Dantes Beasts - 2989 Words

The Beasts and Monsters in Dantes Inferno The Inferno is the first section of Dantes three-part poem, The Divine Comedy. Throughout Dantes epic journey into the depths of Inferno he encounters thirty monsters and five hybrid creatures. The most significant of these monsters are of central importance to his journey and to the narrative, as they not only challenge Dantes presence in Inferno, but are custodians of Hell, keeping in order or guarding the perduta gente. In this essay I am concentrating on these prominent beasts, namely Minos, Cerberus, Plutus and Geryon, establishing why they feature in Dantes eschatological vision and discussing the sources which influenced his inclusion of these particular creatures. These four†¦show more content†¦His serpentine torso and writhing tail connect him with the previous monsters that Dante has encountered. The twisting movement of Geryons tail reminds the reader of the manner with which Minos wraps his tail around the sinners, and the description of Cerberus as il gran v ermo adds to this snaky imagery associated with these beasts. The power the monsters have in their tails would have been meaningful for Dantes readers as it was commonly noted in medieval times that a beasts tail showed its ferocity and held much of its strength. This is illustrated by Brunetto Latinis descriptions of the dragon and the lion in his Li Livres dou Tresor, as well as in Revelations where the power of the horses lay...in their tails; for their tails were like snakes.(6) This association with serpents is also significant as the serpent was the first deceiver (7), establishing the deception and terror connected with these monsters which adds to the uncertain and disordered atmosphere in Inferno. Dantes readers would have been familiar with the beasts he discusses in Inferno as they are firmlyShow MoreRelatedThe Structure and Content of Dantes Inferno Essay1096 Words   |  5 Pagessees the sunshine coming down from a hilltop, so he attempts to climb toward the light. However, he encounters three wild beasts on the way up to the mountain—a leopard, a lion, and a she-wolf—which force him to turn back. Then Dante sees a human figure, which is soon revealed to be the great Roman poet Virgil. He shows a different path to reach the hill and volunteers to be Dante’s guide, leading Dante to the journey towards Hell but also the journey seeking for light and virtue. In terms of structureRead MoreThe Allegorical Mechanisms Used by Dante in his Inferno863 Words   |  3 Pagesphilosophical systems of his day† (Morgan). 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