Morality In Dante's Inferno

Morality

“Through me you pass into the city of woe: Through me you pass into eternal pain: Through me among the people lost for aye” (Alighieri III 1/3). “Inferno”, the first section of the Divine Comedy devised by Dante Alighieri, illustrates the qualifications of a sin, and the punishments befalling a sinner within the nine levels of Hell. Alighieri’s moral ranking of sins, while appropriate for 14th century Italy, contradict modern-day western principles and ethics. Current social tolerance and knowledge in psychology go against Alighieri’s decision of what is sin, and placement of these ‘sins’.

(The) Sins in the Divine Comedy are ranked off Dante’s ideals and customs. Alighieri claims greed is a greater sin than heresy, which are beliefs contrary to the orthodox Christian doctrine. Dante perceives heretics as “folks [to be] despised”, being outcasts from the Christian faith (IX). By claiming Heresy is a greater offense than Greed, Alighieri reflects his unwavering devotion to the writings of the Catholic Church. In the United States, and in many places throughout the western world, there is freedom of religion and religious tolerance; but greed is still currently considered a ‘sin’ throughout the whole world. People who show greed, an act out of selfish desire, usually do not care about the

The moral rankings within the Dante’s “Inferno” contradict current knowledge and principles. The placement of greed as a lesser sin than heresy; putting the ‘sullen’ and ‘hurt thy self’ in Hell, and creating Limbo for the placement of non-believers are prominent examples of Alighieri’s unjust moral rankings and the punishments for sinners. Looking back at 14th century Italy, from the perspective of the modern, western, world, it is apparent that though sin still exists, rankings of the nine levels of Hell in Dante’s “Inferno” are no longer applicable in society