Religious influence in all parts of the afterlife

Though righteous earthly lives don’t spare individuals, these qualities seem to organize the severity of treatment. Also, regardless of place in the hierarchy, souls in hell are surprisingly responsive to faith and hold heaven in high regard. Religion is not lost on these souls as even only brief deviations have doomed their souls.

Virgil's is recognized as supreme as he is allowed to pass even the most horrid of beasts, only denied when he attempts to enter “Dis”. In a sense, religion and faith saves them when they are saved by a heavenly messenger. The fact that this messenger can enter hell and have enough clout to dissemble this evil blockage shows the hierarchical trumping of good is so large that it can be successful even away from it’s “territory”.

The hierarchy continues through Virgil and his condemnation and acceptance of pity, seemingly acting like a more lenient version of God. Virgil consistently applauds Dante for pitying those who have lead righteous earthly lives, but acts like those who betrayed the Lord are of the worst caliber. He encourages Dante to hear various stories from drowning souls, but Virgil makes a point to only deem those with high earthly morals and regard for the highest of religious powers to talk to Dante. An example is Dante's discussion with Pier della Vigna, am advisor to Emperor Frederick, who killed himself upon false accusation and has now become a tree in hell. For starters, Virgil could have selected any tree to tell their story to Dante, but he instead selected a noble man who says "I never broke my faith with him who was so worthy"(Canto XIII lines 74-75) and was considered “good” by earthly society. Virgil still shows his superiority however in that he encourages Dante to break the branch of Pier, almost as a penance of sort for his sin. This shows that Virgil values religious and righteous intentions, despite the fact that he himself and others of high earthly regard have ended up in hell.

Within hell, the other damned souls also continue to have a surprisingly high value for the will of God. In Canto XXI, Malacoda, is not willing to let Virgil and Dante pass until he is told “it is the will of Heaven for me to show this wild way to another” (Canto XXI lines 83-84). Also the mention of Malacoda’s pride “falling” insinuates Malacoda still holds heaven in high regard even though he is being eternally punished.

In hell, religion is central part of the hierarchy and factor for how sins are punished. Individuals like the wife of Potifer in Canto XXX are punished more severely than usual because of their disdain for godly people. In Canto XXXIV, Judas is regarded as one of the worst sinners of all time. Religion is not absent from hell or by those who are doomed to be there. Rather, religion is the main factor in placement and the ticket to ensure Dante’s safe travels.