DANTE’S INFERNO“IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JOURNEY OF OUR LIFE, I CAME TO MYSELF IN A DARK WOOD, FOR THE STRAIGHT WAY WAS LOST” (27).

Canto I: The Dark Wood. Good Friday.

I M P O R TA N T :

N O T E T H E U S E O F 3 ( M O T I F T H R O U G H O U T T H E I N F E R N O )

E A C H R E P R E S E N T S 1 / 3 O F I N F E R N O ( S E E D I A G R A M )

3 Beasts of Worldliness

Leopard of: Malice & fraud

“And behold, almost at the beginning of the steep, a leopard,…it did not depart from before my face but rather impeded my way that I was at several turns to go back” (29).

Lion of Violence

“He appeared to be coming against me with his head high and with raging hunger, so that the air appeared to tremble at him” (29).

“…she has a nature so evil and cruel that her greedy desire is never satisfied, and after feeding she is hungrier than before” (31).

She Wolf of: Incontinence

The she-wolf frightens Dante the most—it is in her that he recognizes his own sins.

“…she put on me so much heaviness with fear…I lost hope of reaching the heights” (29).

Virgil Virgil appears as the

philosopher and light of reason sent to guide Dante through the depths of hell.

Dante’s sin = veering from the true and righteous path in life.

“When I was falling down into a low place, before my eyes one had suffered himself to me who through long silence seemed hoarse” (29).

Virgil Arrives to guide Dante through Hell (and Purgatory)

Dante recognizes Virgil as the famed poet and philosopher who had the misfortune of living before Christ. He is relieved for the guidance of Virgil, because he considers Virgil a very logical, wise man.

• Virgil

ALLUSION

Why Virgil? To Dante, the author, Virgil personifies human

reason. Virgil’s most noted work is the Aeneid—the

story of Aeneas’ escape from the sacking of Troy and his subsequent journey to Italy. * See more on Aeneas & Dido in Canto 5.

Aeneas must travel through the Underworld on his trip to Italy, and Dante’s Inferno has much in common with Virgil’s Aeneid. Both Aeneas and Dante are on a journey of self Both must experience “hell” before progressing in

life Both are epic poems

Virgil con’t.d….

But Virgil also represents poetic dominance in Dante’s mind. Both are poets, and The Aeneid was a major work of literature that undoubtedly influenced Dante and his contemporaries.

Dante found inspiration in Virgil’s writing

“You are my master and my author, you alone are he from whom I have taken the pleasing style that has won me honor” (31).

Retribution: Just? Dante is forced to journey through hell

in order to recognize his sins –or- the sins of all those who have wandered from the good, true path in life.

This journey will test and terrify the pilgrim, but is it a just punishment for his wily ways?

Yes—in order to seek forgiveness, one must fully recognize and own one’s sins. An eternity in heaven isn’t a walk in the park, people. Own your actions!

Contemporary Connection

The Infamous Mid-life Crisis. “Midway in the journey of our lives” (Dante Canto 1).

The mid-life crisis is accredited to the feeling humans, face that “half-way through my life, what do I have to show for my time on earth?”

“What follows: Rash decisions, reckless antics, and

poor choices. And, perhaps the acquisition of a red, sports car convertible.

Sinner: Mel Gibson

Gibson is sentenced to a journey through his personal fall. He must witness firsthand the hurt and damage he has caused his family, friends, and image.

Guide: His character, Benjamin Martin, from The Patriot. Martin represents a true, loyal, hard working family man who fights for his family and freedom.

Gibson is also tormented by the temptation of the she-wolf of Incontinence.