Inferno Essay

Prior to this event, Dante was not a character who had showed his fright. But when the moment of panic occurred, Virgil was present to aide Dante in his episode of fright. Dante acknowledges that Virgil is an excellent guide that inspires and reassures himself of his purpose. Dante expresses his gratitude for Virgil as a guide for helping him in his first time of need during the journey. Virgil displays his power of reason again during their encounter with Charon. Charon, the ferryman refuses to let Dante enter the pathway to Hell as he is a living man. Virgil, however, persuades Charon to let them onto the pathway by telling Charon, “Charon, my leader, do not torment yourself. For this is willed where all is possible that is willed there. And so demand no more” (Inferno, Canto 3). Virgil uses his power of reason to help Dante deal with issues that Dante cannot deal with, because he lacks the intellect that Virgil has. However, Virgil’s power of reason is restricted to only Dante’s hell. Virgil informs Dante of this at the beginning of the Inferno. He says once they finish their journey through Hell, he will not be able to guide Dante through heaven because his virtues include only reason and intellect but not faith in God when he says, “if you shall ever wish to rise, a soul will come far worthier than me.” (Inferno, Canto 1). Virgil’s lack of faith in God or acknowledgment of the repentance of sin limited himself to Limbo as he died before the time of Jesus Christ, but he shows through reason that he is aware of his unworthy soul. Dante had Virgil be the character of reason and intellect, because Virgil has the experience and knowledge to aide Dante’s journey through Hell and Purgatory.

Along with being a voice of reason, Virgi...

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... without someone Heavenly to guide them. Dante shows that Virgil usually gets what he wants throughout the Inferno, but is now restricted by his lack of faith. He shows that even though Virgil is one of the greatest poets and a huge role model for Dante, Virgil can also fail. Dante has Virgil illustrate his imperfections to the character of Dante, because it is vital for Dante to understand that he must be mindful of God and sin to avoid the fate of Virgil. Virgil cannot ever move on to Heaven from Limbo as he cannot completely put his faith in God, so he guides Dante to do so. This growing faith in God allows Dante to grow more judgmental of sinners as they progress on their journey, as opposed to his sympathy for sinners before. By having his hero fail, Dante learns that he must avoid the mistakes of his guide, Virgil, by understanding the divine justice of God.