One possible explanation of this is that each sin in itself can be viewed as a form of idolatry. As you engage in idolatry you begin to configure your life around your idol instead of configuring your life around God. Naturally this leads you away from God, and the farther away you become from God the more likely you are going to hell. Ultimately engaging in idolatry will lead you to hell. Dante shows this in his Inferno through many characters, such as Francesca, Ciacco, and
God’s Justice in Inferno One of the most significant themes, if not the most significant theme within Dante’s Inferno is the perfection of God’s divine justice. Dante expressees divine justice within Inferno in a multitude of ways, with one of the the most prominent examples being the overall structure of Hell and how the punishment for the sinners (perfectly) reflects upon the sin. To the modern reader, Hell likely seems more like an act of cruelty than divine justice, much less a product of God’s love. At first,the torments that the sinners are subjected to seems extreme and grotesque. But, as the poem continues to progress, it becomes quite clear the there is a perfect balance within God’s justice as the degree of each sinner’s punishment perfectly reflects upon the gravity of the sin.
[...] I shall collect my funeral pile and consume to ashes this miserable frame” (197). This can also be seen as a references to biblical stories of the Devil. Not only does the monster know he has evil, but he relates himself to the Devil because of the evil he has done. He decides that the only way to rectify what he has wronged would be to go out in a fiery
In addition to causing the people to, it causes people’s personalities to parallel with the Devil. Giles Corey is a man known for having a court record, due to constant attempt to obtain the land of others. John Proctor claims that Giles “cannot say (...) good morning without [clapping] him for defamation”, because “it [is] the Devil’s fault” (31). The Devil claims power in this situation considering that the effect that he has on Giles is one that strips away his morals as a human being. Similarly, but in a contrasting locality, during this time period, it is known that the Devil’s abilities are able to convert even the purest and sinless people away from God.
(vs. 18-20) Jealousy and any sin will take you further into evil than you ever imagine. Notice their first action was to strip him of his coat. (vs. 23) Could jealousy ever make you feel like killing someone? Everyday people commit murder for such a reason. In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus reveals that hatred in a person’s heart is the same as the sin of murder in someone’s heart.
For this reason God made the first of his commandments against idolatry. So it would make sense that those most affected by their idols would be in hell. Dante stresses the effect of these idols strongly in his Inferno. The most obvious example of an idol playing a major role in the fall of sinners is that of money. Money is the idol of the avarice and prodigal.
The Raven symbolizes the devil, whom is there to make him pay for what he did, and make him hurt like he made Lenore hurt. The Raven didn’t come to the Speaker’s chamber door to answer his questions and make him feel at ease. No, he came to make sure he descends into hell, and that his soul will never be lifted up. The Raven wants to make the Speaker feel even more remorse than he already does, and drive home the point that because of his sin, Lenore is gone forever. This makes sense, because if the Speaker hadn’t killed Lenore, then why would the Raven not answer the Speaker’s questions?
Thus, resulting in the rebellion of the monster against Victor, his creator, like how Satan defied his. With reference to these allusions, the author creates a sensation of pity and empathy towards the creature, making it easier for the reader to understand the monster’s perspective. The use of the allusion to Paradise Lost helps the reader interpret the characters within the
Whether this was a prophetic revelation given by God, or retribution to his enemies’ Dante’s Inferno challenges the political and religious powers of the day and putting them in the worst possible light. Dante gives himself the liberty of being the protagonist as he assess his victims of Hell. One cannot help at times in taking pleasure in watching the David’s overcome the Goliaths. The problem with Dante’s Inferno is the setting of Hell is so vivid and graphic it leaves the reader feeling sympathetic to all involved. Some of Dante’s biases are clearly shown by placing certain sins committed by people in different levels.
He would leave the readers at the end in suspense so they could put themselves in the story and make an ending themselves. In writing about the dark side of human nature, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism to prove that sin is everywhere and that anybody can commit it. The journey itself sets up the events that follow to sin. Goodman gives inside on what kind of purpose the journey is for. “With this excellent resolve for the future, Goodman Brown felt himself justified in making more haste on his present evil purpose.” (Hawthorne 1;par 9) By him using the word “evil”, it is related to sinning.