Close Reading Of Dante's Inferno

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Descending from the first to the second level of Hell, Dante witnesses the transition to greater agony and greater punishment for the damned. Overwhelmed by the sinner’s harrowing cries and the extensive list of seemingly innocent souls given to him by Virgil, Dante beckons for two lovers to approach him, desperate for some sense of comfort. The souls are known to be the historical figures Francesca de Rimini and her lover Paolo, forever trapped in the circle of lust due to their sinful adultery. Through her words spoken to Dante, Francesca shows how she feels she has been unjustly punished and is deserving of others’ sorrow, and Dante, despite his awareness that she is a sinner, pities her. A close reading of this passage is necessary to better understand Dante’s internal battle with showing compassion where it is not deserved and Francesca’s incessant denial of her sins. …show more content…

By saying that the “King of the Universe”, or God, is not her “friend”, she blames Him for her dismal fate instead of taking responsibility for her actions that put her in Hell. Her wording is important to note because she tells Dante that she would pray for him, but unfortunately God is not on her side so she will not. Francesca, however, has no knowledge of God or His intentions, and only assumes that He is not her friend because she feels as though she was unjustly condemned to Hell, despite having violated one of the 10 Holy Commandments by cheating on her husband. This also creates a cynical tone to her words, as she implies that there is no point in asking God for anything because he clearly has a vendetta against her. Francesca is obviously guilty but refuses to take responsibility of her circumstance, and yet somehow Dante still pities her, highlighting his weakness of pitying the

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