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Dante's Inferno Before Referencing
Dante's conception of his poetic identity in "The Inferno"
On the surface, it may seem as if Dante of "The Inferno," conceives of himself as a naive man. In the middle of his life, he is found in a dark wood, wandering, symbolizing his uncertain sense of poetic and personal mission. He is confronted by a poetic guide who will lead him through the underworld and teach him about the nature of sin: "For the straightforward pathway had been lost" (I.3). But the fact that the greatest of classical poets, Virgil, comes to greet Dante in his lost and fallen state is itself an indication of Dante's high esteem of himself as a poet. Dante characterizes himself as a great poet in progress, not simply a naive pilgrim. After all, Dante is important enough that the great Latin author will tend to his spiritual needs, and ensure that he does not go astray.
In the "Inferno," Dante sees people from classical mythology and contemporary history. He is shown these individuals by Virgil as a teaching device, about the way that sins are punished -- through contrapasso, a...
Lovers who sinned in life are forever fused in the underworld, unable to see God, and instead can only see one another for all eternity. One of these condemned lovers, named Francesca says: "There is no greater sorrow / Than to be mindful of the happy time / In misery, and that thy Teacher knows (V.121-123). The presence of her lover Paolo reminds her of earthly, sensual joy, but in hell the lovers can never recreate the brief period of joy, for which they risked and sacrificed their immortal souls.
Dante the character's sympathetic attitude towards these lovers is meant by Dante the poet to show his need of instruction and his own fallen state. It shows that God sees Dante as worthy enough to be instructed and that Dante's soul can be changed, as is evidenced by the negative portrayal of sinners in the poem. In the poem, God wants to lead him as a great poet to a more meaningful understanding of humanity and his place in life. By viewing the error of Francesca and Paolo, Dante can get a better understanding of the role his muse, Beatrice should play in his life…
Works Cited
Alighieri, Dante. "The Divine Comedy." Research Edition of the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. 27 full editions of the Divine Comedy online presented by ELF http://www.divinecomedy.org/divine_comedy.html
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