Man’s Place in the World

Man’s Place in the World

A question that has constantly been asked by people over time is, “Where is man’s place in the world?” People have constantly struggled and tried to answer this once seemingly insurmountable question. Yet the works of three authors truly stand out. Those of Dante, Mirandola, and Montaigne truly put the question to the test. All three texts written during the time of the Renaissance provide you with a vivid image of the beliefs that circulated back during that time. When comparing all three works Renaissance society can be seen as being influenced by the church.
The first of the three is Dante and Dante attempts to answer the question by producing the Inferno. And in the Inferno Dante describes the perilous journey of a man into the deepest depths of hell. Dante tries to answer the question by describing how man is punished for his sins, and that what you did in this world would determine your place in hell. Those who are banished to the...