Inferno as a Manifestation of the Pain of Dante Alighieri...

Inferno as a Manifestation of the Pain of Dante Alighieri Dantes Inferno was a great epic poem of the early Renaissance. It was known for its astute commentary on political and religious levels, both deeply woven into the work through allegory. Inferno, written in 1314 by Dante Alighieri, was the first canticle of the Divine Comedy. Dante called it a comedy both because of its happy ending and its style, which lies between that of the tragedy and that of the elegy.(Vossler, 665) Although most respected writers of the time wrote in Latin, Dante wrote the Divine Comedy in the vernacular Italian language so that the common man could read it. The fact that this masterpiece was written in the vernacular helped elevate†¦show more content†¦Dantes time was one of great instability. Between 1215 and 1278 the Guelfs, with whom Dante sided, and the Ghibellines of Florence had engaged in a bitter struggle for power, the conflict revolving around the Ghibellines favor of a feudal aristocracy. The Guelfs finally prevailed. Around 1300, however, the Guelf party split into two hostile factions: the Blacks and the Whites. The Blacks, the faithful Guelfs, remained in control. The Whites eventually associated themselves with the Ghi bellines. Dante, meanwhile, fought to preserve the independence of Florence, and repeatedly opposed the schemes of Pope Boniface VIII, who wanted to place Florence under the control of the church. By taking advantage of the unrest in Florence, Boniface attempted to take control of the city and undermine his opponents by promising protection to those who displayed some sympathy with his cause.(Bergin, 8). In the summer of 1300, Dante, as one of the six magistrates of Florence, opposed Boniface. To show his displeasure Boniface wanted to excommunicate the members. Dante was saved from this fate only because his term of office was about to expire. The events, however, only served to worsen his already adverse opinion of Boniface. In 1301, Boniface summoned Charles of Valois and his army to Italy attempting to neutralize antichurch forces in Florence. It was at this time that Dante was sent as one of threeShow MoreRelated The Weakness of Human Nature in Dantes Inferno Essay2203 Words   |  9 PagesDantes Inferno is full of themes. But the most frequent is that of the weakness of human nature. Dantes descent into hell is initially so that Dante can see how he can better live his life, free of weaknesses that may ultimately be his ticket to hell. Through the first ten cantos, Dante portrays how each level of his hell is a manifestation of human weakness and a loss of hope, which ultimately Dante uses to purge and learn from. Dante, himself, is about to fall into the weaknesses of humansRead More Dante’s Inferno - The Evolving Relationship between Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil the Guide2167 Words   |  9 PagesDante’s Inferno -   The Evolving Relationship between Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil th e Guide       In Dante’s Inferno, the relationship between Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil the Guide is an ever-evolving one. By analyzing the transformation of this relationship as the two sojourn through the circles of hell, one is able to learn more about the mindset of Dante the Poet.   At the outset, Dante is clearly subservient to Virgil, whom he holds in high esteem for his literary genius.