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Examples Of Allusions In Dante's Inferno

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Religious allusions spark interest for readers because of the familiarity. Dante enhances his writing by utilizing biblical allusions in order to provide context for understanding and elements for relatability. At the writing of this work, the Roman Catholic church was a significant influence on civilization. Dante knew his audience and was instilling an interest in Catholics to make them recognize their need to admit their sins, ask forgiveness and receive God’s grace in order to confront evil and reach paradise.
Biblical context is an imperative characteristic that Dante takes advantage of, in order to strengthen his writing, and create understanding for the reader. “Naked he lies fixed there, as you see, in the path of all who pass; there he must feel the weight of all through all eternity” (Alighieri 190). Dante needed a despised character from the New Testament to emphasize the idea of evil deeds being punished for eternity in Hell. Caiaphas the High Priest was the one directly responsible for the torture and death of Jesus. The justification of having an “eye for an eye” or a “tooth for a tooth” is pointed out in the treatment of Caiaphas. It was his power …show more content…

“…At times the whole skin of his back was flayed away. That soul that suffers the most…is Judas Iscariot, he who kicks his legs on the fiery chin..” (Alighieri 281). Dante’s use of the torture of Judas to replicate the torture of Christ prompts the emotional connection that Catholics have to the horror of torturing the Son of God, thus providing relatability. Flayed skin is a symbolic reminder of Jesus’ skin when he was whipped preceding his crucifixion. With the illustration of Judas’ punishment, the allusion to Christ’s crucifixion augments the writing and provides

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