claims that love is the source of both good and evil deeds. (Purg XVII) This idea is reflected in the Inferno and Purgatorio: the violent sinners lack love, the prideful sinners who have too much of it for themselves, and the sinners of incontinence who are in hell because of having this kind of disordered love for good