Diction In Dante's Inferno

Many of us sometimes lie awake thinking of life, death, and what happens after. Nobody knows for certain what happens once the soul leaves the body, we don’t know if there will be life after death, we don’t know if we will be punished for all that we’ve done wrong, and for that reason many of us fear death and try to stay on the straight, morally right path in order to avoid Hell. In the epic poem, The Inferno, written by Dante Alighieri, we get a sense of what Hell is like, or at least Alighieri’s rendition of Hell. After venturing from the straight path, Alighieri’s self-based character, Dante, finds himself on the verge of entering Hell. Dante’s figure for human reason, Virgil, a Virtuous Pagan, leads Dante through the nine circles of Hell

Although the faces of the Sodomites in the Seventh Circle are nearly unrecognizable, Dante still doesn’t fail to recognize one particular sinner as Ser Brunetto Latino, which can be interpreted as an immediate sign of respect, as he acknowledges him out of all the sinners. Dante then proceeds to approach Latino with great idolization as they carry on a conversation about how they both ended up in Hell and Dante’s prophecy. Despite just hearing the prophecy of his banishment, Dante seems unaffected as he replies to the news with respect towards Latino instead, “Ah, had I all my wish,” Dante answers, “you would not yet be banished from the world in which you were a radiance among men, for that sweet image, gentle and paternal, you were to me in the world when hour by hour you taught me how man makes himself eternal” (XV, 79-84). Alighieri makes it very well known that he puts Latino in high regards, as it is evident through Dante’s wish. Dante claims that his wish would be for Brunetto to still be alive in the real world, something he never wishes for throughout all of the circles, and all of the sinners. He describes Latino as a “radiance among men,” which displays that Dante does not only view him with great respect, but he also sees him as light to the whole world. Alighieri is said to have been very religious, so the fact that he sees Latino as a light among men means that he has an image of Latino representing an Angel, particularly an Angel of God. He views Latino as sweet and gentle, despite the fact that he is being punished in Hell, conveying that Dante may very well perceive Latino of being incapable of doing wrong. Alighieri chooses to use the word “paternal” to describe Latino, proving even further that is admiration for Latino is very distinct, as he not only