Guest Blogger: Senia L.

For the past week, we’ve been reading the adventures through hell. I’m not positive on what Dante’s message about his passages, but it is organized in a nicely fashioned way. He splits hell into 9 circles, some containing rings and bolgias. Every structure is basically the setting, sin committed, and their punishments for their actions. Although sometimes hard to understand, this story isn’t all too bad. The chart in the back of the packet makes things really easy to fallow. Dante uses many literacy devices like diction. On Canto XII 4th stanza down, “The infamy of Crete was stretched along…” instead of saying it was far. Also I would like to put my opinion towards the two main characters, Dante and Vergil. It never really mentions the sin Dante committed. So what are some possible things he could have done? He displays a variety of emotions ranging from pleasure, to pity, to sympathy, to horror and revulsion when going to circle to circle. For example, when the wrathful person, whether it is a demon or spirit, strikes at him, Dante has no pity and would strike back. Something that I still have a hard time figuring out is how Dante seems to know so many people in hell. Apparently there are a lot of famous people from Italy and other parts of the world. Why has Dante included some of characters from Greek mythology, the bible, etc? I am still uncertain on his Dante’s opinion of hell and the structure of hell. Virgil on the other hand displays virtues that appear to a Roman. I think he is the Dante’s perfect guide considering that he has wisdom and reason. He explains things to Dante easily. Sometimes he wants Dante for his sympathy towards the sinners, but at the same time telling him that their soul is there to be punished for their bad deeds. I wonder what Virgil’s opinion on hell and the structure of hell.

When reading each canto, turning after turning each page, I realized this rising action and feel that the climax is coming close. Maybe the climax has already passed. In any case, I think that the climax is going to be near the last circle. With a suitable story structure, comes the structure of the whole plot. In a surprising way, hell seems very organized from Dante’s point of view. It probably gives the reader the option to see what would happen if they were to create a sinful event. When Dante and Virgil travel through the circles, you see the repetition of setting, sin, punishment, and others. It points out that the reader knows what is to be expected in the next canto but in a different manner. Although the reading is hard to understand, the structure makes it easier to follow.

Now that we have talked about Dante’s message or motif about the inferno, I have my thoughts on that subject. I would agree with Sarah S. and Quinn J. about how it’s sort of a warning to the reader, especially at that period of time, not to commit sins or they would have to pay a price. This was probably very effective back then and a help for churches. Also it gives the reader a chance to see what they can change or prevent themselves from being in a situation like the sinners in the Inferno. I’m looking forward to see what happens next!