Examples Of Humanism In The Inferno

“Some people dream of great accomplishments, while others stay awake and do them.” This anonymous quote shows some of the many beliefs of Italian humanists in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, including renowned authors such as Dante Alighieri, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and Francesco Petrarch. A few of their principles include man’s talents entrusted by God and their free will to choose whether or not to utilize them, man’s connection to the divine being, man’s necessity to accomplish as much on Earth as feasible during a short lifetime, emphasis on this life rather than the next, and the rebirth of Classical culture of Ancient Greece and Rome. Petrarch, the father of humanism, and Mirandola were both heavily inspired by Dante’s poem, The Inferno and its sudden hints of humanistic

thoughts, especially from Dante’s guide, Virgil. Although Dante Alighieri can be considered a medieval writer, his suggestions of humanistic ideals influenced Renaissance authors such as Petrarch and Pico della Mirandola.
First of all, Dante Alighieri, a medieval writer from Florence born in 1265, was exiled after the Blacks vs. Whites conflict. To pass the time during his exile, he decided to write The Divine Comedy, which consisted of three parts. Part one, The Inferno, describes his receiving of a tour of Hell by Virgil. Virgil, a Classical figure, being his guide shows early signs of humanism in Dante’s culture, as the Renaissance was the rebirth of the Classics. “Master! You are my guide and author, whose verses teach the graceful style whose model has done me honor” (Dante I 65-67). Virgil’s impact on Dante’s literary compositions, thoughts, and life reflect the importance of Ancient Greece and Rome influencing Italian humanists. In addition, Dante has the character Virgil even reference humans, their accomplishments, and a few ideas created by Renaissance humanists.
“At length we reached the place at which we found the last stone broken off, and there I sat as soon as I was up—so out of breath were my spent lungs I felt that I could get no farther than I was. ‘To cast off sloth now well behooves you,’ said my master then: ‘For resting upon soft down, or underneath the blanket’s cloth, is not how fame is won—without which, one spends life to leave behind as vestige of himself on earth the sign smoke leaves on air, or foam on water” (Dante XXIV 42-52).
Virgil persuades the weary Dante to continue his journey through Hell, because nobody ever accomplished anything by being fatigued and giving up. This principle, focusing on achieving as much as possible while on the Earth, was highly celebrated by many Italian humanists, comprised of Petrarch and Pico della Mirandola.
Additionally, Francesco Petrarch, also known as the “father of humanism,” lived from 1304-1374 and is the individual most commonly associated with the beginning of the Italian Renaissance. He wrote many letters in his lifetime, extolling Classical writers and modeled his writings after their styles. One letter in particular, which was written to Giovanni Boccaccio, focused on literary humanism and its essentials. In this letter, Petrarch focuses on the fact that education, especially that of the Classics, was a requisite for living a humanistic life. “Neither exhortations to virtue nor the argument of approaching death should divert us from literature; for in a good mind it excites the love of virtue, and dissipates, or at least diminishes, the fear of death” (Petrarch 272). Petrarch describes how fortunate we are to be educated and use the resource of literature. And, he also indicates the humanist belief of the importance of the Earthly life rather than the hereafter, just like Virgil’s character mentioned in the Inferno. By stating that the emphasis on literature maximizes the mind’s love of virtue and reduces the fear of death, humans have more time and energy to focus on the accomplishments and progress of the present. As Rocco Montano elaborates, Petrarch’s beliefs led to the whole new era of humanism, highlighting humans and their ability to accomplish, with the right mindfulness, astounding feats.
“What is notable with regard to Petrarch is that perhaps in no other case the origin
of a new mentality, a new taste, a new religious attitude and a new civilization can be traced so clearly to one single author.

A new Christianity was in fact the result of Petrarch’s bringing classical wisdom and morality into the world of religion” (Montano 217).

Petrarch brought a new way of thinking and living into the Medieval minds. Petrarch is considered the father of humanism. Although he reiterated the basic ideas of Dante’s early signs of humanism in the Inferno, he developed them more fully to become the doctrine of Italian Renaissance. These ideals then evolved to be much more intricate and detailed, with the help of Pico della Mirandola.

Similarly, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, who lived from 1463-1494, was a key figure in expanding the Italian Renaissance. One of his most famous works, Oration on the Dignity of Man, Pico della Mirandola praises men and the fact that humans have free will to choose their destiny, the opposite of predestination. He also addresses man’s direct relationship to divinity and the limitless possibilities God has bestowed upon

humankind.
“The nature of all other beings is limited and constrained within the bounds of laws prescribed by Us. Thou, constrained by no limits, in accordance with thine own free will, in whose hand We have placed thee, shalt ordain for thyself the limits of thy nature. We have set thee at the world’s center that thou mayest from there more easily observe whatever is in the world” (Mirandola 48).
Pico della Mirandola shows the significance of humans and their choices. God cannot control the choices of men, but humanists should feel the obligation to fulfill God’s will for their life, using their talents wisely and glorifying God. God has set humans in the center of the universe, so men should go explore what has been given to them. This is a humanistic oration because it underlines humans’ divine connections and how God-given talents can and should be used for accomplishing as much as possible during the Earthly life, similar to Dante showing humans being connected to the divine being and their necessity to not give up on their endeavors. According to Facts on File, this document played a key role in determining some of the main ideals of humanism. “The Oration is acclaimed for its affirmation of human potential and is regarded by many scholars as the epitome of Renaissance humanism” (Gimelli). Pico della Mirandola and his works showcase humanism and its doctrine, extolling humans and their importance to God.
In conclusion, Dante Alighieri, Giovanni Petrarch, and Giovanni Pico della Mirandola were all deeply invested in humanistic beliefs and their influence on man. God gave humans talents, which can be used to accomplish numerous undertakings on Earth and to rejuvenate a study of the Classics. Humans of Dante’s time, the Middle Ages, were completely dedicated to the church, and were then “awakened” to explore more of the world around them and devote their lives to living this life to the fullest. Dante began this change by hinting at humanism in the Inferno and it was soon carried on by Petrarch and Pico della Mirandola. Thus, humans must arouse their desire for knowledge and pursue their dreams with a vengeance, for tomorrow is never promised to arrive.