For Dante Alighieri, to be a traitor like Judas or Brutus was the worst sin of all. ... For this reason, the inferno is based mostly on social and political traditions of the time that are in conflict with religious beliefs. ... Dante's Inferno above all reflects the thoughts of the author and the social, as well as the political beliefs and structure at the time in Florence, Italy. ... The splitting of the men fits into the pattern of the rest of the punishments in the inferno. ...

• Word Count: 709
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School