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Examples Of Contrapasso In Dante's Inferno

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Dante’s attitude toward Contrapasso is that it is a divine retribution. The passion and the pain that you suffer matches the crime that you have committed but it isn’t the same punishment that you committed on another person. Dante thinks that this is the most fair because only god can be the judge and jury of sin. Retributive justice is the “Eye for an Eye” concept, where the pain that you inflicted is the same punishment that you receive. Dante doesn’t believe in this because Geri Bello murdered his family member but his family members death will remain unavenged. He says, “Made him disdainful; whence he went away, As I imagine, without speaking to me, And thereby made me pity him the more." (Inferno: Canto XXIX: 34-36) This shows …show more content…
He cries for the lustful. Dante says, “After that I had listened to my Teacher, Naming the dames of eld and cavaliers, Pity prevailed, and I was nigh bewildered” (Inferno, V: 70-73) He is showing pity for them and relates to them because of his love for Beatrice. His attitude changes when the sins get worse and he feels he can’t relate to them anymore. In the fifth circle in canto 8 after they start moving towards violence is when he begins to grow more intolerant of sin. An example is when he sees his enemy, Filippo Argenti in the river of Styx. He doesn’t show any pity for him and he enjoys watching other sinners tear him apart. Dante says, “A little after that, I saw such havoc. Made of him by the people of the mire, That still I praise and thank my God for it.” (Inferno, Canto VIII: 60-63) He is thanking god that his enemy is being punished which shows he is no longer showing pity, sympathy, or relating with these sinners. A key turning point when Dante begins to show spiritual growth is in canto 23, sixth pouch, 8th circle, filled with hypocrisy. Virgil has a more limited view of Christianity because he is a Pagan. Beatrice has saved Dante and his triumph over Virgil is symbolic of Christianity over paganism. Dante rises above temptation and Satan himself when Dante and Virgil climb down the legs of Lucifer to reach the base of Purgatory. Virgil says to Dante, "Keep fast thy hold, for by such stairs as these," The Master said, panting as one fatigued, "Must we perforce depart from so much evil." (Inferno, Canto XXXIV: 83-86)The Energy forces of the universe flip Dante physically and

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