Discussion Topic
Dante's reactions to sinners in the Inferno
Summary:
In Inferno, Dante's reactions to sinners vary from pity to condemnation. Initially, he feels compassion for the damned souls, empathizing with their suffering. However, as he descends deeper into Hell, his attitude shifts towards a more judgmental stance, reflecting a growing alignment with divine justice and the moral order of the universe.
What is Dante's reaction in canto 28 of the Inferno?
Dante's reaction to the ninth chasm is canto 28 of the Inferno could best be described as appalled. He begins by saying that the bloodshed and carnage he has witnessed there are beyond human comprehension or description. If all the casualties of the greatest battles that were fought in the history of Rome and Italy were piled up together, it would scarcely be such a terrible spectacle.
Although Dante says that the horror of the ninth chasm is beyond the powers of the human tongue to describe, he does his best to describe it in a wealth of gory detail. Mahomet has his entrails hanging down between his legs. His heart and his colon are both visible. It is he who explains the full horror of the punishment. The sinners go round in a circle to a place where a devil hacks at them, causing such wounds as Dante sees....
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As they go round in the circle, their wounds heal, until the reach the devil again and the process is repeated.
The most appalling sight of all for Dante is the third figure he meets, that of Bertrand de Born, whose head has been severed and who carries it round with him like a lamp. This was his punishment for severing father and son by inciting the young King Henry to parricide.
What is Dante's reaction to sinners in the Inferno?
Early on in his descent into Hell, Dante appears to take pity on many sinners. In particular, he comes across as very emotionally impacted by the suffering of those who have committed small sins. For example, consider how in Canto 5 of the Inferno he is especially moved by Paolo and Francesca’s story, so much so that he faints with pity. Throughout the epic poem, Virgil reprimands Dante for this compassionate reaction, and Dante gradually learns to be less affected by what he sees sinners enduring.
By the time that Dante descends into the deepest circles of Hell, he not only is not upset by what he sees but he is actively angry and judgmental toward some of the sinners. For example, consider how in Canto 32 he rips out some of a sinner’s hair so that the sinner will tell him his name. This empowered and controlling interaction with the sinner is a stark contrast to his earlier reactions. This shows the reader how much Dante has learned about sin throughout his journey. He has learned about moral judgment, what it entails, and why it is important. He has learned where pity is appropriate and where it is not.