Highway To Hell Dantes Inferno Analysis

A mid-life crisis happens in an adult’s life between the ages of 40-60, and the average adult begins to realize they are getting older. This can be recognized easily when a man around the age of 50 begins to sing the AC/DC song “Highway to Hell” and he begins to realize that his favorite song came out 35 years ago. This is also the time an adult begins to second-guess their decisions they have made in the past and also begin to wonder if they are still considered a productive member of society. A mid-life crisis leads to voids in a person’s life; the first is emotional or mental void. The person begins to think that they have not fulfilled their dreams or life goals and they realize that they are running out of time. The second void it leaves …show more content…
Within the opening lines of the first canto Dante writes “Midway upon the journey of our life/ I found myself within a forest dark,/ For the straightforward pathway had been lost” (Alighieri 1. 1-3). This passage shows that Dante is suffering a mid-life crisis and that he is searching for a spiritual answer to help him find himself within the dark forest. The third line referring to the straightforward pathway being lost is talking about how Dante has become lost in life. Emotionally and spiritually he has become distraught from being exiled from his home. This passage also shows that Dante has become weak within his faith and he must have a guide to help him through his journey through Hell. Dante’s journey takes him through all nine circles of Hell, limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery. Dante’s mission is to go to each circle and find out consequences of each based on what sins were committed. Through each level Dante’s spiritual weakness is tested until the end when Dante realizes he can turn these weaknesses into strength. The “Highway to Hell” turns Dante into the strong spiritual man he needs to be in