Topic > The Peculiarity of Hell - 1584

Dante's Inferno is a timeless masterpiece of literary genius that has definitively carved out a seemingly permanent niche in the annals of fictional folklore readings. The Inferno presents a very distinct, yet strangely thought-provoking picture of what Hell is made up of through a series of vivid descriptions by the author. Far from the traditionally held beliefs of ubiquitous fire pits and smoking hells, all overseen by a horned satanic demon, the Inferno recalls the curious depictions of Dante's interpretations, with some incorporations of Christian teachings, which, together, serve to create a hybrid version of Inferno that satisfies and serves the purpose of the goal of his work. Throughout Dante's arduous and multi-layered journey into the depths of Hell, there is an overwhelming sense of desperation and misery that accompanies him step by step into every corridor of this horrific underworld, which is common in almost all interpretations of Hell . However, while reading this work, one quickly develops a sense of independence and indifference from/towards cultured religion and religious expectations about what Hell should entail, thus focusing solely on the eloquence with which Dante reconstructs this notion rooted in the minds of its readers. . After having made the anticipations of his imagination useless, Dante then tries to present his personal representation of Hell, unique and shared, far from conventionally held Catholic conceptions. Dante is very descriptive in creating his image and the depths of Hell. Its nine-layered underworld is designed to create a self-conceived ranking order as to which souls deserve what punishment based on their placement in a corresponding layer (The University of Texas at Austin). To highlight some of Dante's concepts and logic, it is imperative to gain a deeper understanding of why certain