Theme Of Punishment In Dantes Inferno - 925 Words

In many classic works of literature, heroes venture to the depths of hell. Hell is a place found in literature of all kinds. Why is hell such a common theme found in several literary works? A majority of people believe that there is some kind of hell, and that hell is a form of punishment for things done on Earth after death. Dante Alighieri of Florence in the 1300s created modern society’s viewpoint on hell. He wrote his Divine Comedy, which consisted of Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. In The Inferno, Dante discusses Dante the Pilgrim’s journey through the Underworld in order to reach Heaven. A leopard, lion, and she-wolf block Dante’s way to Heaven, so he follows the poet Virgil through hell in order to reach Heaven. Deborah Parker†¦show more content†¦The lustful are found towards the top of Dante’s funnel-like hell, meaning this sin is not as bad as the heretics or murderers. Dante did not consider this a horrible sin because everyone lusts , but the ones that followed their desire were trapped here in the second circle of hell. The seducers in Dante’s Inferno are found in the first Bolgia of the eighth circle of hell. There are only nine circles in Dante’s Inferno, so the shades found in circle eight have committed great sins. The eighth circle is divided into ten bolgia, or ditches. The seducers and panderers are found in the first ditch, above the hypocrites, thieves, etc. Dante describes their punishment by stating, â€Å"I saw horned demons with enormous lashes move through those souls, scourging them on the back,†(159). These shades must run from side to side, all-the-while trying to escape the horned demons that whip them. The souls found in this ditch traded women for their own betterment, so in essence, in death, the panderers are slaves. This punishment is found in Canto 18. Scholar Barolini mentions, â€Å"Inferno 18 is unusually crowded and depicts three groups of sinners, who are divi ded into two bolge. The first bolgia contains two related groups of sinners, both engaged in sexualized sin involving the traffic of women: the pimps and the seducers.†(Barolini). These people sold women and children into slavery, so in eternity, the panderers and seducers will be treated like slaves. One of the worst punishmentsShow MoreRelatedDantes Voyage Through Hell1490 Words   |  6 PagesThe Inferno was written by Dante Alighieri around 1314 and depicts the poet’s imaginary journey through Hell. Dante spent his life traveling from court to court both lecturing and writing down his experiences. His Divine Comedy – the three-part epic poem consisting of Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso (Hell, Purgatory and Heaven)– is generally regarded as one of the greatest poetic feats ever accomplished. 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