Quick Note:
I’m going to write more about what I’m reading. The essays will be analytical and reflective. They will be analytical in the sense that I will break down and interpret various elements of the works. Reflective in the sense that I’m going to provide some contemplation and reflection on the writing while inviting you to do the same.
Furthermore, I’m going to spend a lot of time with Dante. I just re-read the Inferno. The first time I read it I was to immature to understand it. I’m sure I still don’t hold the maturity and experience one needs to fully grasp the work — but I felt more mature this time around because the poem hit me like a slavic punch (look it up!).
And finally, Divina Commedia is a very sophisticated poem, famously broken into three parts: The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and The Paradiso. There are people out there that have dedicated their lives to understanding this poem, some to just one of the three parts. I read about one Dante scholar who even moved to Italy right after college so she could learn Italian faster so she could read Dante in the original translation (which is so bad ass). However, I’m not one of these people. I’m just a guy that works in baseball who loves God and reading old books. So, when it comes to my analysis and reflections, just know you’re reading, on my best days, a minor leaguer.
My HOPE and GOAL for writing these is in two parts: 1) to help me digest the texts better, 2) for you to stop reading my substack and go pickup the books for yourselves.
“For my sin was that I sought out pleasures, grandeurs, and truths not in him but in his creatures, in myself and in others, and thus fell headlong into sorrows, confusion, and errors.”
- St. Augustine, Confessions (Book I, CH. XX)
Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita.
Midway through our life’s journey.
Midway through OUR life’s journey, I went astray.
I always love how Dante incorporates us, humanity, into one of the most famous journeys ever to be told. How often do we think about our personal struggles, our sufferings, as if we’re the only ones going through them? The genius of Dante highlights the silliness of this thinking. The struggles, confusion, and moral waywardness is not something that is unique to you, me, or Dante. It’s a collective struggle. Especially for those who see the error, and more importantly, desire to correct it.
Midway through our life’s journey, Dante Allighieri finds himself lost in a dark and foreboding forest. This simple yet profound opening to the Inferno sets the stage for an epic journey through the realms of Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory), and Paradiso (Heaven).
But what does it mean to be lost in this allegorical wilderness?
And how does Dante’s personal crisis reflect the universal human struggle with sin and redemption?
“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death”
- James 1:14-15
Dante’s selva oscura, or dark wood, is more than mere scenery; it symbolizes moral and spiritual confusion - or, specifically, it symbolizes “worldliness.” The poet tells us he has realized that he has “abandoned the true way,” - a departure from a life of virtue and righteousness. He has fallen asleep and wandered off the “narrow path.”1 But how does one become so disoriented?
Perhaps Dante is speaking about the gradual, almost imperceptible way we can drift from our moral compass. Small compromises and rationalizations accumulate over time until we find ourselves in unfamiliar ethical and spiritual territory, unsure how to return to solid ground. The dark wood represents this state of loss—not geographically but spiritually and morally. It represents what we would call a spiritual crisis.
The poet’s confusion is palpable:
I cannot well repeat how there I entered, / So full was I of slumber at the moment / In which I had abandoned the true way.”
This spiritual sleepwalking speaks to the dangers of complacency and lack of self-reflection where we re-examine our desires and values. How often do we move through life on autopilot, unaware that the small bad habits we’re incorporating into our lives are not habits but forming vices? Resulting in the shared viewpoint of today, where we confuse happiness with stimulation, morals with social trends, and a worship of personal feelings.
Dante’s state of mind in the forest is one of fear and disorientation. He describes the wood as “savage, rough, and stern,” evoking a sense of hostility and danger, imagery that states that sin and moral error are not just abstract, relative concepts but have real and terrifying consequences for our souls.
The Three Beasts
‘For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world”
- 1 John 2:16
As Dante attempts to climb a sunlit hill, symbolizing Divine Illumination, he is confronted by three fearsome beasts: a leopard, a lion, and a she-wolf. The creatures are more than mere obstacles; they represent specific vices that separate us from from God.
The Leopard of Malice and Fraud:
“There are six thing that he LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
- Proverbs 6:16-19
The leopard represents fraud, deceit, and cunning. It’s spotted coat symbolizes the deceptive nature of fraud that can take many forms. Dante describes the leopard as light and swift, suggesting how easily one can fall into this fraudulent behavior. The leopard blocks Dante’s path up the hill towards the light, showing how fraud impedes spiritual progress and enlightenment. In medieval symbolism, the leopard was associated with lust and excessive pride, which further vices are also represented here.
The Lion of Violence and Ambition:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”
- 1 Peter 5:8
The lion symbolizes violence, force, and worldly ambition. It approaches Dante with it’s “head held high,” representing pride and arrogance. The lion instills great fear in Dante, showing the intimidating power of violence and ambition. In medieval bestiaries, lions were also associated with wrath. It’s hunger suggests the insatiable nature of ambition and lust for power.
The She-Wolf of Incontinence:
“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control”
- Proverbs 25:28
The she-wolf represents incontinence — the lack of self-restraint, greed, and worldly appetites. She is described as gaunt but “laden with craving,” symbolizing insatiable hunger and desire. The she-wolf drives Dante back down the hill, showing how lack of self-control prevents us from spiritual ascent.
These three beasts force Dante back down the hill, away from the light. The progression from leopard to lion to wolf also suggests an escalation of vice. We might start with small deceptions, move to proud ambitions, and finally be consumed by uncontrollable greed. This sequence invite us to consider: what are the “beasts” in our own lives that block our path to growth, enlightenment, and Truth? Who or what is cutting (or has cut) us off from God?
Virgil
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
- Proverbs 11:14
Just as all seems lost, Dante encounters the shade of Virgil, the great Roman poet. Virgil’s appearance marks a turning point in the narrative, offering hope and guidance. But why Virgil?
Virgil represents the pinnacle of human reason and classical learning. As the author of the Aeneid, he embodies the wisdom of the ancient world. By selecting a pagan poet as his (initial) guide, Dante makes a bold statement about the value of non-Christian knowledge and virtue, especially during his time. It’s an acknowledgement of the importance and enduring relevance of classical learning and philosophy.
Dante is suggesting that the great thinkers of antiquity, despite predating Christianity, still have much to teach us. Its also a testament to the synthesizing of Reason and Faith, which is a common theme throughout the poem. Virgil represents human reason and intellect at its highest level. By having Virgil guide him through Hell (and Purgatory), Dante is suggesting that reason and human wisdom have an important role to play in understanding morality and spirituality (even if they are ultimately insufficient to reach Paradise as we see later, where Beatrice, representing divine revelation, takes over as the guide).
Dante reacts to Virgil with awe and reverence. Some might say he was being a bit of “fanboy”:
“Now art thou Virgilius and that fountain / Which spreads abroad so wide a river of speech?”
This encounter highlights that inspiration and guidance can appear from unexpected sources, even in our darkest moments; for “power is made perfect in weakness.”2
Virgil explains to Dante that he has been sent by Beatrice, Dante’s deceased love, who represents divine grace. This introduces a crucial theme: the interplay between human reason (Virgil) and divine love (Beatrice) in the journey of salvation.
It will eventually raise the question: How far can human reason, alone, take us in the ultimate fulfillment of our desire? Can human reason alone bring us happiness?
The Journey Ahead
“Therefore, for your own good, I think it well / you follow me and I will be your guide / and lead you forth through an eternal place. / There you shall see the ancient spirits tried / in endless pain, and hear lamentation / as each bemoans the second death of souls. / Next you shall see upon a burning mountain / souls in fire and yet content in fire, / knowing that whensoever it may be / they yet will mount into the blessed choir. / To which, if it is still your wish to climb, / a worthier spirit shall be sent to guide you. / With her shall I leave you, for the King of Time, who reigns on high, forbids me to come there / since, living, I rebelled against his law. / He rules the waters and the land and air / and there holds court, his city and his throne. / Oh blessed are they he chooses!”
Virgil outlines the path ahead - a descent through the circles of Hell, followed by an ascent through Purgatory, then, ultimately, to Heaven. This journey is not just a physical one, but a spiritual transformation. Each stage of the journey will reveal truths about sin, redemption, and the nature of divine justice.
Dante’s intial fear and hesitation highlight a natural response to such a daunting task. Who among us wouldn’t tremble when facing the depths of human depravity and our own moral failings? Yet Virgil reassures the pilgrim (Dante), promising that this jounrey is necessary for his salvation. He must travel through the depths of Hell to find Heaven.
This segment of the poem raises profound questions of the nature of spiritual growth. Questions about confronting our darkest impulses and societal evils to truly evolve. And the paradoxical value of “descending” into difficult emotional and psychological territories before we can “ascend” to higher states of being.
If you want to attain Heaven, what Hell do you need to travel through to get there?
Themes to look out for
One of the amazing things about Dante is the economy of words. A few lines can have so much depth while introducing multiple ideas and themes. The Inferno is no exception as Dante introduces several key themes immediately in the first Canto.
The first theme introduced is sin and redemption as the dark wood represents sin, while the journey ahead offers the possibility of redemption. This sets up the central conflict of the entire work.
The second theme is Divine Justice. The structure of Hell, as explained by Virgil, reflects a divine order where punishments fit the sins. This raises questions about the nature of justice and free will.
The third theme is human weakness and resilience. Dante’s fear and hesitation, followed by his acceptance of the journey, speak to the fragility of our human capacity to face daunting challenges, and where to find the strength to move forward.
The fourth theme it the role of guidance. Virgil’s appearance establishes the importance of mentors and teachers in spiritual growth. More importantly, it highlights that mere human will is never enough if we truly want to change and grow.
And the fifth theme, Classical vs. Christian wisdom. Specifically the blending of pagan and Christian elements creates a dialogue between different intellectual traditions.
Final Thoughts
Dante's experience of being lost in the dark wood resonates universally with the human condition of feeling spiritually and morally adrift. We've all experienced moments of losing our way, often mistaking our path for careers, status, material position, or a superficial search for purpose. However, these things, at best, are merely passengers on our journey, not the road itself. They are all fleeting and should not divert us from our True Path. When we realize the impermanence of our attachments, we find ourselves in a spiritual crisis - devoid of answers, allies, substance, or truth. Everything we've clung to - materially, politically, ideologically - vanishes, leaving us in the metaphorical wood.
The three beasts blocking Dante's path invite us to consider our own obstacles to growth and fulfillment. What vices and fears create disorder in our lives, trapping us in cycles of confusion and despair? Like Dante, we need guides or, as René Girard would say in the context of mimetic desire, models. Dante wisely chooses Virgil, representing the pinnacle of human reason and classical education, as his guide through Hell. This choice ensures that Dante's imitative desires lead him towards virtue and enlightenment, avoiding the destructive potential of mimetic violence exemplified by the inhabitants of Hell.
Dante grasped a profound truth about human nature that many of us struggle to fully comprehend today: we are not autonomous in our desires, and our choices are always influenced by others, despite our attempts to believe otherwise. We often fall prey to the "romantic lie" - the false belief that our desires originate entirely from within ourselves. In reality, our desires and opinions are triangular, mediated through others.
This realization prompts a crucial question:
Who is mediating your beliefs, opinions, and desires?
Are they leading you towards fulfillment, or towards commonly held desires that may lead to conflict?
As we delve deeper into the Inferno, we'll find that this environment of shared, conflicting desires for fleeting things characterizes many layers of Hell.
Ultimately, if the opening of the Inferno reminds us of anything it’s that the journey to self-knowledge and spiritual enlightenment is rarely easy or straightforward. It requires courage to face the demons that have grabbed a hold of us and a willingness and desire to traverse difficult terrain. But it also offers the promise of something Divine.
When it comes to searching for Truth, it’s rare for people to say that they gave up on it because it didn’t make them happy - rather it’s just that it was too hard.
Matthew 7:13-15
2 Corinthian 12:7-10