Fear is one of the most powerful human
emotions. It tempts people into cowardliness and coerces people to turn from
their morals. In Dante’s Inferno this
power of fear is seen as a theme throughout the poem which turns people from
God’s plan. For example, Dante’s fear continually makes him question going into
the depths of The Inferno. Dante’s fear begs him to seclude himself away to the
comforts of the Earth that he knows. This power of fear can be seen when Dante
looks for excuses not to descend into Hell by questioning, “But why should I go
there? Who sanctions it?/ For I am not Aeneas, am not Paul;/ nor I not others
think myself so worthy” (Canto II 31-33). Here, Dante is letting fear tempt him
to turn from Gods plan; he is letting it compel him into thinking only of
himself and not of the others that he will be serving.
In this sense, fear belongs to the
selfish and immoral. It belongs to those who will think about themselves before
they think about others or even God. This notion that fear belongs to the
immoral is strengthened when Virgil dispels Dante’s fear. Virgil, one who has
proven to live a Nobel life, recognizes there is no need for fear when working
in Gods plan. Nevertheless, even Virgil is not immune to fear deep in The Inferno
and must be rescued by one even more noble and moral than himself. Outside the
gate of Dis, a city with greater suffering than before, Virgil could not pass
and began to let fear take hold of him. He questions the certainty with which
they will make it through the journey and subsequently asks for help by saying,
“We have to win this battle/…if not….But one so great had offered help”(Canto
IX 7-8). Virgil, the one who has been repelling Dante’s fear, now feared
himself. He even questioned the validity of God’s plan and needed one greater
and more moral than himself to dispel his own fear.
Fear has the power to turn people
selfish, to think only of themselves. Therefore, fear belongs to the immoral.
More specifically in Dante’s Inferno,
fear compels people to turn from Gods plan. When fear consumes one’s mind, it
takes someone greater and more moral to dispel that fear. Whether Virgil repelling
Dante’s fear or The Angel repelling Virgil’s fear, one greater with more trust
in God’s plan must come to the rescue. In Dante’s inferno fear is not only seen
as a natural response the mystery and danger of The Inferno but, more
importantly it is seen as a proof that man and even Nobel spirits still do not
comprehend the extend of God’s power and will.
This post gave me a new perspective on Dante’s fear in the inferno. I did not connect fear to being selfish, but it makes a lot of sense. I agree that fear compels people of God’s plan. It questions the trust of the relationship of Dante and God. I believe God knew Dante would question the trip; which is why Virgil is sent as his guide. Virgil was Dante’s role model when it came to literature. When Dante sees Virgil he says, “You are my master and my author, you know the only one from who my writing drew” (Canto I 85-87). God knew that he would give Dante the push he needed to go to the inferno. I think fear is the test Dante needed to get to heaven. If he follows through with the inferno and faces the fear that lies inside, then he will find his true path.
ReplyDeleteThis post also made me question how much sin one must commit to be sent to hell. Dante questions God multiple times, however he isn’t sent to hell. If Dante doubting God is considered selfishness wouldn’t it be the sin of gluttonous? Or wouldn’t doubt make God angry? Perhaps I am overthinking the situation, but if a God sends sinners to hell because of one mistake, why doesn’t it apply to Dante.
The reason that Dante-character hasn't been damned yet is because he is still alive. However, his accent up the mountain in Canto I was blocked by three sins, which could point to how he would be judged if he should die. The three beasts blocking his path could also be the reason Dante was chosen to go on this journey into the inferno. I say this because in Canto III Virgil hints that Dante is a good soul not fit for hell. These two events, the blocking of the mountain and Virgil's praise of Dante contradict each other. Virgil, being the wise man as he is, and acting on behalf of those more holy than himself might be hinting at Dante's potential in Canto III. I would like to believe that God has sent Dante on this journey as an attempt to make Dante a better person, and that at the end of his journey, and in his eventual death Dante's way up the mountain is unimpeded.
ReplyDeleteFear is not among the sins that block Dante's path however, and while I agree that Dante's fear does put his faith in God into question, I don't believe that fear is the bad characteristic that God is trying to remove from Dante by sending him on this journey. If anything I'd say that one of God's tactics is to scare Dante straight. The God of Dante's time was supposed to be held in fear and admiration equally, but that fear was supposed to drive you into being a good person. Perhaps Dante is meant to stop being afraid that God won't take care of him while he's alive, and start being afraid of what God will do to him once he's dead.
I really hadn't thought as much about fear in Dante because I believe in the end he is faithful and that keeps him going on his journey. Now fear becomes more apparent as a large factor in Dante and his decision-making process. Fear isn't only about morality but also mortality. We also need to consider that Dante is mortal and isn't completely fear free as a result. Fear is a byprouct of our morality and more than anything fear of death. As Dante is in hell he is around the undead he is fearful while he is there.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally fear makes me wonder if Dante as a poet intends to inspire fear in his audience. However it also makes me wonder why he chose to make himself so fearful or did he simply use it as a part of the plot. You can see many times such as when he faints at the river or passes out in sheer terror that he is painted as a very fearful person. It is interesting why Dante chooses to make his character so fear filled but also understanding that Dante would be fearful during his journey through hell.