Comparison Of The Political And Political Viewpoints In...

Dante’s Inferno uses a man’s journey through hell, to give an eye-opening description of hell’s stark reality. Throughout his book, Dante uses the various levels to compare sins severities and their deserving punishments. Written in a time of political turmoil in Florence, Dante uses numerous historical figures to give examples of what he believed real immoralities would merit in hell. Comparing this book to the political differences of Dante’s time, a stark correlation can be made between Dante’s political and religious viewpoints. Taking place in the 1300’s, it is important for in-depth understanding of Divine Comedy, to understand the political turmoil surrounding Florence throughout the ages. Feuding began in Florence in 1215†¦show more content†¦Growing up in political upheaval influenced Dante to become heavily involved in politics during his later life. Coming from a Guelph family, Dante was a follower of the Catholic religion and supported the Pope as long as he felt like the Pope was meeting moral criteria. Throughout his life, Dante held various political positions and had a large influence over the city of Florence. Dante’s political career consisted mostly of trying to maintain Guelph political control. That is until a new feud eventually broke out in Florence between the whites(Bianchi) and blacks(Neri). Both sides were associated with the Guelph party, yet when the blacks won control they turned on their own. Dante was exiled from Florence and forbidden from ever holding another political office. This traumatic experience led to his political switch from the Guelph party to the Ghibelline party. Nonetheless, he never retained political status again and instead spent the remainder of his life devoted to writing. His life events played a key role in each of his novels, but the political and religious aspects were what most influenced Dante’s Divine Comedy: Inferno. Catholicism is a ver y strict religion in which followers believe they must live their life in accordance to Biblical standards and the church’s teachings or they will be punished by God in hell for all eternity. During Dante’s time, they very much believed in a moral criterion and living by tradition, which carried over into