Dante’s Inferno:Dante’s Inferno:Cantos I-IIICantos I-III

It’s just like the video game, It’s just like the video game, right?right?

NO.NO.

A Man and His AllegoryA Man and His Allegory

As your vocabulary packets will tell As your vocabulary packets will tell you, an allegory is any writing in verse you, an allegory is any writing in verse or prose that has a double meaning.or prose that has a double meaning.

The entire Divine Comedy, from The The entire Divine Comedy, from The Inferno to Paradise, is an allegory, Inferno to Paradise, is an allegory, where persons, abstract ideas, or where persons, abstract ideas, or events represent not only themselves events represent not only themselves on the literal level, but they also stand on the literal level, but they also stand for something else on the symbolic for something else on the symbolic level. level.

Dante on DanteDante on Dante You may have noticed that You may have noticed that

Dante is not only the Dante is not only the author of the book, but author of the book, but also the main character.also the main character.

Dante was an influential Dante was an influential Florentine from a powerful Florentine from a powerful family, sunk in the middle family, sunk in the middle of a civil war and of a civil war and questioning, as were many questioning, as were many great minds of the time, great minds of the time, his family, standing, and his family, standing, and religion.religion.

Canto I SummaryCanto I Summary

Dante wakes to find himself lost and alone in Dante wakes to find himself lost and alone in the middle of a dark and impenetrable wood.the middle of a dark and impenetrable wood.

He sees a glimmer of light from the rising sun He sees a glimmer of light from the rising sun over the Mount of Joy, but, when he tries to over the Mount of Joy, but, when he tries to follow it, he is blocked by three beasts.follow it, he is blocked by three beasts.

Suddenly, the shade ofSuddenly, the shade of Virgil appears before Virgil appears before him and offers to lead him from the wood to him and offers to lead him from the wood to Paradise although, sadly, not by any direct Paradise although, sadly, not by any direct way.way.

The Dark WoodThe Dark Wood

Dante tells us that he is not only midway through Dante tells us that he is not only midway through the wood, but also midway through his life (he’s the wood, but also midway through his life (he’s about 40). He has begun to question many of the about 40). He has begun to question many of the things in his life that he thought were certain, and things in his life that he thought were certain, and feels lost.feels lost.

Dante has also lost a number of important people Dante has also lost a number of important people in his life and the specter of death is beginning to in his life and the specter of death is beginning to haunt him. Dante is not prepared to die as he is.haunt him. Dante is not prepared to die as he is.

The dark wood of error is also an allusion to the The dark wood of error is also an allusion to the sinful life that Dante feels he has led. He has, sinful life that Dante feels he has led. He has, literally and symbolically, strayed from the literally and symbolically, strayed from the righteous path.righteous path.

The Dark Wood, ContinuedThe Dark Wood, Continued

Remember that Remember that many fairytales many fairytales begin with a dark begin with a dark wood. It is the wood. It is the place that place that frightening things frightening things come from.come from.

To Dante, the wood To Dante, the wood is a perfect symbol is a perfect symbol for the fear and for the fear and despair that a crisis despair that a crisis of self can cause.of self can cause.

The True WayThe True Way

The True Way, or “The True Way, or “diritta viadiritta via” is often ” is often interpreted as a religious symbol in interpreted as a religious symbol in The InfernoThe Inferno, being a connection to , being a connection to God or living a righteous life.God or living a righteous life.

Some readers interpret the True Way Some readers interpret the True Way as a metaphor for the morally or as a metaphor for the morally or socially acceptable way to live.socially acceptable way to live.

The 3 BeastsThe 3 Beasts

The leopard of The leopard of malice and fraudmalice and fraud

The lion of The lion of violence and violence and ambitionambition

The she-wolf of The she-wolf of lust and worldly lust and worldly desiredesire

The 3 Beasts, ContinuedThe 3 Beasts, Continued Some readers believe that Some readers believe that

the beasts each represent the beasts each represent a section of Dante’s Hell. a section of Dante’s Hell. Others say that they are Others say that they are political symbols.political symbols.

Whatever their meaning, Whatever their meaning, remember that the beasts remember that the beasts block Dante from block Dante from achieving the heights in achieving the heights in any easy way. He has to any easy way. He has to travel through Hell, travel through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise Purgatory, and Paradise before his able to stand in before his able to stand in the light.the light.

Why Virgil?Why Virgil?

Virgil (70-19 B.C.E.) is one of the Virgil (70-19 B.C.E.) is one of the most widely-known Roman poets, most widely-known Roman poets, and the author of and the author of The AeneidThe Aeneid..

He is, in many ways, a symbol for He is, in many ways, a symbol for what Dante would like to be; the what Dante would like to be; the author of a famous Italian epic.author of a famous Italian epic.

Virgil becomes a symbol of human Virgil becomes a symbol of human reason, the perfect guide through the reason, the perfect guide through the horrors of Hell.horrors of Hell.

BeatriceBeatrice Just as Virgil is the Just as Virgil is the

symbol for human symbol for human reason, Beatrice reason, Beatrice becomes a symbol of becomes a symbol of divine love (Agape) divine love (Agape) in The Divine in The Divine Comedy.Comedy.

Although they only Although they only met once, Dante met once, Dante uses Beatrice in a uses Beatrice in a number of his works number of his works to represent all that to represent all that is pure and beautiful is pure and beautiful in the world.in the world.

Canto II SummaryCanto II Summary Dante begins to ask Virgil is he is worthy of Dante begins to ask Virgil is he is worthy of

the chance to see Paradise (and to pity the chance to see Paradise (and to pity himself a bit because Hell is going to be…himself a bit because Hell is going to be…well…).well…).

Virgil responds by calling Dante a coward (line Virgil responds by calling Dante a coward (line 45) and telling him that every man belongs on 45) and telling him that every man belongs on the true path. Beatrice appears and reassures the true path. Beatrice appears and reassures Dante.Dante.

Virgil makes the point that a truly good life is Virgil makes the point that a truly good life is gained through love and honest introspection.gained through love and honest introspection.

Dante stops whining and keeps walking.Dante stops whining and keeps walking.

I am Not Aeneas. I am not I am Not Aeneas. I am not Paul.Paul.

Dante’s journey is Dante’s journey is important in many important in many ways ways becausebecause he is he is an everyman instead an everyman instead of a mythic hero.of a mythic hero.

Although his Although his statement may seem statement may seem like humility, Virgil like humility, Virgil points it out for what points it out for what it is; a call for pity.it is; a call for pity.

Canto III SummaryCanto III Summary

Dante and Virgil reach the gates of Hell. Dante and Virgil reach the gates of Hell. Their way is blocked by the Opportunists, Their way is blocked by the Opportunists, the people (and angels) who never took a the people (and angels) who never took a side in any fight. Virgil councils Dante to side in any fight. Virgil councils Dante to pass them by without notice.pass them by without notice.

They reach the river Acheron, which They reach the river Acheron, which borders Hell, and Charon, the ferryman borders Hell, and Charon, the ferryman refuses to bring a living man into Hell until refuses to bring a living man into Hell until Virgil yells at him.Virgil yells at him.

Dante faints.Dante faints.

The GatesThe Gates

I AM THE WAY INTO THE CITY OF WOE.I AM THE WAY INTO THE CITY OF WOE.I AM THE WAY TO A FORSAKEN PEOPLE.I AM THE WAY TO A FORSAKEN PEOPLE.I AM THE WAY INTO ETERNAL SORROW.I AM THE WAY INTO ETERNAL SORROW.

SACRED JUSTICE MOVED MY ARCHITECT.SACRED JUSTICE MOVED MY ARCHITECT.I WAS RAISED HERE BY DIVINE OMNIPOTENCE,I WAS RAISED HERE BY DIVINE OMNIPOTENCE,

PRIMORDIAL LOVE, AND DIVINE INTELLECT.PRIMORDIAL LOVE, AND DIVINE INTELLECT.

ONLY THOSE ELEMENTS TIME CANNOT WEARONLY THOSE ELEMENTS TIME CANNOT WEARWERE MADE BEFORE ME, AND BEYOND TIME I STAND.WERE MADE BEFORE ME, AND BEYOND TIME I STAND.

ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE.ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE.

The OpportunistsThe Opportunists

Included among these cowardly Included among these cowardly souls--also known as fence-sitters, souls--also known as fence-sitters, wafflers, opportunists, and neutrals--wafflers, opportunists, and neutrals--are the angels who refused to choose are the angels who refused to choose between God and Lucifer. between God and Lucifer.

The opportunists run around The opportunists run around aimlessly, unwelcome in both Heaven aimlessly, unwelcome in both Heaven and Hell, since they never took any and Hell, since they never took any sides in life.sides in life.

As they sinned, so are they punished.As they sinned, so are they punished.

Look! The Pope!Look! The Pope!

Dante mentions a shade who made “The Dante mentions a shade who made “The Great Denial”. Although he goes unnamed Great Denial”. Although he goes unnamed in the Inferno, most scholars believe this to in the Inferno, most scholars believe this to be Pope Celestine V.be Pope Celestine V.

His refusal to perform the duties required His refusal to perform the duties required of the pope (he abdicated five months after of the pope (he abdicated five months after his election in July 1294) allowed Benedetto his election in July 1294) allowed Benedetto Caetani to become Pope Boniface VIII, the Caetani to become Pope Boniface VIII, the man who proved to be Dante's most reviled man who proved to be Dante's most reviled theological, political, and personal enemy. theological, political, and personal enemy.

Charon The FerrymanCharon The Ferryman In Greek mythology, In Greek mythology,

Charon was the Charon was the ferryman who brought ferryman who brought the newly dead across the newly dead across the river of the dead the river of the dead into Hades. Often, into Hades. Often, people were buried people were buried with coins over their with coins over their eyes to pay the eyes to pay the ferryman.ferryman.

In In The InfernoThe Inferno, Charon’s , Charon’s purpose is to safeguard purpose is to safeguard Hell by denying entry to Hell by denying entry to those who don’t belong.those who don’t belong.

The River AcheronThe River Acheron

The rivers in Hell serve, not only as The rivers in Hell serve, not only as geographic boundaries in Dante’s geographic boundaries in Dante’s Hell, but as symbolic divisions for the Hell, but as symbolic divisions for the severity of the sins (think 3 beasts).severity of the sins (think 3 beasts).

The river Acheron serves as a liminal The river Acheron serves as a liminal symbol, representing the “point of no symbol, representing the “point of no return” on Dante’s journey.return” on Dante’s journey.