Analysis of Dantes Inferno Part of a Trilogy Known as The Divine Comedy - Book Report/Review Example

Submitted: Dante’s Inferno Dante’s Inferno is the first part of a trilogy known as ‘The Divine Comedy’ written by Italian writer and political activist Dante Alighieri in the 1300’s. It was completed after the author’s exile from Florence and depicts the story of an allegorical journey through hell, separated into several ‘canto’s’. The work was hugely influenced by and very much the result of the political and social unrest of the city of Florence after the events late 13th century. It has many salient cultural, political and theological elements which are a direct reflection of western European culture at the time. It is also considered to be one of the greatest medieval poetic works written in the vernacular and so stands as a landmark in the development of the English language and its literature, and displays a huge amount of literary devices and various expressions of personal values (Payton 5). However, its allusions to Florentine society in the 1300’s is perhaps its greatest achievement as it recounts both a realistic and individual interpretation of the cultural state of the city at the time. One of the most prolific themes of the work is the political arguments and commentary that it makes. The author had just been exiled from Florence and ultimately condemns several political figures with whom he disagreed with, to hell, scattering them around the landscape of the poem. Setting the poem some time before the events of the time, he also ‘predicted’ political changes of the future by issuing them as voices of damned souls with great emphasis on the negativity and turmoil that had already materialised in reality. Dante also used the poem to express his own personal political beliefs, namely that the church and state should be separate but entirely equal powers, each holding reign over humankinds faith and physical being respectively. He expresses this belief even in the imagery conveyed in the poem and famously in the final image in particular as Lucifer attempts to eat both a political and religious figure. Dante goes on to elaborate on this particular belief even further by rendering extremely harsh punishments to those guilty of abusing positions of power and for agreeing with the amalgamation of the institutions of church and state. The theological premises of the poem fundamentally combine with the political and cultural themes as they were intertwined within the Florentine society of the time. Dante strongly asserted that church and state be separate but nonetheless acknowledged the importance and disparate roles of both. Using the theological concept of hell as the backdrop to the tale, Dante depicts it as nine circles of suffering situated on earth. It is representative of the transition of the soul towards God or heaven, and the protagonist is the author himself who at the age of 35 is half-way through his life’s journey. Very much an allegory, the inferno in question manifests the soul of the Christian viewing sin for what it truly is, very much reflecting the personal beliefs and values of the author. From very early on, the daunting prospect of entering hell is presented as he stands at the gates, “through me you enter into the city of woes Through me you enter into eternal pain Through me you enter the population of loss ... Abandon all hope, you who enter here” (Alighieri, canto 3: 1-7). Dantes’ Inferno tells us much about western European culture after 1300 as it directly alludes to the political and religious unrest and turmoil that existed at this time. It highlights the anger of those who opposed the treachery of the church and the fact that so many respected political and religious figures were taking bribes and abusing their positions of power in favour of money, wealth and other material possessions that de-valued the fundamentals of true Christian faith (Kreis para. 35). Depicting such a political problem within a highly theological premise highlights the fact that during the 1200’s medieval period, there was much confusion and treachery between the two institutions of power and populations were divided upon the consequences of this. European culture was very vehemently focused upon religious ideas at the time and this directly affected all other aspects of life, as conveyed in the poem. Upon reading and analyzing the poem, it is very clear what values Dante held in high regard, and those traits or behaviours he strongly disagreed with. Most clearly, the author held religious piety and true faith as the utmost characteristic that a human can have. Purity from sin is very important to the author, as he condemns sinners to hell and torture such as those who have committed murders, engaged in thievery and even those identified to be gluttonous. Even popes are amoung the so-called sinners, so it is made extremely clear that the author values purity and true faith regardless of an individual’s power or position, above all else. He articulates and conveys such beliefs and values through several literary and poetic devices including imagery, language, narrative development and plot structure while also making reference to biblical and theological premises, symbols and themes. He offers short and evocative descriptions which to an extent, really tell the story for the reader, without the need for embellished language or authoritative sentiments (Johnston para 15). Dante’s Inferno remains a highly definitive and regarded piece of medieval poetry which was accessible to lower class readers at the time. In telling the allegorical story of the author’s journey through hell, meeting political and religious figures of the time being condemned and tortured, and going through a wildly rich and evocative trek full of theological symbolism and allusions; the author effectively conveys not only his own personal beliefs upon the way in which society should function, but he also portrays an interesting account of the state of western European culture around the 1300’s, a time which suffered the after-effects of decades of political and religious upheaval. Of the many literary devices used by the author, imagery is perhaps the most effective in conveying his beliefs and values as he describes those opposed to his belief system as being condemned and tortured to remain in eternal damnation without ever being free from sin. The author determines that purity from sin is the only way to God and that the unification of the church and state is a sinful and disastrous concept which would severely affect the state of the society at the time. Works Cited Alighieri, D. The Divine Comedy. London: Indo-European Publishing, 2010. Print. Johnston, I. “Lecture on Dante’s Inferno”. Vancouver Island University, 1997. Web. 2 June 2012. Kreis, S. “The Medieval World View”. The History Guide, 2000. Web. 2 June 2012. Payton, R.J. A Modern Readers Guide to Dante’s Inferno. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 1992. Print. Read More