In the poem The Inferno , Dante Alighieri uses various allusions, many of them referencing Greco-Roman myths that were well known at the time. They are to create a sense of familiarity with the reader and help them better understand the ideas Dante is trying to convey about God’s justice and the reasoning behind the punishments in correspondence to each sin. With his intended audience’s knowledge of these Greco-Roman character’s stories, it would be unnecessary for Dante to provide additional background information, and knowing these character’s pasts the reader would have a better understanding of the sins that were committed to have deserved the punishments that Dante thought was fitting for them.
When Dante enters the Second Circle of Hell, …show more content…
The name Dis alludes to whom the Romans believed was the King of the Underworld, Pluto, also known as Hades by the Greeks. The idea that this city is ruled by Hades prepares the reader for the horrors that lie ahead. The furies that guard the city are even portrayed as “hellish and inhuman” (Alighieri, 69) as well as “blood stained and wild” (Alighieri, 69), which foreshadows the unmerciful punishments for the souls that have defied God in a much more severe manner than seen previously. The City of Dis is referred to as “Death’s Kingdom” (Alighieri, 62), and described as “a country side of new sorrow and torment” (Alighieri, 71). The imagery created by this choice of diction further reinforces the vast, horror filled, and hopeless place that is the City of Dis. Dante even compares the sight to Arles and Pola, which are ancient cities that were used as large burial grounds for the dead, housing countless cemeteries. This effectively describes the punishment for the Heretics, as they are sentenced to eternity in a tomb filled with fire. By naming the lower depths of hell the City of Dis and alluding to Pluto, along with the effective usage of diction, Dante thoroughly highlights the horrors of the capital of the Underworld, which contains the Sixth to Ninth Circles of …show more content…
Thais is a courtesan in Greek mythology, known for her flattery of men which allowed her to obtain the things she desired. Because of her reputation, she serves as a primary example for the kinds of sinners that the Eighth Circle holds. Dante classifies her sins as one of fraud and deception, which by Christian belief, is one of the more vile sins, since the sinner is hurting others for selfish reasons while having completely control of their actions; therefore willingly defying God. Dante’s ironic punishment for the Flatterers reflects how flattery is mostly carried out verbally, as he has the sinners submerged in river feces, which he believes is the true worth of their words. The imagery created when Thais is described as “scratching herself with dungy nails” (Alighieri, 148), by Virgil further stresses the distasteful nature of the Flatterers and how shameless they can be. The fact that human reason can recognize these sins as unethical further reinforces the idea that the people who use flattery are fully aware of the vileness of their actions, but carry them out anyways despite the fact. The forms of defiance against God are beginning to be done on each sinner’s free will, as the poets proceed towards the lower levels of
When Dante enters the Second Circle of Hell, …show more content…
The name Dis alludes to whom the Romans believed was the King of the Underworld, Pluto, also known as Hades by the Greeks. The idea that this city is ruled by Hades prepares the reader for the horrors that lie ahead. The furies that guard the city are even portrayed as “hellish and inhuman” (Alighieri, 69) as well as “blood stained and wild” (Alighieri, 69), which foreshadows the unmerciful punishments for the souls that have defied God in a much more severe manner than seen previously. The City of Dis is referred to as “Death’s Kingdom” (Alighieri, 62), and described as “a country side of new sorrow and torment” (Alighieri, 71). The imagery created by this choice of diction further reinforces the vast, horror filled, and hopeless place that is the City of Dis. Dante even compares the sight to Arles and Pola, which are ancient cities that were used as large burial grounds for the dead, housing countless cemeteries. This effectively describes the punishment for the Heretics, as they are sentenced to eternity in a tomb filled with fire. By naming the lower depths of hell the City of Dis and alluding to Pluto, along with the effective usage of diction, Dante thoroughly highlights the horrors of the capital of the Underworld, which contains the Sixth to Ninth Circles of …show more content…
Thais is a courtesan in Greek mythology, known for her flattery of men which allowed her to obtain the things she desired. Because of her reputation, she serves as a primary example for the kinds of sinners that the Eighth Circle holds. Dante classifies her sins as one of fraud and deception, which by Christian belief, is one of the more vile sins, since the sinner is hurting others for selfish reasons while having completely control of their actions; therefore willingly defying God. Dante’s ironic punishment for the Flatterers reflects how flattery is mostly carried out verbally, as he has the sinners submerged in river feces, which he believes is the true worth of their words. The imagery created when Thais is described as “scratching herself with dungy nails” (Alighieri, 148), by Virgil further stresses the distasteful nature of the Flatterers and how shameless they can be. The fact that human reason can recognize these sins as unethical further reinforces the idea that the people who use flattery are fully aware of the vileness of their actions, but carry them out anyways despite the fact. The forms of defiance against God are beginning to be done on each sinner’s free will, as the poets proceed towards the lower levels of