The Significance of Virgil in the Inferno
What is the significance of Virgil's relationship with Dante?The Inferno is an epic poem by Dante Alighieri, one of the greatest poets in the history of western literature. In it, he uses his mastery of language to blend elements of classical literature with a more contemporary Catholic viewpoint. Virgil, the Roman poet, is Dante's guide on this journey through the underworld. He helps to represent the classical elements of the poem. His relationship with the character of Dante in the poem is wide-ranging in importance and symbolism. He is a figure of reason and protection. Dante borrows liberally from Virgil in writing The Inferno. Much of the work resembles the underworld created in Virgil's Aeneid. Thus, Virgil is an obvious choice for a guide in the underworld. Having traversed the territory before, Virgil serves as a figure of knowledge and safety to Dante, who is at times uncertain and timid about traversing such a treacherous terrain. For example, in Canto II Dante hesitates at the Vestibule that marks the entrance to hell. It is only through the reassurance of Virgil's words that he finds fortitude. "Thy words have moved my heart to its first purpose. My guide! My Lord! My
This point is exemplified by the treatment of the honorable pagans. " Dante here dubiously illustrates the feeling that he is on par with the greatest poets in history. Dante, having sought the divine knowledge that his father figure didn't seek in his life, is granted passage into a higher realm. While it still is largely similar to Virgil's underworld in the Aeneid, and it incorporates many pagan themes, God's word supercedes all else. This figure could have many meanings. More importantly, though, he is a father of virtue. He thus usurps the power of Virgil. He represents the nobility of all of those great thinkers of the classical world, and the heights they attained in logic, ethics, science, and art. He also symbolizes their shortcomings, the fact that their view of life was incomplete. In this case, the new enlightenment happens to be 5the Catholic religion. The poets, "the masters of that highest school whose song outsoars all other like an eagle's flight", confer amongst themselves and then "turned and welcomed me most graciously. Virgil commands Dante to turn his back and cover his eyes. Dante, committing himself to this craft, could view himself as a surrogate, a bearer of the noble name of poetry that forefathers in the art created. Though they are fallen and are sentenced to an existence in Hell, these souls are of a Heavenly nature. "It is his fate to enter every door/This has been willed where what is willed must be,/and is not yours to question.
Common topics in this essay:
Obviously Virgil,
Canto III,
Hell God's,
Father Virgil,
God Dante,
Virgil Roman,
Accordingly Virgil's,
Aeneid Virgil,
Minos Virgil,
II Dante,
reason logic,
honorable pagans,
willed willed be/and,
dante's hell,
virgil sort,
circles hell,
poets history,
virgil's influence,
catholic viewpoint,
dante hands,
symbol reason,
|
Acceptance Essays
