The afterlife in Dante's Inferno compared with Homer's Odyssey - Essay Example

In addition, trip to the afterlife provides a spiritual fortification and moral uplift, which realizes the mortal man his duties and obligations towards the divinity and fellow beings while his temporary stay on the earth, so that readers can make amends in their behaviors and realize that they are responsible for the deeds they are performing; Homer’s journey of the land of gods in his illustrious Odyssey, John Milton’s depiction of heaven and hell in Paradise Lost, William Blake’s experiences of seeing God and angels in Songs of Innocence and Dante’s Inferno reflect and present the imaginary idea of world hereinafter imitated and followed by these authors in their practical life, which vehemently force the readers to protect themselves from sinful life, as they will have to harvest the crop of their deeds and misdeeds in the afterlife.

Dante’s trip to afterlife and depiction of the circles of hell concentrates upon the same motif. Dante’s Inferno describes that his journey starts from Good Friday, when the poet sets out on his trip and comes across ancient writers, poets, politicians, philosophers and religious people during his visit of hell. Here the poet points out the reasons that lead the people towards the wrath of God i.e. in hell, which are based on Biblical stories and set of belief indicating specific reprimands and penalties against particular sins.

Since, Dante’s journey to the hell serves as the part his perception of religion and Scriptures, which is related to the sinners’ fate in afterlife, so his trip starts from first to nine circles, as has been narrated in the Old and new Testaments. The Inferno’s protagonist character finds renowned Roman poet of B.C. era i.e. Virgil as his guide, who leads him towards different circles. (Canto I, Lines 47-61) Being non believer of Christ, but