Dante’s journey through Hell is chaotic and filled with haunting experiences that reinforce the point that the author is trying to make. Specifically, “Inferno” portrays the depth of sin and depravity quite accurately, allowing the reader to embrace the importance of ethics and moral judgment. Since Dante’s impressions and speculations constitute the core of the emotional journey depicted in “Inferno,” the role of Virgil in it might seem slightly vague. Moreover, given the emphasis on Dante’s interpretations of what he observes in Hell, Virgil’s role could even be considered as unnecessary. However, on further overview of the purpose that “Inferno” serves in “The Divine Comedy,” it becomes evident that Virgil plays an instrumental part in Dante’s journey through Hell, namely, that one of wisdom and reason, which allow Dante to retain his sanity while observing the atrocities of Hell.
The importance of Virgil as the character that offers a critical perspective and an opportunity to interpret what Dante observes in Hell is the primary role worth mentioning. Since the majority of Dante’s journey through Hell is very emotional, as Dante is horrified at the atrocities that sinners have committed, or the torture to which they are subjected in Hell, the need for introducing a steadier and a more nuanced approach toward analyzing the overall experience is needed. In turn, Virgil offers an opportunity to embrace the lessons that this journey provides as calmly and collectedly as possible: “I think and judge it for thy best/Thou follow me, and I will be thy guide” (Alighieri). Therefore, Virgil plays a very subtle yet crucial role of reason, providing a critical perspective that Dante lacks, being overwhelmed by emotions.
Additionally, Virgin plays a less overt yet nevertheless essential role in Dante’s character development. Namely, the emotional and intellectual support that Virgil offers helps Dante’s character to navigate the environment of Hell and understand the meaning of this journey. The specified mission of Virgil is expressed quite subtly in the following line: “Who feels compassion at the doom divine?” (Alighieri). In the scene where Dante attempts at expressing compassion to some of the sinners suffering in Hell, Virgin sternly reminds him that it is not his place to pass judgment on how the sinners are made to pay for their wrongdoings. Thus, Virgil’s role of an ethical leader and the example that Dante must follow in order to retain his moral judgment becomes evident at the specified point.
Despite being seemingly irrelevant to the journey that Dante takes across Hell, Virgil has a critical role in the perception of the narrative as the voice of reason and the source of wisdom that helps the leading character to keep his sanity intact. Assisting Dante’s character with seeing Hell through a critical lens and recognizing the importance of virtue, Virgil becomes Dante’s guide and moral support. Without Virgil, Dante would have grown emotionally and morally numb to the dreadful setting of Hell, yet Virgil’s compassion and quiet sensibility allow the leading character to continue his journey. More importantly, with the support of Virgil, Dante is able to learn crucial lessons from his journey. Therefore, serving as a guide, Virgil may become barely noticeable to the reader, yet his role in “Inferno” is critical to the development of the leading character and the perception of the narrative.
Works Cited
Alighieri, Dante. “Inferno.” Gutenberg.org, n.d.