Examples Of Idolatry In Dante's Inferno

In Dante’s Inferno, Dante thoroughly describes what he believes Hell to be. He lists many sins, along with their punishments and placements in Hell. Strangely enough, Dante does not have a specific circle for idolatry, the worship of idols, or something other than God. This is thought to be strange because idolatry is generally considered a grave sin. One possible explanation of this is that each sin in itself can be viewed as a form of idolatry. As you engage in idolatry you begin to configure your life around your idol instead of configuring your life around God. Naturally this leads you away from God, and the farther away you become from God the more likely you are going to hell. Ultimately engaging in idolatry will lead you to hell. Dante shows this in his Inferno through many characters, such as Francesca, Ciacco, and fraudulent bankers.

Francesca was married to a man for whom she lost her love. One day she was reading a story with her husband’s younger brother Paolo Da Rimini. Francesca told Dante, “we read about those longed for lips now being kissed by such a famous lover,” (V. 133-134). This passage that they read brought about their infamous kiss. Later both Francesca and Paolo died and were eternally damned to hell for this action. In christianity it is common knowledge that having relations outside of marriage is a grave sin, yet these two souls engaged. She completely disregarded her knowledge and place her love for Paolo above God. In this way she was idolizing Paolo and he idolized her, which landed them in