People have been interested in life in death for a long time.
People come up with theories
of where someone goes after death but nobody will really know until they have died. The Inferno
is by Dante Alighieri and it is an epic poem. The Inferno is an epic that explains a soul's journey
to heaven. Dante Alighieri is an Italian living in Florence, Italy before he was kicked out for his
political beliefs. Alighieri creates the protagonist Dante which is his journey to redemption.
Virgil is his guide through Hell representing human reason. Each sinner in Hell is in a different
circle to punish each sin. Two sinners Dante sees in Hell are Filippo Argenti and Homer.
Alighieri is hostile to Filippo Argenti and compassionate to Homer by his use of diction; he
shows these emotions because of his relationship with each one.
Alighieri uses his political background to influence how Dante will act to all of the
sinners, one of them is Filippo Argenti. Dante shows hostility towards Filippo Argenti by the use
of diction when Dante speaks to him. Dante and Virgil are entering circle 5 for the wrathful and
sullen. The wrathful are people who were only angry and contributed to nothing in life. The
wrathful on top fighting with each other and the sullen on the bottom getting trampled. And as
we ran on that dead swamp, the slime rose before me, and from it, a voice cried: “Who are you
that came here before your time?” And I replied: “ If I come, I do not remain. But you, who are
you, so fallen and so foul?” And he:'' I am one who weeps.” And I then:” May you weep and
wail to all eternity, for I know you, hell-dog, filthy as you are” (VIII, 31-38). The reason
Alighieri was angry at Filippo Argenti is that Alighieri was an opposing political party that got
him kicked out of his home Florence, Italy because he was accused of being a grafter. The
diction Alighieri used is when he called Filippo Argenti a hell-dog. Dog is used to insult Filippo
Argenti to make him feel less than Dante. For a long time people have used the word dog as an
insult to try and dehumanize the person they are insulting. Filippo Argenti is pushed off of the
boat after this altercation. Alighieri is further hostile towards Filippo Argenti with his use of
diction. And shortly after, I saw the loathsome spirit so mangled by a swarm of muddy wraiths
that to this day I praise and thank God for it (VIII, 55-57). When Alighieri first uses loathsome
he is disgusted by Filippo Argenti from the meaning. Also, with the words mangled by muddy
wraiths is that he was torn apart by the other sinners and that he said thank God which means
that he enjoyed that his enemy was torn apart by the other wrathful. Dante is hostile towards
Filippo Argenti with Alighieri’s use of diction.
Alighieri shows compassion to all of the virtuous Pagans through Dante because it wasn’t
their fault they are in hell they were born at the wrong time. Dante is compassionate towards
Homer because he uses diction to describe Homer. Dante and Virgil are entering Virgil’s spot in
hell is Limbo. Limbo is the place where all of the virtuous pagans stay. They are people who did
not sin in their lifetime but were born before christ so they can’t get to heaven. The only
punishment is that they will never get to see God’s light. “Note well,” my master said as they
came on,” that soul that leads the rest with sword in hand as if he were their captain and
champion (IV, 85-87). Alighieri uses diction by saying capitan and champion meaning that
Homer is their leader and the most powerful out of all of them. Champion means that you have
beaten everybody so Alighieri is saying that Homer is the greatest poet out of all of them. Also, a
captain is the most skilled and the most experienced when it comes to sailing so he is further
insinuating his greatness. When Homer and the rest of the poets were coming to greet Dante and
Virgil. The cry ceased and the echo passed from hearing; I saw four mighty presences come
toward us with neither joy nor sorrow in their bearing (IV, 82-84). Alighieri also uses diction
with the word mighty to describe all of the poets including Homer. Mighty meaning that
possessing a great power our strength so that Homer was seen as a powerful [Link] with the
words neither joy nor sorrow in their bearing means that they were in control of their emotions
which relies on great strength for Homer to have control of his emotions. Dante is compassionate
towards Homer with Alighieri’s use of diction.
