Virgil in Dantes Inferno - Book Report/Review Example

During Dante Alighieri's time, Virgil was considered as the greatest Roman poet due to his conception and composition of the Aeneid. Like many classical and mythological synthesis, Dante's inclusion of Virgil are seen by critics to signify his adoration of the Roman poet but critics suggest that Dante may have been trying to identify himself as capable enough to depict and subsume Virgil entirely. An analysis of the story would indicate that Dante was more like showing reverence for Virgil's ingenuity for he endows the character with a wise and guiding disposition.

The first impression that any reader would have regarding Virgil the ghost is that he serves as a mere guide and protector of Dante in his journey through hell. True enough, Virgil was the one who protected Dante from being enticed and harmed by monsters and demons such as Charon and the Centaurs. However, a deeper philosophical inquiry would reveal that the character Virgil symbolized what Dante the writer fervently believed as the important asset of mankind. This asset is called human reason.

Dante the writer was trying to inform the reader of his belief that it is only through the use of human reason that we are able to discern what is right and what is wrong. It is human reason that would serve as the perfect guide to our actions and decisions. In the Inferno, we see that Dante sympathized with the lot of spirits trapped in Hell and had the tendency to overstay in one region. If we let our emotions and procrastination govern who we are, we will certainly be placed in an undesirable situation which we could have avoided in the first place.

Virgil guides and reminds Dante much like the way our reason would give us the right sense of direction or the right course of action. One must not forget that they were traveling through hell and thatt Virgil was capable of navigating through it. Our mind is capable of discerning the right path if we only make full use of it. Even seemingly difficult situations and problems can be navigated through. The role of Virgil is not confined to scolding Dante or guiding him in the different parts of Hell.

He also protected him from the centaurs and shades. If we are to analyze according to the 'human reason' idea, we can see the centaurs and shades as symbols for bad company or people who would bring you nothing good. With the use of human reason, we are aware of what would happen if we associated with them. Virgil, or the symbol of human reason, would prevent us from being even close to people who are up to no good much like how Virgil left Dante at a distance to take care of the shades. Careful thinking places us far away from undesirable situations.

Another interesting point to note in the Inferno is the reliance of Virgil on an angelic messenger. Why would Virgil, the symbol of human reason, associate and rely with such a mythological being' Angels are considered as the representatives of the Supreme Being who can defy all rational expectations of the human mind. Is Dante trying to tell us that human reasoning relies on those 'beyond reason or comprehension'' Dante's Inferno actually has religious overtones which means that there are moral lessons to be learned.

What Dante was trying to signify with the reliance of V