Post date: Apr 27, 2014 2:27:35 AM
While Dante goes through the levels of hell, he makes many mistakes. Being in the inferno, he is frightened and out of his element when facing the great task of confronting sin. Dante’s greatest challenge is understanding the nature of sin and his relation to the sinners he encounters. All of the sins Dante sees in the sinners he also sees in himself, just as the reader sees the sins in themselves. Because of this, Dante the pilgrim has a lot of empathy and sympathy for the sinners. Whether or not this is a good thing is uncertain.
Dante, having only been in this situation because he strayed from the straight path, should not be expected to get everything right away. He starts out as being closer to the sinners than to the straight path of God. Only being able to speak with those who know the Tuscan dialect, Dante has an instant connection with these sinners. Because of this close relation, Dante cannot automatically distinguish what is happening before him. His vision foggy, Dante is not able to see the sinners for what they really are and is deceived. It is only when Virgil points out their hypocrisy that Dante sees clearly.
In the opinion of Virgil, Dante’s empathy for the sinners is unacceptable. The sinners deserve their punishment for, through contra passo, it fits their sins. When Dante shows empathy, Virgil gets frustrated and upset with him. The further into hell they go, the less Virgil tolerates these feelings from Dante. Dante must understand that he must not feel sorry for these sinners, but agree with the will of God. Furthermore, Dante must also understand that if does not change his ways, he is in grave danger of joining the sinners in the inferno.
The juxtaposition between Dante the pilgrim and Virgil adds greatly to the readers ability to understand the Inferno. For, just like Dante, the readers are also blinded by their shock and sympathy for the sinners contrapasso. Because of this we too need to hear the insight and advise of Virgil. As Dante goes further and the sinners are more blatant, he becomes more independent in seeing through sinners. Only once he understands sin and sinners can he move forward out of the inferno. In this way, Dante’s slow but steady improvement adds to our improvement and understanding.