“abandon all hope, you who enter here” (III.7).
Inferno written by Dante Alighieri around year 1314 This book was Hell. The story begins with Dante finding himself lost in a forest then meeting the ancient poet Virgil who will guide him into Hell. This book is one of the oldest stories written in existence today. In a three volume set Dante writes of his journeys through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. The book was originally written in Italian, but is now translated into many languages.The fact that Dante is not deceased is sensed by a few beings such as Charon, the one who guides the dead down a river into Hell. Many characters encountered have originated by Greek mythology. The Minotaur is encountered as well as Chiron, the centaur that trained Achilles. The Hell that is portrayed is a combination of Greek mythology and Christianity with allusions to history and famous philosophers. To a reader of the classic stories like The Odyssey, Paradise Lost, and William Shakespeare's plays this book is like a reunion of all of your favorite characters and stories from your literature classes.
People may steer clear of this book because of its age and possible complexity, but the story told is still unlike any other. Also, get the version that has pictures, it helps. Dante with Virgil, his guide, journey into the nine circles of Hell. As they venture deeper into Hell the punishments and crimes escalate in severity. Each sin has a corresponding punishment of equal severity. Those who didn't choose good or evil reside in the Ante-Inferno, a place right outside the gates of Hell. The First circle is the least evil and the Ninth is the most gruesome. The First circle is reserved for people who, like Virgil, died before the time of Christ and in result were never Christian. The Second circle is home to the lustful living in a violent storm. The gluttons live in the Third circle lying in mud and excrement. The greedy live in the Fourth circle forced to push boulders around for all eternity. The Fifth circle holds the depressed and those who sought revenge in their lives. These souls reside in the river Styx. The sullen lie at the bottom while the vengeful claw at the surface. The heretics live in the Sixth, and the violent live in the Seventh. The Eighth circle has ten different pockets called the Bolgias. In these zones; pimps are whipped, liars lie in a river of excrement, people are stuck in the ground like stakes, and many punishments. The Ninth circle is so severe and inhumane that Dante strikes fear into the hearts of all who dare read Canto XXXIV. This is where Lucifer stands as well as Judas, Cassius, and Brutus. The tortures are well matched to the punishments. Dante has successfully painted a picture of a Hell that serves as a warning and an ideal. This adventure through Hell is descriptive and creative. As Virgil guides Dante let Dante guide you. And, for goodness sake, be good. You do not want to risk the Inferno.
