Dante's inferno - Research Paper Example

A closer analysis of this work puts it in line with the Italian cultural, political and economic aspects of life, and we are able to see how religion had so much influence on people of this age, and how the book contributed to the Italian language. One of the major themes discussed in the Inferno is Christianity and Paganism. Dante mixes the two, and shows how the individual sinners who sinned to the Pagan gods are also punished in hell. Moreover, his guide through hell, Virgil, was a pagan himself (Dante).

These scenarios show how Dante conveniently combined the two camps of Paganism and Christianity in this piece of work, which is a clear indication of the kind of practices that existed during this time in Italy. Christianity was highly regarded in these times, as Pagan myths and practices were also in practice. Some Pagans are even depicted to have received Paradise on their own means (Rachel 143-144). Dante describes how he perceived hell to be, and presents to us various types of sins that are punished in hell according to their weight.

This kind of narration reflects how Christianity was practiced in this era, and how piety was highly regarded. The Inferno describes some of the practices one had to observe in order to stay away from the punishment in hell. The Latin Bible is one of the books that acted as a source of Dante’s thoughts and inspiration, and he draws from the thoughts of some of the great thinkers such as Aristotle. Some of these writers had so much influence on how the people looked at life and the world. Aristotle’s writings on ethics and metaphysics were one of the philosophies of this time that influenced Dante’s thoughts (Dantes Inferno 1).

The comedy also depicts women as active agents in the process of salvation. Even though this era did not see women taking active roles in the society, their representation in this comedy can