The Inferno provokes human instinct. People hate not knowing and what happens after death is always an issue. The events after death is one thing we can never put a science or reason to until life is over. Dante’s inferno offers people an insight into the dark ages view of life after death. Weather or not the reader agrees with Dante’s views, the story still offers readers from any time period one aspect of what hell would be like. It satisfies a longing for knowledge. The account is detailed and interesting to any reader. I believe people’s curiosity about the after life is part of the reason why Dante’s epic poem is read and discussed to this day.

The inferno also provides a justice system. It is a clearly known fact that life is not fair and will never be fair but the inferno offers some form of justice. To Dante, the people of his hell got what they deserved. All of his political enemies were finally punished for their crimes. I think that the modern reader has trouble grasping why some crimes, which seem petty in our culture, were so harshly punished. For example, Limbo was harsh for people who lived moral lives. But there is some feeling that there is justice.

Dante’s Inferno is pretty twisted when it comes to punishment. The grotesque nature of Dante’s imagination allows the work to be very intriguing. The man gnawing on another mans head or snakes transforming thieves are just some of the punishments that appear so cruel and unusual. They are awfully terrible for common crimes. And to think god was the one punishing these souls. I couldn’t imagine living in Dante’s time and believing in such a hell. The inferno is the horror movie of 1300’s. Dante’s imagination keeps the inferno alive and studied through out history.

Dante through out the book continuously referenced current events, mythology, and other works of literature. Dante’s blend of many different cultures and events gives the reader a clear view of his personal hell. He uses Greek mythology for example. Everyone from any culture knows of the three-headed dog Cerberus. Dante places this well-known beast in his hell. A diverse group of readers can relate to this creature and understand Dante’s ideas of torture.