Juliana Marbella

Miss Skirtich
19 March 2018
English 10: World Literature
"Inferno" Thesis Paper

Most people wonder what the afterlife is like, or even question its existence. When Dante

travels through Hell, his humanity only hardens until the end. Dante Alighieri placed people of

authority and those he once knew into Hell and was desensitized while writing "Inferno", but

when Dante goes through the Inferno himself, his humanity shows. Dante Alighieri displays

humanity throughout "Inferno" through his pity for the sinners, his righteous anger, and

physicality.

Dante Alighieri displays humanity throughout "Inferno" through his pity for the sinners.

One example of his sympathy for sinners takes place in Circle 2 of Hell, “As soon as I had heard

those souls tormented, I bowed my face, and so long held it down” (Alighieri 35). Francesca

committed an act of lust with her brother-in-law Paulo. This led to her husband murdering them

both out of wrath. Even though it is evident these sinners deserve to be placed here for eternity,

Dante's humanity bleeds through and weeps for these sinners. This shows his softened core

before he travels to the darker circles. Another place Dante's pity arises in appears in Circle 8,

“Truly I wept, leaning upon a peak” (Alighieri 131). Dante enters the fourth bolgia, looking

down on the fortune tellers and diviners. Their punishment orders them to walk in eternity with

their heads twisted backwards with tears filling their eyes. Dante, overcome by this, ultimately

cries because of the pity. Dante's pity for the sinners illustrates his humanity.

Additionally, Dante Alighieri displays humanity throughout "Inferno" his righteous

anger. One instance found in Circle 9 round 3 exemplifies this, "And I did not keep the promise I

had made, for to be rude to him was a courtesy” (Alighieri 275). Dante meets a sinner, Fra
Alberigo, who Dante makes a promise to, if Alberigo tells Dante his backstory, Dante will wipe

his tears that have frozen in his eyes causing immense pain. The sinner tells Dante how he

ordered his servants to slaughter the guests invited at his house. This story angers Dante, causing

him to break his promise with Alberigo and to continue his journey through Hell. Another

example of Dante's righteous anger is also seen in Circle 9 when Dante demands to know who a

sinner is, “I grabbed the hair of his dog’s - ruff and I said ‘either you tell me truly who you are,

or you won’t have a hair left on your head’” (Alighieri 264). Dante kicks a sinners head whose

body is encased in ice and asks for the sinner’s name. The sinner, too embarrassed to reveal his

identity, leads Dante to threatening him. Once again, the sinner refuses and Dante then rips out a

fistful of his hair. Dante’s righteous anger portrays his humanity throughout “Inferno.”

Furthermore, Dante Alighieri displays humanity throughout "Inferno" through

physicality. An illustration transpires when Dante enters the Phlegethon, “And when he had thus

uncovered the huge pitches of his lips, he said to his fellows: ‘Have you notices how the one who

walks behind moves what he touches?’” (Alighieri 95). The centaurs who carry out shooting the

sinners in the blood river, notice Dante traveling with Virgil and threaten to shoot them. Since

Dante is a human, objects move when he touches them. Centaurs are known for being intelligent

in Greek mythology. This supports Chiron’s observation of Dante moving the rocks beneath him

when he walks. Another instance of his physicality presents itself soon after the previous

encounter, “assign us one of your top whom we may follow, that he may guide as to the ford, and

there caddy across on his back the one I lead, for he is not a sports go move through air

(Alighieri 96). After Chiron tells the other centaurs to put their arrows down, Virgil explains they

are on a divine journey. This leads to Chiron being convinced Dante is human. Virgil then asks if
a centaur can carry Dante over the Phlegethon since he proves his humanity and can not float

over it like Virgil. Dante’s physicality factors into his humanity in “Inferno.”

In conclusion, Dante Alighieri displays humanity throughout "Inferno" through his pity

for the sinners, his righteous anger, and physicality. The readers learn how human emotions

factor into sympathy with other people, despite their wrong doings. Dante infuses his humanity

to highlight and elevate his experience through Hell.