In the poem The Inferno by Dante Alighieri, Canto XIII (13) is very important to the storyline, because without it, there would not be any detail about those who hurt themselves and how they affected others in Hell and on Earth. Dante uses symbolism to describe almost everything in this canto and it is key to understanding exactly what is happening during the story. The way he describes the sinners and their punishments in this canto is extremely helpful in describing future events as well.
The souls in this canto are called the “Suicides,” which obviously means that they were violent against themselves. When Dante and Virgil enter, unlike the other cantos, they cannot see the souls, instead they see trees that are gnarled and nasty. This
The souls in this canto are called the “Suicides,” which obviously means that they were violent against themselves. When Dante and Virgil enter, unlike the other cantos, they cannot see the souls, instead they see trees that are gnarled and nasty. This