The Woods
"How shall I say what wood that was! I never saw so drear, so rank, so arduous a wilderness!
Its very memory gives a shape to fear."
-Dante's Inferno[Canto 1] Line 3 through 5
"But at the far end of that valley of evil whose maze who's maze had sapped my very heart with fear, I found myself before a little hill."
-Dante's Inferno[Canto 1] Line 13 through 15
The setting of the woods has very symbolic meanings. Dante describes them as dark, rank, arduous, and dreary. He uses those descriptions as part of a metaphor for how he strayed from the path of righteousness and into to the wilderness. Dante also reveals his character by the way he describes that he lost his way from the True Way. He seems to believe himself to be a noble person who has been distracted from his true calling. Kind of contradictory to Fate huh? Then he sees a hill and the way he describes the hill it seems as if the hill is his way back home or at least into a better place. Its his way of saying that he is special, that he still has a chance because of something in him or something he was meant to do. When he tries to get up the hill he is stopped by three animals that represent Malice, Violence, Incontinence,and Ambition, which I guess isn't considered positive in this situation. I wonder exactly why he choose these beast to be the ones that bother him most. Maybe they represent the problems he faces in his life. Or maybe it represents what he might represent the things literally that are holding him back from being the things he was meant to be. The way Dante characterized himself is so unrealistic. He sees himself as a saint among mere mortals. He thinks that what ever he has to do is so important that GOD is going to tell everyone in hell to back off because he's just so important. His concept of himself is very arrogant.
The Descent
" I understand from your words and the look in your eyes," that shadow of magnificence answered me "your soul is sunken in that cowardice that bears down many men, turning their course and resolution by imagined perils, as his own shadows turn the frightened horse."
-Virgil Canto 2 line 43-48
This shows not only the character of Dante but the character of his guide Virgil. Virgil is also considered noble by Date but Virgil ,as you can tell by the quote, has a bit more spitfire in him. He tells the truth but he doesn't hold back. He is very strict and wise. He is Dante's teacher figure and he has all of the answers that Dante needs. What strikes me as odd though is the fact that even though Dante places him in such high regard he still is in hell. Virgil represents well rounded people I think based on how he talks and the emotions he show through out the Canto. He seems to have his head on his shoulders and he's probably the type of guy people look up too.
The Vestibules of Hell
The Opportunist
"I am the way into the city of woe
I am the way to a forsaken people
I am the way into eternal sorrow
Sacred justice moved my architect
I was raised here by divine omnipotence
primordial love and ultimate intellect
Only those elements time cannot wear
were made before me, and beyond time I stand
Abandon all hope ye who enter here"
-The sign on the Entrance to hell Canto 3
Firstly I have heard this quote before, but I didnt know that it was from Dante's Inferno. Its really a intimidating poem. Then again it DOES happen to be hell. What confuses me though is the middle stanza, it goes from scary to positive. Its almost as if it is Dante's way of saying even hell is one of God's great creations. Even though it isn't as nice as heaven or purgatory it still is something he made, therefore it still deserves a certain level of respect. However, thats just me. The first and last stanza is pretty much put there to gain suspense from the audience because after that stanza even I was excited to see what was awaiting Dante. It certainly is appropriate writing for hell welcome mat.
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