Dante Alighieri wrote the Divine Comedy (Divina Comedia) in the thirteenth century. The work was divided into three stages namely, Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory) and Paradiso (Paradise). It was a well-renowned religious epic during Dante’s time which tells about his journey from Hell to the Paradise. Virgil, who was also a great Roman poet and Beatrice, Dante’s beloved lady guided him through the different circles of hell. The poem which was written in the Tuscany dialect also establishes the modern Italian language. The poem was divided into nine circles. Each circle represents the deadly sins of the mortal world and each person is punished based on the sins they had committed when they was still alive. Beginning at Canto I, Dante was lost in a dark and mysterious forest; here he was guided by Virgil, the great Roman poet who also served as his mentor and companion during his travels on hell. Upon seeing Virgil, he exclaimed all praises that he had for the great poet which reflected his keen admiration towards him.
“Are you Virgil the fountain of purest speech? The glory and light of all poets! May that zeal and love’s apprenticeship that I poured out on your heroic verses serve me well! Because you are my real master and primary author; the sole maker from whom I drew that sweet style whose measures have brought me honors. Look at the immortal sage, the beast I avoid. Save my soul I beg you; guard me from her, for she has struck a mortal fear on me” (Alighieri and Ciardi, 77-78)
While travelling each circle, Dante saw the famous people in history punished with all the crimes they had committed when they were still alive. Dante’s Inferno is the first book of the Divine Comedy, which focused more on his admiration of Virgil and his works. Dante borrowed some of Virgil’s writing style and his language. Because of his admiration, Dante created the Inferno based on Virgil’s Underworld which is a part of his work Aeneid. Upon reaching the twenty-seventh canto of the purgatory, it was here that Virgil parted his ways with his companion, Dante. “You have seen, my son; and now you are come to a place where of myself I discern no farther” (Alighieri 27). Although he stated that he had the intellect and sufficient powers to guide him through the Paradise; however he lacks the divine grace of which can find the real path to God (Alighieri 27). In this scene, Virgil allows himself to reflect on the travels he made with his faithful companion; he even regarded Dante as his son of which he is obliged to take care of. On this point, Virgil parted his ways with Dante as Beatrice escorts him to the path leading to the paradise. It was clear that through the journeys they had, Dante and Virgil had formed almost a father and son bond towards each other which Dante acknowledges. However, as parting words; “You have but to go on your own way to the right; for you cannot choose but follow the guide who will soon come meet you. You cannot desire to go elsewhere than she leads you” (Alighieri 28).
Dante’s Divine Comedy is a work that shows the fate of man after death, the hell which represents the hopeless whilst the paradise means eternal beauty and hope. Dante’s work allows men to reflect on their inner self for them to see the glory of the paradise after the hellish sacrifices.
Works cited
Alighieri, Dante. Dante, How To Know Him. 2nd ed. London: Forgotten Books, 2013. Print.
Dante Alighieri, and John Ciardi. The Divine Comedy. 1st ed. New York: New American Library, 2003. Print.
