Inferno, written by Dante Alighieri, follows his journey through Hell as he learns the fates of those damned to suffer in each region of Hell. Guided by former poet Virgil, Dante learns of the idea of “counter punishment” that dictates the relationship between sin and punishment. This construct is seen throughout the circles of hell, but there are those that fit so perfectly with the sin that the damned souls have committed. One prime example of this is in Canto XIII, here Dante travels through a dark and gnarled forest of those who have committed violence against themselves. While other circles contain very exact methods of “counter punishment”, the 7th circle, violence against themselves takes it a step further. In the 7th circle, Dante
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But the ultimate climax of this punishment is the fact that these souls will never get the chance to return to their previous bodies. While every other soul after the Last Judgment will be able to return to their bodies, those who committed violence against themselves will not be able to. They are forever trapped in the body of a tree because they took their own bodies for granted and thus do not deserve to have them. Pier even brings up this fact stating “ Like other souls, we seek out the flesh that we have left, but none of us shall wear it; it is not right for any man to have what he himself has cast aside,” (Inferno, 117). This is where the important distinction of this level of hell comes it. Many sections of Dante’s hell is very black and white as to who belongs in which circle and why. But the 7th circle violence against themselves has holes in the reasoning of who deserves the punishment of losing their body for eternity. Upon reading this section of the poem, many people come up into mind of people who could possibly fall into this circle of Hell. Does everyone who commits violence against themselves deserve this harsh punishment. What is the distinction of sacrificial suicide and …show more content…
It could be argued that the actions that he took nearing his final days could be seen as violence against himself. It is to be believed that Jesus Christ knew of the events that would lead to his death, yet he did nothing to stop it. He instead hosted his final supper and then gave himself to be killed by the roman empire that was persecuting him. Although Jesus’ action are a “sacrifical suicide” for the sins of man, he still took his own body for granted. Yet he was able to return to his body and was never sent to the 7th circle for the actions that he took. So can it be said that if commit violence against yourself for the greater good of others, you are exempt from this punishment. Or is it only because Jesus was the son of God that he was able to escape the fate of the
But the ultimate climax of this punishment is the fact that these souls will never get the chance to return to their previous bodies. While every other soul after the Last Judgment will be able to return to their bodies, those who committed violence against themselves will not be able to. They are forever trapped in the body of a tree because they took their own bodies for granted and thus do not deserve to have them. Pier even brings up this fact stating “ Like other souls, we seek out the flesh that we have left, but none of us shall wear it; it is not right for any man to have what he himself has cast aside,” (Inferno, 117). This is where the important distinction of this level of hell comes it. Many sections of Dante’s hell is very black and white as to who belongs in which circle and why. But the 7th circle violence against themselves has holes in the reasoning of who deserves the punishment of losing their body for eternity. Upon reading this section of the poem, many people come up into mind of people who could possibly fall into this circle of Hell. Does everyone who commits violence against themselves deserve this harsh punishment. What is the distinction of sacrificial suicide and …show more content…
It could be argued that the actions that he took nearing his final days could be seen as violence against himself. It is to be believed that Jesus Christ knew of the events that would lead to his death, yet he did nothing to stop it. He instead hosted his final supper and then gave himself to be killed by the roman empire that was persecuting him. Although Jesus’ action are a “sacrifical suicide” for the sins of man, he still took his own body for granted. Yet he was able to return to his body and was never sent to the 7th circle for the actions that he took. So can it be said that if commit violence against yourself for the greater good of others, you are exempt from this punishment. Or is it only because Jesus was the son of God that he was able to escape the fate of the