Dante's Inferno: The Power Of Knowledge

The Power of Knowledge

Knowledge is a fundamental component of being human. The ability to comprehend information, apply it to the future as well as understand the past, is remarkable. Without knowledge, there could be no critical thinking, empathy, or technological progress. This is an incredible ingredient of our makeup that touches every aspect of human life, and arguably the ingredient that makes us human. The great scholars and philosophers have understood this for thousands of years and have documented as such in their works. From the Biblical Genesis, which is said to represent the first humans, to popular fables, Homer’s Odyssey, and Dante’s Inferno, this message is made clear. Knowledge is the key construct that defines man

and not only affects his daily endeavors but also shall determine his ultimate fate.
The Bible’s Genesis tells the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. These are said to be the first humans in God’s Earthly creation. They are given all they need to survive and live in a world of paradise. In addition to the trees used for sustenance, God places two very special trees: the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life.

The tree of life was in the center of the garden and is symbolic of life itself. A tree is beautiful and strong. It grows upward toward the heavens and asks little for its maintenance. It can provide food and shelter for many creatures and is, in the simplest context, only good. The tree of knowledge of good and evil represents all knowledge of the world, not necessarily the information but the ability to obtain, process, and apply knowledge. Having knowledge leads to curiosity, which leads to seeking more knowledge. Being of good and evil reflects that it is all encompassing. Good and evil are opposite ends of the spectrum in all that exists. For good to exist, evil must also be present, and thusly everything in-between. This relationship is indicative of knowledge itself, as it can be applied for good or evil purposes and also gives those who are good the ability to combat evil. Genesis tells us that “God created the human in his image” (Chapter 1). Man’s key component to this image is that of having knowledge to help him part ways from the other Earthly creatures. Through eating the forbidden fruit, man’s journey to becoming more God-like is made complete. The acquisition of

knowledge, while seemingly made to look like a betrayal toward God, was precisely what man needed to elevate himself above other beasts. The threat of death from God upon eating the fruit was not guaranteed to be immediate, nor was there a promise of eternality for not eating the fruit. Yet eating the fruit, and thus gaining understanding, man could now comprehend his own mortality, giving the threat of death substance. It is likely that man’s life was already temporary without eating the forbidden fruit, but without knowledge, the foretelling of his demise would have little to no significance. Genesis tells us here, that knowledge was an intentional gift from God, not simply imparted, such as breath, but acquired by man through God’s own doing in the form of an educational experience, just as knowledge is acquired by every man and woman since.
Aesop’s fables are short works that often involve one or more animals given human-like traits, interacting with each other, or actual humans, to impart a lesson to the reader.

They have been popular in literature for thousands of years and can be used to provide insight to philosophical questions or make important social commentaries. One such tale, that of The City Mouse and the Country Mouse, demonstrates a difference between people and risks they are willing to take for their own benefit. The country mouse is content in his country living, eating acorns and fearing few enemies. The city mouse, urges the country mouse to visit him and enjoy the best food in the land. Quickly the simple country mouse discovers that this bountiful feast comes at a cost of cohabitation with humans, who would likely kill him given the opportunity. The country mouse is shown to be the wiser of the two, as he recognizes that his freedom with fewer luxuries is far better than this dangerous alternative. These stories commonly reward positive virtues, with reason being highly prized. This speaks of a wisdom brought forth by experience, or the knowledge obtained from living life. The authors of these fables knew this and integrated these life lessons into their tales to teach others not only the importance of individual situations but to emphasize the importance of knowledge

itself.
Marie de France scribed the lai of Lanval, a knight of King Arthur’s famed Round Table. Lanval was respected in his community, as knight’s of the round table were held in high regard for their chivalrous and brave actions. His peers, however, did not display the same sentiment toward him, likely because he was said to be of noble blood, and therefore not in the same class as the others. King Arthur himself offers no pay to Lanval, yet in his humbleness he does not make a point to request it. Lanval’s character, composed of honor and humility, is representative of his knowledge of how to be a good man. In this tale he is rewarded for his good character by a fairy queen who loves him and showers him with riches. Her only request of Lanval is to not let her presence be known to others. Lanval shares the newly acquired wealth with others, which is very fitting to his nature, and brings to him a gained respect from his peers, and an even higher elevated reputation with his community. Here we see that his application of knowledge in what is proper, and the treatment of others is praised. Life is good for Lanval until he is met with a challenge by Arthur’s queen. A proposition is made to the good knight and he feels inclined to choose between loyalty to the King or the promise made to his love. Lanval blasts Arthur’s queen, revealing the existence of his love, and thus betraying his vow to keep her a secret. The Queen is insulted by Lanval as he denies her advances and disregards her beauty as insignificant by comparison to even his love’s servants. Lanval has made a choice between two loyalties, showing use of reason to determine the best path. While he is initially punished by the rule of man for insulting the Queen, the good knight is ultimately rewarded for making the right choice. Lanval has his day in court and is redeemed for his remarks to Arthur’s queen by the arrival of his love. Her arrival proves both her existence, and backs up his claims of her beauty which are contested by none present. Lanval rides off to Avalon with his love at the end of the tale to presumably live in eternal bliss. The ability of man to apply knowledge via reason is demonstrated here, as is the importance of seeking knowledge, in a court of man to determine the fate of Lanval. This tale shows reward for having knowledge of right from wrong, and how these things are not always simple.
Homer’s The Odyssey, follows the Trojan war hero Odysseus on what becomes a twenty year journey home. Odysseus is heralded as a good an honorable man by his peers and servants alike. Those who truly knew him and were affected by his presence are loyal to him in his absence, though conceding that he may be dead. Homer shows the reader that Odysseus constantly is in search of knowledge. For this he is rewarded by the faithfulness of his friends and family in the epic. On his journey home he is met with many challenges. Early in the story Odysseus and his crew make land on an island inhabited by giant cyclopses. The men warn the hero that these giants are barbaric and cannot be trusted to grant any hospitality. Odysseus must see for himself if this is true, and does not heed the advice to stay away. With several men he enters the dwelling of one of the cyclopses and awaits his arrival, while helping himself to some unattended cheese. It is soon discovered that the warnings were true and the men find themselves as prisoners and meals for the giant. Odysseus does escape with some of his original party but several are lost to the brutal hunger of the cyclops. Upon his return home, Odysseus also having heard information of the suitors, does not go with a preconceived judgement for them. He must know for himself the nature of the suitors, and see their misdeeds before administering any justice. Disguised as an old beggar he arrives at his his home and experiences first hand the nastiness of the suitors who he finds wasting his son’s inheritance and harassing his wife. For this they ultimately pay with their lives by the hand of Odysseus and servants loyal to him. While Homer is clear to show the imperfect humanity of Odysseus, he does ultimately find reward in his actions by learning before judging, and sticking to a code of ethics and behaviors. His knowledge of right from wrong, or good and evil, are what bring him success and lead him to his reward.
Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, opening with Inferno, details the trip of the character of the same name traveling through the circles of Hell. Dante makes the daunting journey through Hell with his guide Virgil. Virgil was a Roman poet from long before Dante’s time but was a major influence on him through his recorded works. Dante receives knowledge via his documented works, as well as directly imparted to him in Hell. The use of Virgil in both instances shows how knowing and being educated is vital to walk a proper path. As the pilgrim and his guide are to enter Hell, Virgil says that those within are, “the suffering race of souls who lost the good of intellect” (Canto III, 17-18). Virgil is shown to be the great educator of Dante, warning him here that if he were not to learn from this journey, this too would be his home. Throughout the journey, Dante takes heed of this advice and questions souls from all areas of Hell, inquiring about how they arrived and if redemption was possible. Inferno tells the reader that walking the right path is paramount to avoiding the horrors of Hell. Dante encounters important men of the world, those of high position in their previous lives, along with the evil scum of the Earth, telling that no man of privilege is exempt. Dante paints a clear picture for the reader which shows that one must walk the right path, and to do so, one must know the way.
Knowledge is shown in these works to be the most vital component to living a proper life, obtaining success, and being rewarded after death. The reader is shown that without knowing how to walk the proper path, one will likely live a much shorter and less joyous life, making that life void of loyal companionship, and likely resulting in a doomed afterlife. Regardless of one’s personal beliefs, the lessons shown for those who are living are quite accurate. Without knowledge it is clear that social and technological advancement would not be possible, nor would the ability to pass on tales and lessons from the past. History would not exist because the present would be the same. Acquiring, possessing, and applying knowledge, is what makes humans human, and is the key to unlock our future prosperity.