Aligner obtains a literary form of Justice throughout his protagonist’s travels through Hell, and the poet’s feelings towards many of the dead are clear. He regards Farina dogleg Puberty and Geri del Belle with sympathy, while treating Boca dogleg Batik with hostility. Aligner allows the reader to infer his feelings towards these figures through Virgil and Dent’s reactions to the sinners, and the literary device of diction. Aligner communicates his admiration of Farina dogleg Puberty through diction and Virgin’s words about the sinner.
Farina, a political rival of Aligner’s, is found in Circle Six with the Heretics. Farina was a major part of the Sibylline political party of Florence, enemies of Aligner’s own Gullets. Yet, Aligner demonstrates admiration towards Farina through diction. He questions Ciao the Hog, another sinner, on Farina’s whereabouts, calling Farina a “[man] of good blood… Who set [his] heart on doing good whose high deeds might be-gem the crowns of kings” (Aligner VI, 76-80).
Farina was not a remarkably virtuous man; to some, he was an arrogant and rule military leader, but words such as “gem” and “kings,” convey an image of luxury and absolute power. Gems adorn plain crowns and enhance their value; the more jewels there were the more status and wealth a ruler held. Farina’s deeds are “high” enough to embellish these status symbols, implying he is a worthy and respectable man. Because Dante specifically asks after another sinner, he demonstrates anticipation of seeing Farina and his simultaneous fervent compliments towards the shade radiate extreme veneration.
It is uncharacteristic for Dante to show much emotion toward a sinner, yet Farina’s political affiliations make Dent’s reverence even more surprising. Farina also played a large role in Aligner’s exile from his homeland, and despite knowing that information, Aligner writes about him with respect. Aligner allows the reader to infer that Virgil experiences similar sentiments towards Farina through the Poet’s words regarding the Heretic. When Dante hesitates at the sight of the intimidating Farina, Virgil orders Dante, “Mind how you speak to him” (X, 39).
Virgin’s warning to Dante suggests hat he respects Farina, since in the previous Circle Five, Virgil encouraged and approved of Dent’s verbal abuse towards Fillips Argent’. He even embraced and praised Dante, making it clear that he does not expect Dante to act civilly towards these souls. The marked change in Virgin’s attitude between the two Circles emphasizes his high regard for Farina although Farina is essentially no different from the other sinners, and therefore should warrant no exceptional reverence. However, Virgil insists on treating him respectfully and instructs Dante to do the same.
Aligner mirrors his own respect for Farina by portraying the Poets as showing significant regard for Farina dogleg Puberty through their actions and words. Aligner displays similar sympathy for Geri del Belle through Dent’s reaction and his diction. The sinner is found in Circle Eight with the Sewers of Discord, but was a relative of Aligner’s in reality, murdered by a powerful noble family. After Virgil insults Geri for daring to make threatening gestures towards Dante, Dante quickly defends him, saying, “[Geri] is not yet avenged… For this he surely hates his kin… E sakes me pity him the more” (XIX, 32-36). Dante Justifies Geris actions although they are offensive towards him, and stands up to Virgil, his beloved Guide, in the process. Throughout the poem, Dante dollies Virgil and readily accepts all he says. By rebuking Virgil, Dante also directly disagrees with God, who chose to punish Geri. However, as devoted and pious Aligner is, he is willing to defend his kinsmen, showing his loyalty and compassion. More compassion is suggested through Aligner’s word choice when Dante comments about Geri and his fellow sinners, “The sight of… Oaken dead had left my eyes so soothed with their tears I longed to stay and weep” (XIX, 1-3). Aligner chooses to describe the souls as “broken” to portray them as pitiful objects meant to be repaired, instead of malefactors who deliberately caused conflict, emphasizing his pity towards them. For Dent’s eyes to be “soothed” means that he pities them so much he literally cannot see clearly, but figuratively cannot think logically. His emotions conquer his reason to the point where he sobs for the sinners.
Dante rarely shows any outward feelings towards a shade and tends o be ashamed of his sympathy, but he weeps freely for Geri, even desiring to linger when he knows Virgil will disapprove of his sympathy. Thus, Aligner indicates his compassion for the Sorer of Discord through his usage of diction as well as Dent’s reactions. In contrast to Farina and Geri, Aligner emphasizes his feelings of contempt towards Boca dogleg Batik by utilizing diction and using the protagonist’s reactions to Boca. Boca was originally a Gullet like Aligner, but became a traitor and assisted the Gibberellins in a major battle.
When Dante becomes frustrated with Boca, “[he grabs] the hair of [Bobcat’s] dogs-ruff’ and another sinner tells Boca to stop barking (XIII, 96). The comparison of Boca to a dog would have been extremely offensive to Aligner’s audience of the Middle Ages, due to its negative connotations. Dogs were considered inferior to humans due to their sereneness and inability to experience human thoughts and emotions; also, they were exclusively used as hunting hounds. Therefore, Bobcat’s dog-like attributes characterize him as beastly, aggressive, and savage.
Similarly, barking is a harsh, meaningless sound and suggests that Boca has lost the human characteristic of language and emphasizes his sanctity. Aligner further demonstrates his scorn towards Boca when Dante narrates, “l had a good grip on [Bobcat’s] hair… ‘ had yanked out more than one fistful of it” (XIII, 103-104). Throughout his travels in Hell Dante does become angry with sinners, most notably the previously mentioned Fillips Argent’. However, he only subjects the Wrathful to verbal abuse. Dent’s response to Boca crosses the line into cruelty when he physically hurts a soul that is already tortured.
His excessive lenience suggests that he savors tormenting the sinner, and Dent’s remain wavering pity for all subsequent shades dissipates with Bobcat’s appearance has remained a separate entity from the sinners for the majority of the tit preferring to observe their punishments and keep his emotions to himself angered by Boca he takes the punishment into his own hands. Aligner f indicates his hostile feelings towards Boca through designating Bobcat’s Hell as Circle Nine. Circle Nine also contains Satan, who is the ultimate personification of evil.
Boca could have been placed in other Circles sins heritage of sins, but Aligner positions him in the same one as Satan for proximity to the Devil to reflect the author’s opinion of him. Aligner ample and Dent’s reaction to Boca to depict his own hatred for Boca dogleg ABA Inferno, at first glance, seems to be solely written about a religious awake allegorical significance is one of Justice. Aligner attempted to impart Just punishing sinners in different degrees, and his attitude towards different be dissected through his usage of diction, and the reactions of the two Pop and Virgil.
These methods reveal his feelings of compassion for Farina d ND Geri del Belle, and disdain towards Boca dogleg Batik. While Aligner clear his feelings about each individual, Aligner’s overall treatment of the does not reflect anything conclusive about his beliefs on punishment. The which he Judges a crime’s sinfulness is largely shaped by his personal pop sinners; family members and “noble” people garner pity while cowards an suffer ruthlessness.
However, his notion of punishment stays consistent: justice. This idea remains relevant today as society becomes increasingly disillusioned about what the law stands for, and mounting frustration wit f the courts to exact poetic Justice has led to vigilantism and other drastic The Inferno’s timelessness stems from the omnipresence of poetic Justice delivery throughout civilization; while they may be subjective and mountain reality, Aligner’s writing makes them seem tangible. lenience suggests that he savors tormenting the sinner, and Dent’s remaining wavering pity for all subsequent shades dissipates with Bobcat’s appearance. Dante has remained a separate entity from the sinners for the majority of the time, preferring to observe their punishments and keep his emotions to himself, but is so angered by Boca he takes the punishment into his own hands. Aligner further indicates his hostile feelings towards Boca through designating Bobcat’s location in personification of evil.
Boca could have been placed in other Circles since he had no shortage of sins, but Aligner positions him in the same one as Satan for his proximity to the Devil to reflect the author’s opinion of him. Aligner employs diction and Dent’s reaction to Boca to depict his own hatred for Boca dogleg Batik. The Inferno, at first glance, seems to be solely written about a religious awakening, but its allegorical significance is one of Justice.
Aligner attempted to impart Justice through punishing sinners in different degrees, and his attitude towards different sinners can be dissected through his usage of diction, and the reactions of the two Poets, Dante and Virgil. These methods reveal his feelings of compassion for Farina dogleg Puberty and Geri del Belle, and disdain towards Boca dogleg Batik. While Aligner makes clear his feelings about each individual, Aligner’s overall treatment of these sinners does not reflect anything conclusive about his beliefs on punishment.
