Dante's Transformation

           Dante begins his journey through Hell as a man filled with pity and sorrow for the sinners and the punishments he witnesses. Virgil continuously scolds him and accuses him of being “impious” (XX 29) and of “link[ing] God’s judgment to passivity” (XX 30). Virgil wants him to see the sights of Hell as a place where sinners deserve to go and that God’s decisions are filled with wisdom and careful thought. As his journey continues, Dante grows to accept the harsh punishments as evidence of God’s justice rather than an undeserved act of cruelty. In the eighth circle, Dante “longed to stay and weep” ( XXIX 2-3) but he resists the temptation. His feelings towards the sinners have hardened and he no longer feels compelled to weep at their suffering. His journey has changed the way he sees sins and its corresponding punishment. He is beginning to see the justice in its creation.

            Later on, he displays feeling of not only indifference towards the sinners, but he is aggressive and rude to them. When one sinner declines Dante’s request to speak to him, he reacts violently by “grabb[ing] him by the scruff” (XXXII 97) and threatening him. Before, Dante’s fear incapacitated his ability to talk at times, but in this instance, he is confident and bold. He feels no guilt, but instead confirms his intention to “bring [him] shame” (XXXII 111). Dante believes that the sinner deserves his punishment and that he should feel more shame for his actions. Dante is unsatisfied with the sinner’s response to his current predicament in Hell.  In another conversation with a different sinner, Dante also displays this newfound opinion surrounding Hell as he asserts that “it was courtesy to show him rudeness” (XXXIII 150). It is apparent that Dante is coming to the conclusion that the punishments in Hell are well-deserved and that politeness and sympathy are undeserved. As he travels deeper into Hell, he begins to lose respect for the souls and instead acts superior. He feels justified in his acts of abuse towards the sinners because the souls deserve the pain and suffering handed to them. He has transformed from feeling sympathy and sorrow for them to feeling indignant.