Dante's "Inferno"

Paper Summary:

The paper states that the story line of the "Inferno", simply stated, is Dante's journey through hell. The paper explains that Dante is lost physically and spiritually because he was not paying attention to where he was going. The writer summarizes Dante's journey through hell. In conclusion, the writer states that the reader watches the character-narrator change from a somewhat naive observer-participant to an older, wiser narrator who offers insight and meaning.

From the Paper:

"Dante's vision is of a journey in the afterlife through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise where he encounters the souls of the great men of the past and discusses with them the most important themes of humanity: philosophy, religion and morality, politics and culture. Dante's voyage, guided by Virgil (human reason), and Beatrice (human reason enlightened by revelation), is also the story of his personal redemption as well as a cry for the salvation of humanity. Virgil was a guide through the spirit world. Virgil stands for human reason. Virgil becomes in the Inferno the symbol of human reason. Virgil tells Dante that he is there because Heaven wanted him there and that he can take Dante only part of the way. He can't enter Heaven or see God because he was a pagan. Someone "more worthy" will take Dante to God. It is Beatrice who will do this, as she has sent Virgil to help Dante find his way to Heaven and to her. She doesn't appear directly in the Inferno, but is his guide through Heaven and to God."

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