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Allusions Of Dante's Inferno

Decent Essays

This poem dramatizes the conflict between a man’s belief of worthiness and the truth of his destiny. The poem starts on a Friday evening after the speaker has already set out on his journey, following Human Reason, through Hell to stray back to the True Way; finding himself “tired and despairing.” Dante, while comparing himself to Aeneas and Paul, is wondering as to why he was chosen to be led back to the right path by Human Reason and then further on saved by Divine Love. Virgil - who personifies Human Reason, then explains to Dante why he went to him in the first place. Virgil serves as a conscience to Dante; Human Reason shows Dante the journey he has to get through to make it to Heaven. Aeneas is a famous Greco-Roman character that was said to have visited the Underworld and was granted the privilege to go to the Light of God. …show more content…

Saul, later becoming the Lord’s most willing servant leading to his conversion as the Apostle Paul. The significance of these allusions is that both characters went on a journey, similar to Dante’s, leading them back to the right path: following God. Therefore Dante must go on this journey through Hell to be repented, allowing him to go to Heaven. Dante feels that only the “greats” are able to make it. Virgil then comments on Dante’s fear, calling it “cowardice.” He reassures Dante by telling him the story of how Beatrice – who is portrayed as Divine Love, went to him in limbo, where she came from, and told him of her concern for Dante. Human Reason has convinced Dante that Divine Love will lead him to happiness in the end. Virgil then asks Dante of how he can remain cowardly, when the heavenly powers are concerned for his safety. Dante is then blooming with confidence and sets out on that “hard and perilous

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