In Dante’s Hell, each sin has a corresponding punishment. As Dante travels through the varying circles, he is oblivious in realizing his own sin and cannot understand the purpose of the journey as a whole. Although it takes him awhile, Dante’s journey to spiritual balance is vital in order for him to discover himself, without the plague of sin and misfortune getting in his way.
Dante realizes the gravity of his own reality just as he is beginning his journey. He addresses humanity by explaining his realization of becoming lost. “Midway in our life’s journey, I went astray from the straight road and woke to find myself alone in a dark wood”(Canto 1.4). Juxtaposed with the “dark wood” of error, the statement is a call for humanity to realize their own false realities and join him along the right path. Dante finally understood his error when the association of dark evil took place. It is this
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He will not have anybody to base his judgement off of; he will have to face the journey through his perception of Hell, and the pity of the sinners he encounters. Virgil guides Dante through the different circles of Hell in hopes of teaching him the sins that lead people off the right path. After Virgil describes the vision of finding spiritual purity, Dante says, “How, then, may I presume to this high quest and not fear my own brashness?”(Canto 2.34). It is through the vision of worthiness that Dante cannot see himself succeed. He fears that his arrogance will protrude the meaning of the journey and what he will gain from it. Here, it is Virgil’s responsibility to help Dante see reason through all the pain Hell presents. It is only through human reason in which Dante can see the error of his ways, and it is represented through the Virgil’s teachings. Although Virgil is sent to assist Dante to understand his sins, it ultimately comes down to Dante and whether chooses to change his