The Divine Comedy is composed of three parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. Each section corresponds to different parts of the Catholic afterlife, covering Dante's journey through them. Inferno is the most famous part of the entire story. It involves Dante's journey through Hell. Guided by the Roman poet Virgil, Dante witnesses the punishments meted out to sinners throughout Hell's nine circles, culminating in an encounter with the frozen Satan in the ninth circle.

Purgatorio involves Dante's journey through Purgatory, which is less grotesque and more hopeful. In Purgatory, souls are given the chance to purify themselves of their sins in order to eventually go to Heaven. Dante proceeds through seven terraces, each corresponding to one of the seven deadly sins. During this time, Dante learns more about the nature of sin and how it is often based on a perverse, corrupted version of love. By the end of Purgatorio, Virgil is replaced by Beatrice, Dante's one-time beloved on earth, as his guide.

Paradiso concludes Dante's journey. At last, Dante is allowed a glimpse of Heaven. He proceeds through the nine spheres before encountering the Empyrean, where God dwells. In God's presence, Dante at last achieves a sense of holy unity and glimpses the human form of Christ.