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

Dantes Divine Comedy is a multi-layered epic, containing not only a story ab away his incredibly difficult journey from earth to the depths of hell then up to the peaks of heaven, yet it also contains many insights on theology, politics, and even his hold 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 dissension (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 understand why, the general tr blockade of Inferno must be pointed out. The Bible states, Whoever does not jockey does not know God, because God is love (1 John 48, NIV). As Dante descends deeper into th e realm of hell, he becomes closer to the center of the earth and farther away from God, or farther away from love. Each meter down is a progressive step away from God. With Limbo, there ar people who would love Christ if he existed in the Second Circle, people are punished for love as a sin. But descend further, in the Eighth Circle, love is almost gone, for there are people who sin out of hate. Even in pouch one (where seducers reside), the love of person is still there. In pouch nine, the subject of Canto XXVIII, the people are sowers of schism and the scandaloushaters of somebody else. At this point, Dante and his guide Virgil have essentially trekked the entirety of hell, as they are currently in the eighth of nine circles and the second to last... ...l of Achitophel, one of Davids advisors. The of import 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 always seen as the head of the household, and when performing the holy bollix after prayers, the head always represents the Father. By having Bertran beheaded, it symbolizes the separation between Father and son (The Godhead separated 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 will 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.