Dante's Inferno

The purpose of this essay is to discuss the relevance of Dante’s Inferno / Hell to the contemporary reader in the Western world. This essay will demonstrate that there are many issues discussed in Dante’s The Divine Comedy that are as relevant today as they were when Dante first wrote his comedy. Although the views discussed are not common to everyone, it will be shown that such views are still apparent in contemporary society and therefore are relevant to the contemporary reader. It will be shown that even today, many people undertake a journey such as the one Dante describes. It will also be shown that many of the sins that were considered worthy of hell in Dante’s time are still considered by some people to be sins today.

The relevance of Dante’s hell to contemporary society in the western world could be said to be visible from the very first Canto. Here Dante is lost and unable to find his way back to the right road. “Midway this way of life we’re bound upon, I...