Struggle of Pity Within the Inferno - 1382 Words

The Struggle of Pity What is pity? Pity is simply the concern aroused by the misfortune or suffering of others. As the emotion of pity deepens, it can correlate itself with sympathy and lead to compassion (Baird 1). Dante comprises this idea of pity within the narration of his characters in the Inferno. Dante creates fluctuating moralities that contrasts with the narrative tale of the sinners to the protagonist. The contrasts that are made by the sinner are reflected upon by Dante, he refers to this as the struggle pity. The great struggle of pity is brought on upon by the sinners, whom create scapegoats to relieve blame from their own sins and to provoke pity from their audiences. Dantes sympathy towards the damned souls gradually†¦show more content†¦85-87). Dante scorns the people of Pisa, not for the death of Ugolino, but for the death of his innocent children. Dante, during Ugolinos tale has evidently found a moral vantage point, in which he does not pity Count Ugolino. Ugolino, like Francesca blames the faulty of others for his sins and not of his own folly. Â…And I began/ already blind, to grope over their bodies/ and for two days called to them, though they were dead/ Then fasting had more power then grief (XXXIII. 72-75). Ugolino holds hunger has the culprit, whom was the cause of his sin. Although, the two tales Francesca and Ugolino are figuratively different, they do share common apathy for pity. Dante suggests that the implication of pity in the Inferno is due to the sinners apathy for self pity. These wretched souls play off of the reader or audiences emotion for their tormented nature. Guido la Pisa wrote, The suffering of the damned souls should move no one to compassion, as the bible attests. And the reason for this is that the time for mercy is here in this world, while the world to come it is time only for justice. Sympathy for the damned, in the inferno, is nearly always a certain sign of a wavering moral disposition. Dante, in the beginning, figuratively speaking is a lost soul himself. Midway in the journey or our life/ I came to myself in a dark wood/ for the straight way was lost (I.Show MoreRelatedDantes Voyage Through Hell1490 Words   |  6 PagesThe Inferno was written by Dante Alighieri around 1314 and depicts the poet’s imaginary journey through Hell. Dante spent his life traveling from court to court both lecturing and writing down his experiences. His Divine Comedy – the three-part epic poem consisting of Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso (Hell, Purgatory and Heaven)– is generally regarded as one of the greatest poetic feats ever accomplished. All three parts are incredible literary feats with symbolism so complex and beautiful thatRead MoreBook Review : Inferno 1595 Words   |  7 PagesMonica Paultre Professor Christensen October 27, 2014 Research Paper Inferno As humans evolve, so do their stories. 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