Dante: Final Comments

Hell has been portrayed many different ways throughout literature. Dante's Inferno stands out because it conveys the notion of eternal punishment. When reading each circle, not only was I disturbed by the punishments, but the fact that the sinners were stuck in their traps caused the most stress. Not only were the punishments gruesome, but the thought of being stuck within these circles for all eternity is what caused the most disturbance. Dante' inferno really forced the reader to think of hell. Again, Dante's hell is only an interpretation, but it is the first depiction I have read that really portrays hell as it is described throughout religion: an eternal realm where its inhabitants will never achieve salvation. Dante does not use simple gore tactics to strike fear in his reader, but rather a clever and smart use of words and dialogue. I personally enjoyed Dante's Inferno, and I hope to someday read the other two canticles.