In the classic Christian allegory Dante's Inferno, the spirit Virgil guides Dante the pilgrim through the nine circles of hell. Each Circle is reserved for a certain type of sinner, such examples include the Second (Lustful), the Seventh (Violent), and the Eighth(simple fraud/malice). The reason behind the hierarchy of hell in this book is because each sinner receives a punishment that has certain significance to the sin committed, either by an outside agent of torture, a demon, or within themselves.
An example of an outside agent of torture being utilized is in the Second Circle. Virgil and Dante see various naked shades spun around in a constant hurricane (p. 110). These were the lustful, and included in this ring were many people, ranging from the empress Semiramus (p. 111) to the adulterer Francesca (p. 113). The significance of this punishment is that their actions do not indicate a tranquil demeanor and that the sinners are oblivious to common sense (p. 115).
In the Seventh Circle, there are 3 rings for different types of violence; one of them is the Wood of the Suicides. As their punishment, they were to exist as trees (p. 186-7) and the only way they can speak is if a demon breaks off a branch, which causes much pain. As an addend to their suffering, on judgment day, they will not be able to use their bodies, for they will hang "on a thorn of it's own alien shade" (p. 189). The punishment is significant in that they used pain as an outlet in life, so it would be their only outlet in the afterlife. Furthermore, because they didn't respect their physical form on earth, they can never receive it again in hell (p. 193).
In the Eighth Circle of Hell, there are 10 bolgias reserved for different types of fraud. The 10th Bolgia is reserved for the falsifiers. As their punishment, they were afflicted with different illnesses (p. 337). They were divided into 4 distinct categories, the alchemists, who had leprosy (p.
Contrapasso in regard to Dante's Inferno, has two meanings. Initially, contrapasso refers to divine retribution for the sin. ... Divine retribution is used as a threat for The Church and given a reason why the sin should be avoided. Dante used this divine retribution to aide his allegories. ... The Inferno can be viewed in many different ways. ...
Dante Alighieri wrote a major work known as the Commedia that consisted of three parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. ... In the Inferno, Dante learns that God's punishment is just, God's power is divine, and God's reign is eternal. ... The law of symbolic retribution is that every sin has a fair punishment. ... Dante learns that God's punishment is just, but he also learns that God's power is divine. ... God's just punishment, divine power, and never-ending reign are major things Dante learns while he is in the Inferno because Dante is trying to teach the ...
One specific group that is particularly apt for analysis is who were treacherous to kin, located in the first layer of circle nine in the Inferno. ... Ciardi comments on this in his notes in "The Inferno," mentioning that that the two Alberti brothers were constantly feuding because Alessandro was a Guelph and Napoleoni was a Ghibelline. ... A common theme throughout the Divine Comedy seems to be mouths. ... Ruggeri's divine retribution of being eaten by Ugolino is especially fitting because he killed Ugolino by starvation, and thus became his food. ... His fourfold analysis method has c...
This phrase appears: "Through Dis's homes all void, and empty realms- which is interesting because in Dante's Inferno, the deepest parts of hell is called a city named Dis. ... The Divine Comedy, Dante's Inferno is a deep look at hell through the eyes of an Italian Christian based on his knowledge of doctrine. The key to understanding it is an understanding of "symbolic retribution," meaning that your punishment and torture in hell is fair because it corresponds with your sin. ...
Aegisthus motivation for murdering Agamemnon was in retribution for the crimes committed against his father. ... Dante based the Inferno on these principles. ... According to Plato the nature of the divine begins with the assumption that gods are perfect beings. ... (Dante's Inferno, notes on pg. 69... (Dante's Inferno, Notes on pg. 76 #1,2) Phlegyas - Circle V - Boatman for the River Styx. ...