the inferno

Kavita Makadia The Christian theology states that for a man to be properly castigated, his crime must determine the punishment that he endures. “…a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows!”(Galatians 6:7-8) Dante’s Inferno shows that for whatever crime man has committed, he was suffer a literal punishment for the act. “For others will treat you as you treat them.” (Matthew 7:1-2) The first people Dante encounters in hell …

…s cruelty lead Ugolino to his disgusting cannibalistic act, therefore he is victim of this act in Hell. Their punishment incorporates both of their sins. The Inferno carries out the Christian principle of “contripasso”, literally. If the idea implied was to punish people precisely according to the crime, then the Inferno truly serves justice. Yet, the question could arise as to whether or not these punishments carry the crime a little too far. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**