The Inferno: An Analysis

While I read Dante’s Inferno, I caught myself reading an underlying message. It wasn’t about the Christian faith, or the soul’s road to salvation. It was Dante’s own political views. While the book may have been written for the religious message, I believe that Dante added his take on politics as well. I believe Dante uses religious principles to punish his political opponents.
If you’re asking why Dante would need an opportunity to take his enemies down, it all comes down to the Guelph and Ghibelline conflict. In a nutshell, Guelphs were for more papal power, and the Ghibellines wanted more power for the king. Within the Guelphs, there was another separation. There were the Black Guelphs, who wanted the pope to be the supreme power, while the White Guelphs thought the pope and king should coincide as leaders. Dante was a member of the White Guelph party, and was exiled from his home of Florence by the Black Guelph party. Shortly after his exile, Dante began writing The Inferno, so his angry emotions were still fresh. It is easy to see how he could slip in a few jabs at his foes.
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