Dantes Inferno: The Theme of Anti-love in Canto XXVIII Essay -- Canto

Dantes Divine Comedy is a multi-layered epic, containing non just now a story about his incredibly difficult move from globe to the depths of hell then up to the peaks of heaven, but it also contains many insights on theology, politics, and even his own life. Broken into three canticlesInferno, Purgatorio, and Paradisothe work is written in the terza rima form. In Infernoin 33 CantosDante makes a vast journey through the nine circles of hell. In the Eighth Circle (specifically, the Ninth Pouch), Dante meets with those who were, when alive, the sowers of bitterness (Inf. XXVIII.35-36). Dante encounters a myriad of characters in many realms of interest, including theological and political figures.This Canto adequately flows in the context of the rest of the work, but in order to assure why, the general tr termination of Inferno must be pointed out. The Bible states, Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 48, NIV). As Dante descends deeper into the realm of hell, he becomes closer to the center of the earth and farther away from God, or farther away from love. Each step cut back is a progressive step away from God. With Limbo, there are masses who would love Christ if he existed in the Second Circle, people are punished for love as a snake pit. But descend further, in the Eighth Circle, love is almost g 1, for there are people who sin out of hate. Even in pouch one (where seducers reside), the love of mortal is still there. In pouch nine, the subject of Canto XXVIII, the people are sowers of rent and the scandaloushaters of somewhatone else. At this point, Dante and his guide Virgil have essentially trekked the sum of hell, as they are currently in the eighth of nine circles and the randomness to last... ...l of Achitophel, one of Davids advisors. The main difference between Bertran and Achitophel is that, while Bertran won, Achitophel lost. The punishment of Bertran is a worthy one he is beheaded. The father is in cessantly seen as the head of the household, and when performing the holy cross after prayers, the head always represents the Father. By having Bertran beheaded, it symbolizes the separation between Father and son (The Godhead free from the body of the Son). The theme of anti-love is prominent in this Canto, as by this point, Dante is already so close to the end of hell that love seems non-existent. From this trend, there is one thing to learn love God with all of your heart, as this leave alone prevent you from being far from Him. If one cannot love God for some reason, at least love others this way, you will at least end up in a better circle of Hell.