Dante's Inferno Research Paper

The character of Dante from Inferno, written by Dante Alighieri, was an epic hero characterized by neither exceptional strength nor godlike powers. Dante was specially chosen by Beatrice to travel across Hell, a place that no one has crossed before, making his journey very significant and him superior to everyone else. He also possessed a flaw that ruined all epic heroes, hubris. Dante’s journey through the Inferno fits the frame of an Epic Hero Cycle perfectly. As he went through the circles of Hell, Dante overcame the hubris, gained his resurrection and restitution. In doing so, he had established himself the status of an epic hero. Dante displayed sympathy to the souls of the sinners in the first few levels of Hell by passing out, twice, at the sight of them being punished, accompanied by occasional crying as well. This implied the hero’s flaw due to him pitying even those who sin greatly and definitely deserve their punishments, such as Ugolino who watched and did nothing as all of his children died before him. It suggested that Dante, at this point in time, still had a lot more to discover about both mankind’s and his own sins. The presence of hubris was made evident as he traveled further down the depth of Hell. In consequence to Virgil’s scolding, as they went deeper into the circles, Dante no longer pity those who sinned, but instead, contemned them since he was the only being who was alive in Hell. Such was the case with Bocca. When Dante accidentally kicked his head, he was angered and shouted asking for why Dante did so. In reply, Dante told Virgil: “[L]et me linger with this one so that I may satisfy a mental craving. I will walk as fast as need be when I’m done.” (Alighieri 363) He then attempted to discover Bocca’s identity by pulling out Bocca’s hair when he refused to answer. Dante’s failure to realize the true weight of sins and punishments revealed a …show more content…
His actions also changed in coorelation to these new developments. Rather than fainting, crying, or further torturing the sinners, he stood by and watched as the souls were punished, not heartlessly of course. He knew well the suffering of the sinners, but he also understood why each punishment was being performed. It was apparent that Dante’s understanding of the structure of Hell was growing. At the Eighth Circle, Dante was reluctant to leave. Virgil questioned why he was doing so. To this Dante replied: “There, where I have been staring so hard, I believe I saw the shade of one of my kinsmen in the crowd that cry the guilt for which they have so dearly paid.” (Alighieri 323) Virgil explained that Geri del Bello, one of Dante’s good relatives, was looking at Dante’s with hatred. It was revealed that Bello’s death had not been avenged, and Dante blamed himself for this. He did, indeed, felt pity towards Bello, but at this point in time, he understood well that every soul that was in Hell had an appropriate reason to be there. He also came to a realization that he himself could end up in Hell as well if he does not become a better person. Dante now understood the true intentions of his journey through the Inferno. He realized the quest that Virgil had assigned him was to become aware of his own sins. He successfully overcame hubris and was resurrected as Virgil led him