Examples Of Hellish Behavior In Dante's Inferno

Idolizing Hellish Behaviors

Dante’s Inferno offers literal discussion and allegorical account of historical individuals while emphasizing heavily on the political crisis of the 14th century in which he lived. In addition Dante’s poem assesses the problem of modern society cherishing those whose actions only earned themselves a place in the fiery pits of Hell. His cantos serve as a condemnation of some of the most idolized historical and political figures in his time and now. In the late middle ages political and religious stability was crumbling sparking corruption of souls; many claimed to be the Pope, courtly love turning adulterous, majority of people failing to control of bodily desires, etc. Dante’s pilgrimage through the Inferno lets the reader witness many well-known legends who fell to these corruptions scattered throughout the circles of Hell. This work creates contradictions in the morals and values of today’s culture; history remembers figures such as Achilles and Helen of Troy by just their positive attributes however, their

extraordinary feats and positions do not serve as justification for the violations of divine law by God; modern day society idolizes important figures in time who are defined as inherently evil. Dante reminded his audience in the 14th century and now that despite their legendary places in history the souls of these characters are blackened with corruption and turmoil. Dante aims his personal political belief that church and state should exist as separate but equal powers on Earth; thus, divulging in the irony of whom modern society values and makes a claim that the fate of the troubled souls and their contrapasso is undeterred by the idolization of these contemporaries and their social/political status.
Dante the Poet shows respect for all positive influential deeds done by all the historical figures, however his main view is undeterred by this positivity and focuses on their sinful behavior. For example, Dante commemorates Ulysses’ for his courage during his twenty-year journey; however, Dante expands on the rest of the story by showing the reader what happened after Ulysses’ fatal last voyage; who is now in Hell because of three evil deeds. Dante the Poet does not reinvent the classic stories about Ulysses or any other character, but only augments them by showing the readers the fate of theses souls (Kameen). He makes a point of not contradicting what has already been written about these characters, yet, Dante feels everyone else was left with unfinished so he finalizes their fates based on their deserved divine retribution for their mortal sins.
From the 14th century to now, many contemporaries symbolize some of the most influential philosophical and political foundations made to build the world today. Society now celebrates philosophers such as Aristotle and Socrates. In addition, political and war heroes such as Caesar are trendsetters in their positions. However, in the Inferno, Dante enters the first circle of hell made for those who were virtuous pagans, who have to live an eternity in an inferior rendition of Heaven; described as “a tremor through the timeless air, a grief breathed out of untormented sadness…– a dim and endless congress.” This circle inhabits people “before the age of the Christian mysteries, and so they did not worship God’s Trinity in fullest duty… for such defects are we lost, though spared the fire and suffering Hell in one affliction only: that without hope we live on in desire” (Inferno Canto). These souls are stuck in an eternal limbo, not because they committed any crime, but did not follow the faith or receive baptism; these souls include ones from classical antiquity, including Homer, Socrates, and Aristotle as well as Cicero, Hippocrates and Julius Caesar (historylists.org). Deeper into the journey, Dante enters the Seventh Circle of Hell which houses murderers and others who were violent. Here, Dante sees Alexander the Great, and other distinguished commemorated figures described by Virgil as “the kings of bloodshed and despoilment. Here they pay for their ferocity. Here is Alexander…who brought long years of grief to Sicily.”
Further into the spectrum of sinful crime lie legends in history that succumbed to adultery, greed, and desire. Starting in the Second Circle of Hell, Dante and his companion Virgil find people who were overcome by lust including Cleopatra and Helen of Troy. Virgil exclaims, “The next whom the eternal tempest lashes is sense-drugged Cleopatra. See Helen there, from whom such ill arose. And great Achilles, who fought at last with love in the house of prayer… are "carnal sinners who subordinate reason to desire" (Inferno Canto 5). ” (Inferno). In this part of his poem, Dante interprets the sins of the relationship between love and lust, and the sanctioning power of attraction to the beauty of a person and the destruction brought from sexual desire led to unfaithfulness (utexas.edu) These lustful actions led people like Cleopatra and her lover to their deaths and resulted in eternal punishment in hell. History remembers Cleopatra for her great beauty and her lovers such as Mark Antony for which she committed suicide for and Helen of Troy, who is also known for her beauty that sailed thousands of ships and started the Trojan War. Virgil’s exclamation further proves that the women’s beauty and powerful places in time is not an excuse for the violation of divine law; both are still adulterers deserving punishment.
Lastly, as Dante travels deeper, in the Fourth Circle of Hell he and Virgil see the souls of people who are punished for greed; here, Dante witnesses many clergymen, including cardinals and popes (historylists.org).

Consistent with the biblical saying that avarice is "the root of all evils" medieval Christians, including Dante believed the sin of avarice was far viler than one of love (utexas.edu). “Your city-one so full of envy that its sack has always spilled…three sparks that set on fire every heart are envy, pride, and avariciousness” (Inferno Canto 6). In this Canto, Dante conveys his distraught over Florence and government and religious officials; all of them being morally and politically corrupt. As a result, Dante applies the sin of greed to the cause of ethical and religious corruption of 14th century leaders in society; metaphorically representing this sin as a common debauchery of political leaders and clergymen in

Hell.
Dante’s view on divine retribution majorly focuses on the fate of many classical heroes and attested legends ranging from popes to legends like Ulysses and Achilles, along with other known political, biblical, and mythical figures. Therefore, his overall motif stresses the treatment of influential people in history that society glamorizes. Undeterred by their importance to society, Dante treats them all similarly; giving credit to their influential actions in history however does not ignore their sinful behavior. Dante Alighieri’s Christian faith influences him to describe Hell to the common man, especially in his time to now; to remind society of the consequences of their the current practices and point out the wrongful idolization of some of Hell’s greatest sinners. These wrongful actions of society only distanced human souls from the bible and God’s universal law so Dante attempts to clarify to society that to be a true Christian one must not idolize or sympathize with the souls facing their contrapasso because they were a glamorized legend in history.