Cruxes Identified in Dantes Inferno - Essay Example

Cruxes are ambiguities in a text that needs to be interpreted by the reader. Dante’s Inferno is full of allegory; there are several passages in his work that can be interpreted in several ways. Some of the passages that have veiled meanings or have elaborate meanings are a. "That through the impious circles turnest me, according to thy pleasure, speak to me and satisfy my desires. The folk that is lying in the sepulchers, can they be seen?” (Canto X).b. The old man in the seventh circle of hell “looks at Rome as if his mirror. His head is formed of fine gold, and pure silver is his arms and breast; then he is of brass far as to the fork. From there downward he is all of the chosen iron, save that his right foot is of baked clay, and he stands erect on that more than on the other” (Canto XIV 32).c. The interesting mention of Beatrice seems to be out of context because she was only mentioned and not explained and this begs the question of who is Beatrice, particularly in the passage “The prophecy by Ciacco of the fall of Dantes party, Canto vi.

, and that by Aminata of Dantes exile, Canto x., which Virgil had told should be made clear to him by Beatrice” (Canto XV). These cruxes identified in Dante’s Inferno cannot be interpreted literally by relying merely on Dante’s text of the Inferno. The reader has to take account of Dante’s other works and inclinations to understand the identified texts. For example, in the first crux which was in the introduction part of Canto X in the sixth circle of hell of Dante’s Inferno, what Dante meant in this passage is his amusement and curiosity if any of his friends from Florence are in hell.

He was tempted to ask one of the sufferers but did not get satisfaction with the reply. About the old man in Canto XIV, this passage is reminiscent of Dante’s aptitude in classical texts such as the text of Ovid’s Metamorphoses where the metal composition of the head of the old man is made up of the four ages of history: gold, silver, brass, and iron, which is typical of its civilization’s rise and decline. The old man looks at Rome because his feature is characteristic of Rome’s strength and weakness.

Its strength is in the right foot made of chosen iron indicating strength in the leadership of the empire. On the left is its weakness as it is made of clay, implying declining influence and the corruption of the church. The third passage in Canto XV which mentioned Beatrice could never be understood or explained by just relying on the texts of Inferno. The reader has to refer to Dante’s circumstances and other works to understand the significance of Beatrice. Beatrice was, in fact, Dante’s love interest whom he would or could never get over because she died young at the age of 24 before his love for her could be consummated.