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The Inferno describes the journey of a fictionalised version of Dante himself through Hell, guided by the ancient Roman poet Virgil.
May 3, 2024 · The nine circles of hell, as depicted in Dante's Inferno, represent a gradual descent into increasing levels of sin and punishment—from the first circle, Limbo, to the ninth circle, which is reserved for the worst sinners.
- Matt Staggs
- Penguin Random House
- Paperback
- Limbo. The first circle is home to the unbaptized and virtuous pagans. It’s not Heaven, but as far as Hell goes, it isn’t too bad: It’s the retirement community of the afterlife.
- Lust. The wind-buffeted second circle of Hell is the final destination of the lustful and adulterous — basically anyone controlled by their hormones.
- Gluttony. Today’s forecast calls for plenty of icy rain and slush — a “wintery mix” for all eternity. You know those people whose Instagram feeds are full of carefully lit photos of artfully arranged entrees?
- Greed. This section of Hell is reserved for the money-grubbers and overly materialistic among us. According to Dante, those condemned to the fourth circle spend eternity fighting over money and valuables, so be prepared to meet all of your distant cousins who show up out of nowhere with empty U-Haul trucks moments the moment after a well-to-do great aunt or uncle dies.
This section of Discover Dante introduces Inferno. We begin with an overview of Dante's idea of Hell, before working through the text canto by canto, and then considering some of the major themes in the text.
The Inferno traces the journey of the character Dante, accompanied by the shade of the Roman poet Virgil, through the descending nine circles of Hell, where he witnesses a harrowing roster of the damned and their gruesome punishments.
Dante clearly describes Hell as a frightening place, from the wording over its gates urging those who enter to “abandon all hope” to monsters such as the ghost boatman Charon, the three-headed dog Cerberus, Medusa, and a band of demons with hooks and spears.
At the entrance of the Second Circle, the pair encounter King Minos—who judges the incoming souls and assigns them to their appropriate place in hell—and meet the souls of the lustful, who are...
