Francesca da Rimini

to the souls of the lustful, or the promiscuous and impulsive. According to the model of the church, the lustful are always considered sinners regardless of individual case-by-case circumstances. With that being said, Dante’s conversations with the trapped souls and discoveries made during his visit reveals some inconsistencies within the rules of the church. In the second circle of hell, Dante’s conversation with Francesca da Rimini’s soul and his clear demonstration of sympathy towards the lustful illustrates the sin as a universal impulsivity; he is subtly pointing out…

Francesca tells Dante their story and how she was forced to marry an old deformed man that she didn’t love, but she fell in love with the man’s younger brother, Paolo. One night while they were alone, they began to read the story of Lancelot and Guinevere and could not resist kissing and “that day no farther did we read therein.” Francesca’s husband caught them and brutally killed them out of anger. Dante then feinted because he was so overcome by emotion and pity. The two just happened to fall…

about the circles of Hell and the guidance needed for him to grow. Beatrice sends Virgil to lead Dante through Hell, stating that “‘[she fears] he may have gone…astray’” and instructs Virgil to “‘give [Dante his] help, and thereby bring [her] solace’” (II.64,69). This is a prime example of ‘good’ pity which is ultimately helpful and has positive consequences. In this case, the pity is worthwhile since it is benefiting Dante and teaching him lessons for the future. However, pity can also be…

Since Paolo Malatesta is silent, he does not want to say anything, but listening and crying. It seems he is in great pain. When we put ourselves in his situation, will we not be painful, not regret for we have done? Although Francesca and Paolo are suffering in same condition, their mental state is different. Paolo was killed by his own brother which is his family member who may love him before. When he is memorizing all these thing, he must be guilty and he may ask himself what I have done, he…

Dante travels through the many layers of hell Leaning of the sins that has trapped these souls, to suffer both physical and mental pain. The deeper Dante goes the worse the sins are, in a sense he starts off analyzing his little flaws, then he really digs into his inner beasts. Dante and virgil, his guide, are traveling through the first circle of Hell, and they come upon one of the seven capital sins, lust. Dante sees these two lovers swirling around on the edge of an orgasim for ever, this is…

The Divine Comedy, composed by Dante Alighieri some place around the year 1308 and initially called The Comedy, is generally viewed as one of the preeminent works of Italian writing. It is an epic poem that comprises of three books: Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise, which chronicle (portray) the experiences of Dante the Pilgrim (an imaginary character embodied by Dante himself) in his goes through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Albeit terrifying on a strict level, on a more noteworthy level it…

In Dante’s Inferno, Dante Alighieri writes himself as a traveler who is traversing through the realm of the underworld with the Roman poet Vergil as his guide. In documenting his journey, Dante continually references and encounters both fictional characters and historic figures from the Greek, Roman and Catholic canon. In doing so, he brings the characters and figures back to life, allowing him to rewrite them in his own context and perspective. By reviving these characters and melding the…

Since Francesca and Paolo engaged in a love affair upon their death they were sentenced to hell. When they received their judgement, they were sent to circle 2, the lustful. They were sentenced here because the both of them committed a sin through their love affair. Then upon speaking to Francesca she tells him about what she went through while she was alive and living her life with her husband. While speaking, she continues to shift blame on to others and not herself but she also speaks of how…

upon Dante violently. Dante tells the reader that, “so did that whirlwind whip those evil souls, flinging them here and there and up and down; nor were they ever comforted by hope- not hope for rest, or even lesser pain” (Inferno, V.43-35). In Dante’s literature, wind represents inconsistency, so those who were inconsistent and unfaithful with their love will forever be reminded of their sins because of the howling wind resounding in their ears. Also, when Francesca laments, “There is no greater…

Intro-Dante Alighieri's narrative poem The Divine Comedy played an effective role in initiating the protestant reformation and revealing to the common person the importance of living a righteous life. In the Divine Comedy's Inferno, Dante and Virgil Journey through the nine fictional levels of Hell. Dante represents the human soul, and Virgil represents human reason. Throughout the journey they discover the punishments the sinners of Hell face eternally, based on their crimes. Each crime has its…