Morally Fair Limbo In The Divine Comedy
Morally Fair Limbo
The Inferno was part of the three-part poem called The Divine Comedy written by Dante Alighieri. Dante,who lived from 1265 to 1321, was born in Florence to a middle class family and grew up during the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance. While Dante was away on a diplomatic trip, the Black Guelfs took over Florence and banished Dante from the city. During his life in exile, Dante wrote the epic poem The Divine Comedy and finished it shortly before his death. The nine circles of Hell were constructed by Dante, and as one went down the levels, the punishment increases. Dante places the Virtuous Pagans justly because the only suffering they should feel is the longing for God and earned the rights to live in a dignified environment. …show more content…
Virtuous Pagans were those who lived in the time period before Christ and were unbaptized. “Wills I not enter His city, where none may appear Who lived like me in rebellion to His law” (Alighieri Canto I ln. 100-101). Identical to Virgil, Pagans were not allowed to enter Heaven because they did not worship him, and therefore,after death their soul had a constant yearning for God. “Sitting in a philosophic family Who look to him and do him honor. I saw nearest him, in front, Plato and Socrates” (Alighieri Canto IV ln. 117-119). Many great thinkers wandered in Limbo because they lived through reason and morality, but they lacked a relationship with God. No matter how much knowledge or ethical values a person contained, if they did not have faith in Christ, then they would develop an eternal craving for the Lord, which continued after
The Inferno was part of the three-part poem called The Divine Comedy written by Dante Alighieri. Dante,who lived from 1265 to 1321, was born in Florence to a middle class family and grew up during the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance. While Dante was away on a diplomatic trip, the Black Guelfs took over Florence and banished Dante from the city. During his life in exile, Dante wrote the epic poem The Divine Comedy and finished it shortly before his death. The nine circles of Hell were constructed by Dante, and as one went down the levels, the punishment increases. Dante places the Virtuous Pagans justly because the only suffering they should feel is the longing for God and earned the rights to live in a dignified environment. …show more content…
Virtuous Pagans were those who lived in the time period before Christ and were unbaptized. “Wills I not enter His city, where none may appear Who lived like me in rebellion to His law” (Alighieri Canto I ln. 100-101). Identical to Virgil, Pagans were not allowed to enter Heaven because they did not worship him, and therefore,after death their soul had a constant yearning for God. “Sitting in a philosophic family Who look to him and do him honor. I saw nearest him, in front, Plato and Socrates” (Alighieri Canto IV ln. 117-119). Many great thinkers wandered in Limbo because they lived through reason and morality, but they lacked a relationship with God. No matter how much knowledge or ethical values a person contained, if they did not have faith in Christ, then they would develop an eternal craving for the Lord, which continued after