st augustine in the inferno
It is hard to place St. Augustine within just one of the levels of Dante's hell for his sins were varied and not great. Today many of his sins are commonplace. For example, most people attempt to better their own lives without regard of others. They attempt to increase their standard of living and gain more worldly possessions. They are neither good nor evil but are just trying to make a living and keep up in today's fend-for-yourself society. Before Augustine's conversion, this was his goal. He was continually searching for "honors, money, (and) marriage" (Confessions, 991). This allows Augustine to be placed in the first area of hell, the Vestibule. It is a place for opportunists such as Augustine was before his conversion. It is a place for the "nearly soulless. . . who were neither for God nor Satan, but only for themselves" (Inferno, 1295). Augustine never intentionally hurt anyone, but his actions were led by his instincts to succeed and gain praise. These actions included kissing up to the Emperor, his study of law and the art of persuasion, and the mocking of newcomers to his profession. Since each of these sins also falls within a different realm of Dante's hell, they will be discussed lat
One of these mistresses he took because he was unable to wait for a little over a year to have sex before being married to his promised wife. In fact it was not really marriage that I wanted. During his lifetime, he had a multitude of mistresses. Therefore, Augustine can not be placed within this first circle of hell. The second level of Dante's hell, Limbo, does not apply to Augustine because he was baptized and was blessed with the knowledge of Jesus Christ's existence. So I took another woman" (Confessions, 993). For this some would place him within the vestibule of hell. Bolge nine houses several different types of sowers of discord. Nor had I any desire to enjoy the things I stole, but only the stealing of them and the sin. She had to reach the legal marrying age of twelve before they could consummate. The second circle of hell, a realm for those who fell victim of their carnal desires, is another level at which to place Augustine's soul for he was consumed by lust in his pre-conversion days.
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Acceptance Essays
