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“The knowledge of sin is the beginning of salvation” (Think-exist, par. 5). This quote from a Latin Proverb emphasizes the importance of recognizing sin and striving to live life in a more honorable manner. Dante Alighieri portrays this message in his infamous three-part poem, The Divine Comedy. The Italian poet takes the audience on a journey through the stories of Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Heaven (Paradiso). Starting in the Inferno, Dante chronicles the expedition he himself experiences, under the faithful guidance of the Roman poet Virgil, as he travels through the nine circles of hell to reach heaven.
Though an imaginative and gripping story, through the detailed descriptions of punishments, settings and characters, the poem ultimately serves an allegorical purpose by depicting one man’s desperate journey from confusion and depression to salvation. In essence, an allegory is a story with both a literal and symbolic meaning. While Dante tries to escape hell, Alighieri basically describes how people unconsciously “wander” off God’s path and fall into sin.
The allegorical system of the Inferno, specifically Canto I, contains numerous symbols of Christian beliefs which ultimately assist Alighieri in his efforts to creatively warn readers about the consequences of the sins of humankind. Initially the Inferno begins with Dante lost in forest and unable to remember his way out. This is shown when it reads, “In the midway of this our mortal life, I found me in a gloomy wood, astray/Gone from the path direct…” (I. 2-3). This line not only conveys Dante’s disorientation, but on a deeper level reveals how he is a middle-aged man who has fallen of the “direct path” of God.
The description of the forest as “gloomy” symbolizes the dark place he is in his life. Additionally, when Dante writes, “That forest, how robust and rough its growth, / Which to remember only my dismay/ Renews, in bitterness mot far from death” (I. 5-7), expands upon his state of depression. The growth of the forest represents the increasing sin in his life and the entrapment he feels because of it. Dante is frightened and alone as he yearns for a way back to leading a righteous, godly life.
Alighieri uses his life to show the audience how easily humans become trapped in sin. As the canto continues, symbols of heaven and hell are described. Dante sees a mountain in the distance with the sun’s light beaming behind it. Hope begins to infiltrate his mind as he begins to move towards it. It reads, “But when a mountain’s foot I reach’d, where closed/ The valley that had pierced my heart with dread,/ I look’d aloft, and saw his shoulders broad/ Already vested with that planet’s beam,/ Who leads all wanderers safe through every way” (I. 13-17).
Dante’s desire to climb the mountain and reach a bright place away from the dark forest symbolizes his want to be with God. It represents an ultimate aspiration of others to be in a happy and safe location. The sun, which is symbolic of God, is an incessant part of life and provides light to lead others. The high mountain signifies heaven, a selective and almost “out of reach” place. However, as Dante begins climbing, he comes across a leopard, lion and she-wolf. These animals represent the obstacles of getting to the beautiful place of heaven.
It shows that people cannot just long to go there and enter, they must prove themselves by their actions. The animals embody threats to mankind as symbols of temptation to sin. This is reflected when Dante writes, “Haunted by that fell beast [she-wolf], never at peace,/ Who coming o’er against me, by degrees/ Impell’d me where the sun in silence rests” (I. 54-56). The intimidation of the she-wolf makes Dante reverse his steps and head toward hell, instead of heaven. This portrays how largely the temptation to sin affects each person’s life and the decisions he or she makes tremendously.
Subsequently, the allegories persist through the characters of Virgil and the greyhound. When Virgil first appears Dante is completely grateful and begs him for help. He says, “‘…My master thou and guide! /Thou he from whom alone I have derived/ That style, which for its beauty into fame/ Exalts me. / See the beast, from whom I fled. / O save me from her, thou illustrious sage! ‘” (I. 81-85). Virgil comes to guide Dante on his journey and tells him that they cannot pass through the she-wolf and must go through hell and purgatory before reaching heaven.
This is because the greyhound has not come to send her back to hell. It reads, “Until that greyhound come, who shall destroy/ Her with sharp pain. / He will not life support/ By earth nor its base metals, but my love, / Wisdom and virtue…” (I. 98-101). The greyhound signifies Jesus and how greatly his power of love and righteousness has impacted the world. Virgil is representative of wisdom and protection. He tells Dante about the journey that lies ahead and prepares him for the torment he will see.
Virgil symbolizes hope and advancement towards a better life because he embodies the direction all people need to be guided back onto the “right” path. In conclusion, various characters, settings, objects and events are allegories in an attempt to spread a great message to the audience. Dante’s pattern of imaginatively relating such aspects of his poem to religious beliefs helps him to more effectively show readers the importance of living altruistically. While no person is perfect, each individual has control over his or her life and the outcome of it.
Alighieri reminds readers of this fact and his skillful allegories keep the attention and interest the audience. Writers, like Alighieri, use allegories to both entice readers and innovatively impart their central theme onto others. Allegories allow the audience to participate in the story because each individual has his or her opinion about what a given aspect of the tale might represent. Overall, the use of allegories facilitates the telling of a remarkable story and informs the audience of a deeper, significant message from the author as well.