Dante Alighieri s Influential Late Medieval Epic

1415041 Mrs. Jewell English 9 Honors May 8, 2016 Et Tu, Jefferson Davis? Dante Alighieri’s influential Late Medieval epic, The Inferno, informs the modern view of Hell and the nature of sin, especially treason, damning historical traitors and two-faced politicians to the horrors of Hell’s lowest circle. In this highly allegorical journey, Dante, as a pilgrim, descends deeper and deeper into Hell, witnessing the plight of sinners fated to eternal damnation. Since Dante Alighieri was both a politician and a poet, he placed numerous politicians into The Inferno in order to demonstrate the devastating effects of the political schisms created by these individuals. Marcus Junius Brutus, a member of the Roman Senate and one of the main assassins†¦show more content†¦Both of these men turned traitor to the government that had previously raised them to an exalted status and created schisms resulting in the death of their countrymen and widespread destruction. Due to the similar historical and moral roles of these two men in the histories of their respective nations, Davis’ immortal soul should suffer the same eternal punishment as that of Brutus. Had Dante known about Davis, he likely would have been placed in the ninth circle along with Brutus since both men were traitors to their respective benefactors. Sinners who reside in the ninth circle of Hell exist â€Å"in the tightest circle,/ the center of the universe and seat of Dis,/ all traitors are consumed eternally† (Alighieri XI, l. 64-66). Reserved for only the most malicious sinners, the ninth circle of Hell is ideal for Jefferson Davis and Marcus Junius Brutus. Jefferson Davis was born on June 3, 1808 in Kentucky and grew up in Mississippi hearing that Blacks were â€Å"biologically inferior,† an idea which he believed was validated by the Bible (O’Brien). Davis believed that the religious text supported slavery and that slavery was advantageous rather than oppressive and torturous to the slaves (O’Brien). Prior to the Civil War, Davis was a successful politician who served in the House of Representatives, the Senate, and then was chosen to b e the Secretary of War in 1853, participating in the very governmental system