The Inferno is a detailed account of Dante's journey through Hell. While on this journey, Dante witnesses the punishment of the damned through the use of all senses. He smells the foul stenches, sees the horrific sights, feels not only the heat but also the cold, and hears the disturbing cries of all sinners. Ironically, the purpose of this journey is to demonstrate Hell to Dante so that he will spend eternity in Heaven. As we undertake this journey with Dante, we begin to see that man is neither smart nor strong enough to face the hardships in life without divine intervention. However, said intervention does not guarantee salvation. It is the choice made by man that brings, or forbears, salvation. A reader may wonder how God can allow this kind of suffering and pain. Dante justifies the coexistence of an omnipotent, just, and loving God with a hell that is treacherous, disgusting, and eternal.
             The power of God is one of the recurring themes in The Inferno. Dante-the-character is a mere mortal. God places him in the hands of Virgil, a renowned Roman poet who represents human reason within The Inferno. Although Dante has human reason as his guide, this mission cannot be completed without divine intervention. God's power is demonstrated in Canto Nine when a heavenly messenger is sent to open a gate that no one else can. However, the question still remains: how can such a loving God allow this punishment in hell?
             The Inferno was written in accordance with orthodox Christianity, as outlined in the Bible. The Bible states that evildoers will be punished. Many characteristics of Dante's hell, such as weeping, pain, burning flames, and eternal punishment are mentioned in the Bible. Just as God has the power to save, He has also the power to damn. When asking oneself how God could allow this kind of torture, a person should remember that The Inferno is a fictional work and Dante does not claim otherwise. Therefo...