Dante's Use of Imagination in "Inferno"

In Dante’s first epic poem of his well-known philosophical series, Divine Comedy, he enters Inferno. Inferno, which is better known as Hell, is where Dante and another famous poet, Virgil, travel through to get to Purgatory, and eventually, Heaven. In Dante’s version of Hell exists nine circles differentiated based on the sin committed by that certain individual in their lifetime. Dante makes Hell exciting by providing interesting and horrific views on the sin-related punishments. While I think this, I see Inferno as a piece of imaginative work as well rather than just philosophy. Though, mentioning that it is imaginative does not take away from the epic’s overall effectiveness.

Dante tends to write his view of punishments of those in Hell as the punishments they should have received in their previous life or performing what sin they committed on earth for eternity, but metaphorically, of course. For example, in the fourth circle of Hell, where the avaricious and prodigal endure the torment of eternal jousting. “Now you can see, my son, how short a jest are the good things assigned to Fortune’s care..for which the human race squabble and squall”( Canto VII, 61-63).  The eternal jousting could, in a sense, represent the constant fight back and forth these two groups went through in their earthly life to receive their money in a greedy fashion. Another prime example of this view stems from Canto XX, where those who used to seek the future in their past lives have their heads turned backwards as to not see what is ahead of them, also known as, not being able to seek the future. “For backward to the kidneys turned the face, and backwards always did they have to go, as they had lost sight of things ahead” (Canto XX, 13-15). My reasoning for the use of imagination on this specific subject comes from Dante’s detailed description of the punishments rather than just the biblical worldview that Hell is only a tortuous place containing a pit of fire.

As Dante and Virgil go deeper into the circles of Hell, Dante writes of each punishment environment growing colder and colder as they tread on through. Each sin becoming a more cruel one than the last. “At that I turned, and saw before my feet a lake of ice, which in the terrible cold looked not like frozen water, but like glass” (Canto XXXII, 22-24). Hell is talked about very vaguely in the Bible and, as mentioned in the above paragraph, is only really detailed as a pit of eternal fire. So, Dante describing Hell as losing its warmth the deeper you travel into it is something that others may not usually think Hell would seem like. Dante treats like losing this warmth as they go deeper as if he is symbolizing that all of the soothing warmth comes from the Lord Himself. Those that are in the last few circles have completely forsaken God and, therefore, are undeserving of the light of His love.

As a poet, one might think Dante would insert concepts of the Bible into his tellings of his journey to the Promised Land, but rather Dante just inserts his own intriguing commentaries and certain opinions other than plain facts. As mentioned, Dante creates upper, middle, and lower levels of punishments. The upper level (lust and greed) representing the sinners of lust, the middle level(anger and blasphemy) representing the sinners of bad choices, and the lower level (violence and fraud) representing the sinners of malevolence. “And since the usurer takes a different path, setting his hope in something else, he sins, despising Nature and her follower” (Canto XI, 109-111). This dividing of punishments is obviously an commentary from Dante based on his own judgements. As it would have been widely known that Hell is structured in such a way.

In conclusion, the imagination that Dante suggests to be presenting to the readers does not take away from the overall Christian, political, and poetic value of the poem. Even from a Christian’s perspective, I do not believe the poem would have been nearly as expressive and strong if Dante had only carelessly taken the view of Hell from the Bible rather than his own creative version. By providing such detailed scenarios and sceneries, the poet produced various locations that were depressing, but still remained alive through the innovative ideas of what Hell could be like, which continued to keep the readers, including myself, engrossed with the poetic series.

                                                              References:

Dante, Alighieri, 1265-1321. The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri: Inferno. New York: The Union Library Association, 1935. Print.