Similarities And Differences Between Dante And Dante's Inferno And Oedipus

Characters in literature who exhibit pride or live as a voice of reason, often share certain characteristics between each other. Prideful characters often allow their pride to influence their actions, while voices of reason advise the lead character, hoping that the lead character will listen to them. Dante’s Inferno and Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex share similarities through their lead characters, Dante (the pilgrim) from Dante’s Inferno and Oedipus from Oedipus Rex, as well as through their voices of reason, Virgil from Dante’s Inferno and Creon from Oedipus Rex

Both Dante and Oedipus give in to their pride however, Dante does not give in to his pride like Oedipus does and refrains from making poor decisions. Both commit wrathful acts under their

(Lines 288-89). Dante committed a similar deed when he met Filippo Argenti (who was his political rival in Florence) in Circle Five and desired, “to see the wretch scrubbed down…”. Because of his wish, he, “saw the…spirit so mangled by a swarm of muddy spirits”. (Canto VIII, Lines 50-56). Both men gave into their pride and chose an outcome that hurts someone else, however, Oedipus chose to rectify his pride by killing King Laios. Due to this first instance of submitting to his pride, Oedipus began a series of actions that would eventually lead to his tragic downfall. Unlike Oedipus, Dante chose to rectify his pride through the Divine Punishment that Argenti suffers from and through this method, Dante brought himself closer to Paradise which is what Virgil desires. Not only do both characters give in to their pride through their anger, but they also hold a tone of prideful worthiness. Oedipus however, allows his pride to bloat into a superiority complex while he serves as king. He speaks with a demanding and royal tone when he says, “Children, I would not have you speak through messengers, and

Oedipus however, allowed his prideful nature to manipulate him into allowing his downfall to occur. Dante merely indulged his intellectual pride and his political pride, and refrained from any more prideful acts than those. Both lead characters drew support from a voice of reason, with Virgil helping Dante and Creon helping Oedipus. The supporters helped their lead characters by teaching them new information on the present situation they were in and counseled them on what to do or on what they were encountering. Only Virgil succeeded in truly helping Dante however due to Oedipus giving in to his pride’s influence and blamed Creon for the plague until Oedipus accepted the truth. Both sets hold similarities to see certain patters remain, however enough differences remain to keep the characters from one story unique from the