the goal

The Inferno of Dante

The pain and sorrow that Dante’s character feels for the sinners in The Inferno contradicts what Dante truly feels about them and the sins they have committed, but is a purposeful way for him to scare people into fearing hell and into amending any similar behavior they may be involved in that would lead them to endure the same punishments upon death. In manner in which Dante’s character reacts toward the punishments he himself creates for people who have committed carnal, gluttonous, and spending and hoarding sins are meant to increase the feeling of fear the reader will experience in an effort to lead them to repent of their sin and instead find salvation in God.
For those who have sinned in carnal things, the punishment created and imposed by Dante is darkness and wind. Nothing can be seen, but all around can be heard the sounds of the fierce wind and agony of the people suffering this storm.
“All light is mute, with a bellowing like the ocean turbul...