Inferno College Essay Example

levels. Human reason is no match for true evil. The fallen angels reside at the last levels, and the worst of sinners reside on the very last level, the ninth. Satan resides here, with a frozen trio in his mouth: Caesar’s slayers Brutus and Cassius, alongside Judas Iscariot, betrayer of Christ.

The four individuals are trapped in the mixture of blood, excrement, and sadness that flows from the rivers above. They had disregarded love during their earthly existence, resulting in their souls being condemned to eternal separation from God's warmth. Dante's interpretation of hell is a reflection of the structured and balanced view of the world prevalent during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It follows a moral framework where one's actions and behavior determine their eternal fate, much like the Hammurabic code where each sin matches a specific punishment.

The placement of classical figures, which were reborn and reconsidered during Dante’s time, is also considered. These figures are depicted as being outside the grace of God. However, they serve to illustrate Dante’s larger anti-humanistic point, with the help of the classical figure Virgil who serves as his guide. The point being that humanity can only be saved by the grace of God alone. This salvation cannot be achieved through human reasoning (as seen in Virgil’s situation in Limbo), purposeful moral ambiguity (as seen in the opportunists in the Vestibule), or by worldly matters and worldliness (as experienced by Dante in the woods). Ultimately, all of these elements are encountered on the journey to hell in Dante’s “Inferno”.