The basis of the inferno of Dante relies on the idea of contrapasso, the idea of a punishment that fits the sin committed. As Dante travels through hell every different circle has a different type of punishment depending on the severity of the crimes against God. In this paper I will present examples of these types of punishments and how they are exceptable types of punishment for each individuals sins.
             It is the Thursday before Good Friday, that Dante the Pilgrim comes to his senses in the dark wood, the worldly life of sin. All of the following day he spends trying to find his way out of the place; he attempts to climb a sunlit mountain and is forced back down by three beasts; a leopard, a lion, and a she-wolf, that block his ascent. Then, suddenly, the shade of a man appears on the scene. The figure is the shade of Virgil, who offers to lead the Pilgrim out of the dark wood by another way. Virgil has been sent to guide the Pilgrim to safety by the blessed Beatrice. The only way to escape from the dark wood is to descend into hell.
             At sunset on the eve of Good Friday, Virgil and Pilgrim enter the Gates of Hell, and all that night and the next day they descend until they reach the gigantic figure of Lucifer. Before they reach Lucifer they pass through the three divisions of hell. The pilgrim takes careful notice of each region, the type of sin punished, the sinners and the nature of the punishment. Virgil acts as his guide and clears his doubts about all that they come across.
             We see three major themes emerging in the Inferno again and again. First, there is the eternal justice of God, which gives each sinner his due by punishment for the sins that he committed in life, thus, the punishment always fits the crime. Second, there is the eternal glory of Rome, as the head of the "separate but equal" bodies of Church and state. Lastly, we see the eternal danger of politics, which has brought so many of the sinners i...