Inferno (Dante)

Inferno

Gustave Dore Inferno1

Gustave Doré - Dante Alighieri - Inferno - Plate 9 (Canto III - Charon)

Sandro Botticelli - La Carte de l'Enfer

Harrowhell

Inferno is the first part of Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem Divine Comedy. It is followed by Purgatorio and Paradiso. The Inferno tells the journey of Dante through Hell, guided by the ancient Roman poet Virgil. In the poem, Hell is depicted as nine circles of suffering located within the Earth. It is an allegory telling of the journey of the soul towards God, with the Inferno describing the recognition and rejection of sin.

Structure

The poem is divided into 34 cantos, with the first canto serving as an introduction to the poem as a whole. The Inferno is structured around the nine circles of Hell, each of which houses sinners of increasing wickedness, culminating in the treacherous betrayers whom Dante finds in the lowest circle, frozen in a lake of ice. The sinners are punished in a fashion fitting their crimes: each punishment is a contrapasso, a symbolic instance of poetic justice. For example, fortune-tellers must walk with their heads on backwards, unable to see what is ahead, because they attempted to see the future through forbidden means.

Themes

The major themes of the Inferno include the justice of God, the nature of sin, and the mercy of divine love. Dante's journey through the dark terror of Hell is meant not just as a punishment, but as a necessary passage towards enlightenment, allowing him to recognize and repent his own sins, and to understand the necessity of living a moral life in order to achieve salvation.

Characters

Dante encounters numerous souls throughout Hell, each representing different sins and their respective punishments. Notable characters include Paolo and Francesca, who are damned for their adulterous love; Count Ugolino, who is punished for treachery against his city; and Lucifer, the fallen angel who resides at the center of Hell, eternally devouring the greatest traitors.

Literary Significance and Reception

Inferno has had a profound impact on Western literature and is considered one of the greatest works of world literature. Its vivid imagery, imaginative depiction of punishment, and exploration of the complexities of moral philosophy have inspired countless artists, writers, and thinkers. The work has been translated into numerous languages and has influenced not only literature but also visual arts, music, and popular culture.

See Also

• Divine Comedy
• Purgatorio
• Paradiso
• Dante Alighieri
• Virgil