Sunday, February 2, 2014


Justice in the Inferno is shown as eternal suffering with no hope. However, Dante also believes that this justice is fair and perfect. Sinners suffer a punishment that is equal to their sin. Dante is in awe of God’s perfect justice. In modern society, we think that the punishments are harsh and unwarranted. Christians today believe that if you repent your sins then you will be saved from Hell. Dante’s views are much more black and white. He believes that if you sin, you are going to Hell. The only way to stay out of Hell is to not sin. At first, Dante pities the sinners. Especially if he relates to them. But as the text goes on, he feels less and less pity. In fact, in Canto XXXII.97 Dante tears out some of Bocca’s hair. Dante accepts the fact that all the punishment is Hell is just. God made Hell to enact his justice on the sinners of the earth. The punishments and the black and white view of Hell may not coincide with modern Christian beliefs, but the justice of Hell does.

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