The Corruption Of Politics In Dante's Inferno

Throughout the poem Inferno, Dante makes use of saddening imagery and symbols, allegories, and well known allusions to attack political factions. These attacks are used to enlighten corrupt politicians on their inevitable punishments in hell, while displaying that the most treacherous sins are punished more severely. There are also examples of mythological creatures and even political figures throughout many of the Cantos. Dante utilizes political experiences in the poem to reveal some aspects of his own life. Living in Florence was Dante’s hell and a significant amount of the Inferno reflects that. There are instances within the story that help shape the attack on the political factions in Florence. Many of the sins and sinners created by Dante reveal how thoroughly he criticizes corrupt politicians. For example, Ciacco, a character condemned for his gluttony, discloses his predictions of Florence’s political future by prophesying that it will be filled with strife. Ciacco continues to say, “after much contention they will come to bloodshed; the rustic party will drive the other out by brutal means.”(p.123) Dante uses the voices of the damned to point

The organization of the circles of hell have hidden meaning, and they were organized when he is introduced to the three beasts: the leopard, the lion, and the wolf which are representative of incontinence, violence, and fraud respectively. The sins the beasts symbolize represent the severity of sins and embody the order of sins and circles of hell. The arrangement of sins themselves are associated as being a direct reflection of sins that affected Dante’s life. Dante intentionally places corrupt politicians closer to hell to represent the political struggles he faced which ultimately had him exiled. Priests and popes for example, who were condemned for the sale of indulgences are assigned significantly harsher