Dante’s Divine Comedy, Essay Example

The Relationship between Limbo and Virgil

Limbo is the first circle of the Hell, and this is where pagans go. Virgil, being born before the time or Christ, is considered to be a pagan. He did not have a chance to accept or reject Christianity. This is also the place where Dante and Virgil meet some of the honored authors of the history, such as Homer. People who had no chance to choose between Christian virtue and sin are considered virtuous pagans, just like Virgil.

The journey through hell in Dante’s work is similar to the Parable of the Cave, however, he has a spiritual guide: Virgil. He is on a journey of self-discovery, similar to the one described by Plato. Ignorance and knowledge are contrasted in both works: ignorance and lack of knowledge made many of the Hell’s inhabitants become prisoners in sin, and the same limitations apply to the person undertaking the symbolic journey in the Parable of the Cave. People’s limitations in both works are originated from the lack of self-knowledge. In Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, the author talks about the importance of educating the soul. In Dante’s work, likewise, knowledge leads to self-discovery.

The three people in Satan’s mouth are the ones who committed the sin of betrayal: Judas, Cassius, and Brutus. According to the author, betraying one’s friend is the greatest sin one can commit, therefore, the three people deserve the harshest punishment. Judas, because he betrayed the Savior, is placed head first, while the other two traitors are facing outwards. In the 9^th Circle of the Hell, those who are most committed to Evil are residing. The three people are considered to be the greatest sinners of history up to Dante’s time.