Modern Figures in Dante’s Inferno
Modern Figures in Dante’s Inferno
Dante’s masterpiece, Inferno, is one of the most influential pieces of literature ever written. While the Inferno has no divine inspiration behind it, it serves as an example for many people to depict the horrendous tortures that await those who disobey God’s rules. Dante had hell divided into nine layers. These layers are limbo, lust, gluttony, avarice, wrath, heretic, violence, fraud, and treachery. There were different, creative punishments awaiting the victims on each layer, and the severity of punishment depended on the severity of one’s infractions in the real world. One of the more interesting parts about reading through the cantos is seeing which famous historical figures have ended up in hell. While the Bible says not to judge one another, it is always interesting to analyze different people in terms of their worst sins. If Dante had been alive in the twentieth century, he most certainly would have put the following people in hell for their sins.
Limbo was a place reserved for the virtuous pagans. The people residing in limbo may have led noble lives, but they are doomed for eternity for not being able to pick the “correct” religion. A non-Christian who was a good person at heart was doomed to sit around in limbo, clinging to the hope that they might one day see God. A prime example of such a person is Mohandas Gandhi, the Indian peacemaker. Gandhi is often cited as the “founder” of nonviolent protest. Through years of nonviolent protest, Gandhi managed to free India from the oppressive rule of the British empire. At the time, Britain still had colonies around the world. Like most of these colonies, the native Indians were treated unfairly. Gandhi put his life in serious jeopardy so that he could free his people. However, Ghandi was not a Christian. He was a devout Hindu, so he must reside in Limbo.
One of the most often cited of the deadly sins is lust. Lust is a favorite vice for most of America, and likewise, most of the world. Most of the deadly sins can be depicted in a good sense, if a word with a different connotation is used. Lust, in its simplest sense, means sexual desire. However, the word lust conjures up thoughts of a depraved obsession with physical gratification. The word passion describes sexual desire in a much more positive light. Many modern figures are...