Why Did Dante Choose Virgil?

When starting to read Dante’s Inferno a person is often confronted by a very distinctive kind of writing style. This writing style is distinctive of the time in which the Inferno was written estimated to be around 1314 to 1317 and of Dante himself. Dante’s writing style often takes on a longing aspect especially in his interactions with Virgil. This can lead to questions such as why did Dante compose those lines in a passage of the text that way, or why he choose a certain character. The question, why did Dante choose Virgil as his guide, is one of these questions.
In the first Canto, Dante meets the three beast of hell and Virgil (Alighieri 392-394). When he realized whom Virgil is he cries forth, “O light and honor of other poets, / may

Russo provides an in depth analysis of the relationship between Dante and Virgil. .Russo's article also touches on historical, religious, and cultural aspects of this relationship. By including both aspects, Russo is able to show a point of view not given while reading the actual text of the Inferno. This makes her article a tremendous resource for those first time readers searching for further explanation of Dante’s Inferno. Russo starts by explaining why Dante sought Virgil's help with the three beasts of hell, by stating in her article that "Dante saw Vergil as an emblem of human philosophy and reason" (Russo 59). This explains much about Dante asking Vergil for help with the three beasts of hell. In Dante's eyes, Virgil would be able to help him get away from the beasts and perhaps explain how he came to be in his current predicament. This is ultimately what happens after Dante reaches out to him for help; however, it is likely not what Dante was hoping for. Russo also explains other aspects of their relationship with descriptions of Dante’s view of

Throughout society, both children and adult look for guidance in people who have been in their situation or have done something that they inspire to do. Dante’s journey through hell with Virgil is a great example of this. Today this is seen in authors who take inspiration from the works of others such as Maya Angelou, Ernest Hemingway, and George Orwell. However, today’s authors do not take the same approach as Dante to show their appreciation for those who came before them. Today’s authors opt to include the inspiration that come from other authors into the bibliography, forward, or the dedication written for their work instead of working them into the story itself. This sets Dante apart from other authors, both past and present, in this aspect. He was able to work his inspiration, Virgil, into the story line making it a cohesive and important part of this literary work. Sometimes though there can be other aspects to someone’s