Who's Hell is this Anyway?

Dante Alighieri, a poet from the turn of the 14th century, wrote in the Inferno of his journey through hell. Virgil, an ancient roman poet of the Augustan period, wrote the Aeneid that tells the legendary story of Aeneas. Within both of these poems there was a visit to the underworld, creating a skewed picture of the underworld. THESIS

After becoming lost in his ways of life, Dante introduces his first character, Virgil. By introducing Virgil, Dante is foreshadowing for the thought process of the Aeneid in relation to the Inferno. In Canto I Virgil becomes Dante’s guide through the underworld after being titled, “you are my master, my author.” (page 7, line 85), much like Sibyl in the Aeneid. Throughout Dante’s Inferno, he continuously mimics the literary styles of Virgil’s epic poem. Virgil’s Aeneid defined Imperial Rome of his time and Dante wanted that same honor for 14th century Italy. Much of Dante’s inspiration came from Virgil, although he believed that there were flaws in Virgil’s work that need adjustments, hence the Inferno.

Both the Aeneid and the Inferno present a version of the underworld with a definite structure of separation. Although, Dante was a profound Christian, therefore Virgil’s pagan religious views created an altered underworld. Virgil was unable to believe in Jesus Christ because he died in 19 B.C. This difference in religion created a variation in the definition of sin. Virgil creates a loosely bound hell that is less particular in who resides there. Dante’s hell is specific in that it has nine different circles with different sub layers throughout creating an area for every type of sinner.

Virgil’s version of limbo does not hold the same strength that Dante’s limbo does because it is not as def...

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...eachings. The key moment comes when it is inquired: "They who so well deserv'd, of Giacopo/Arrigo, Mosca, and the rest, who bent/Their minds on working good. Oh! tell me where/They bide, and to their knowledge let me come./For I am press'd with keen desire to hear" (Canto VI). The answer, of course, is that those who good intention do pave the road to a much deeper part of hell; certainly a frightening thought to many Christians.

Dante's Inferno stands as a testament to the power of propaganda; the poem clearly has an ideological point of view that is lacking in Virgil. It is this slight different in perspective, however, that elevates Dante's hell to a far grander literary creation than Virgil's.

PARAGRAPH- In Canto III, for example, you can compare the approach of Dante and Virgil to the river Acheron with the parallel episode in Book VI of the Aeneid.