Literary Analysis Dantes Inferno Essay - 837 Words

Dante’s work Inferno is a vivid walkthrough the depths of hell and invokes much imagery, contemplation and feeling. Dante’s work beautifully constructs a full sensory depiction of hell and the souls he encounters along the journey. In many instances within the work the reader arrives at a crossroads for interpretation and discussion. Canto XI offers one such crux in which Dante asks the question of why there is a separation between the upper levels of hell and the lower levels of hell. By discussing the text, examining its implications and interpretations, conclusions can be drawn about why there is delineation between the upper and lower levels and the rationale behind the separation. Canto XI serves the purpose in a twofold way;†¦show more content†¦These questions rouse the idea of a divine and perfect punishment by the ultimate judge God, and implications of possible imperfections of God’s judgment. Also the way in which the question is answered poses another question, why is Aristotle, a human, and a Pre-Christian is thinker is used to explain God’s divine and perfect judgment? The text answers the question in a direct way using the works of Aristotle, â€Å"How his Ethics describes, and deals with at length, the three dispositions rejected by Heaven, Incontinence, malice, and bestial rage and how one of these offends God less and so incurs less blame?† (Canto XI 80-83). At this explanation a reader could draw the conclusion that God’s judgment is merciful and perfect. The question though still remains, if those of previous levels offend God less why do they still incur such a horrible punishment? This question leaves implications that God’s punishment might not be perfect and just. In previous cantos Dante seems to have developed some pity for those shades he has met in previous circles, such as Ciacco, and Francesca. He sympathizes with those damned almost as if he is realizing his own sins of his world. The implications of an imperfect and unjust God can ripple right to the very core of our own existence. If god is not perfect thenShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Dante Alighieri s Inferno 1556 Words   |  7 PagesThe title of the reading that I chose to do a literary analysis on is Inferno by Dante Alighieri. What was this book about and what message does this particular ancient poem aim to explain? This epic poem was written in the fourteenth century and there were a lot of commentary involved in the story itself. Dante’s Inferno is widely seen as one of the greatest epics to ever grace textbooks. The text itself throughout this story speaks much to the concept of life and death and what the afterlife isRead MoreHow Dante Achieves a Synthesis Between Narrative and Cultural Elements in His Writing1565 Words   |  6 PagesChristian audience. 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