Dante's Inferno: The Dark Path To Enlightenment

Inferno: The Dark Path to Enlightenment Compassion; a quality often admired by society. To empathize and sympathize with those who are suffering, even if they have done wrong is widely considered humane and morale. However in Dante Alighieri 's Inferno, compassion for those who have sinned is not only considered immoral, but as going directly against God’s law and judgment. During Dante’s journey through Hell, he is chastised several times for showing such empathy. As Dante descends deeper into the Inferno, he demonstrates less compassion and empathy for those who have sinned, this symbolizing Dante’s progression from mundane ignorance to spiritual enlightenment. When Dante is first introduced, it is clear that he is a symbol for humanity as a whole, and given that compassion towards the suffering
of others is a decidedly human quality, it is not surprising that Dante feels and shares in the pain of the souls in Hell. After listening to the heart-wrenching tale of Francesa in Circle 2, Dante is so overcome with pity that he, “[Feels] my (Dante’s) senses reel and faint away with anguish” (Alighieri 62). The level of sympathy illustrated in this scene reveals that Dante still has a certain naivety when it comes to God’s strict moral laws, and is unable yet to let go of his worldly emotional impulses. Though at first Virgil, Dante’s guide, allows Dante to sympathize with the sinners, as the pair moves deeper into Hell Virgil begins to respond to such bouts of pity by reprimanding Dante, saying “ There is no place for pity here… who dares to sorrow at God’s judgment? ” (175). Thus it becomes clear that part of Virgil’s mission is to help Dante see that in order to reach and understand God’s moral code, Dante must first stop pitying the sinners in hell. Stop pitying them he does, as Dante travels deeper and deeper, he begins to not only recognize the gravity of the condemned souls sins, but to also accept and agree that their punishments are just and deserved.
Blatant scorn for sinners is demonstrated when Dante stumbles upon Bocca Degli Abbati in Antenora, threatening him with violence and naming him a “Filthy traitor” (270). Such contempt towards those who have broken God’s laws is symbolic of Dante’s move toward spiritual enlightenment because Dante as now believes and is acting in accordance with the moral code of heaven, and he can now begin to live his life according to that code, thus remain on the path to righteousness. In contrast to Virgil’s reaction toward Dante sympathizing with the sinners, Virgil’s response to Dante’s disdain for the sinners is pride and approval, Dante noting of Virgil’s response to such actions, “I think, indeed, it [pleases] my guide: his look [is] all approval… of the truth I [speak]” (170). This reaction is significant because show that in Virgil, as Dante’s guide and teacher, is recognizing that Dante is acquiring the more rigid moral code required of him by
God. In final analysis, while sympathy for those suffering is seen by most as a kind and humane action. In Inferno, however, such pity leads to reprimand, and scorn for those suffering is seen as moral and virtuous. Dante’s transition from naivety to spiritual enlightenment is in part depicted by the realization that he should not pity those who have broken God’s law. While in the beginning of his decent Dante is nearly over come with empathy, Virgil soon reminds Dante that the tortured souls are not to be pity. Thus begins Dante’s accepting the punishment he sees, no longer sympathizing but recognizing the contrapasso in the sentence. Symbolizing Dante’s increased acceptance of Heavenly morals and his move toward enlightenment.
Works Cited
Alighieri, Dante. The Inferno. Trans. John Ciardi. New York: New American Library, 2001