The Inferno Commentary

Jessica Dudman
10 IB
Ms. Peifer
9/1/09
"I was a man of arms: then took the rope
of the Franciscans, hoping to make amends:
and surely I should have won to all my hope
but for the Great Priest -may he rot in Hell!-
who brought me back to all my earlier sins;
and how and why it happened I wish to tell
in my own words: while I was still encased
in the pulp and bone my mother bore, my deeds
were not of the lion but of the fox: I raced
through tangled ways; all wiles were mine from birth
and i won to such advantage with my arts
that rumor of me reached the ends of the earth.
But when I saw before me all the signs
of the time of life that cautions every man
to lower his sail and gather in his lines,
that which had pleased me once, troubled my spirit,
and penitent and confessed, I became a monk.
Alas! What joy I might have had of it!" (Dante Canto 27, lines 64-82)

This passage is of one of the evil councilors speaking to Dante. He is telling Dante about himself and lamenting what paths in life lead him to his fall into Hell. The lament of the damned is a prevalent theme although some of the sinners don't seem to feel remorse most appear to if only because of the torment they now face. Dante uses very interesting phrases in his writing. Parts sound almost poetic while others summon up rather graphic images.

The sorrows of the sinners is prevalent through out the tale, "I was a man of arms: then took the rope of the Franciscans, hoping to make amends" (64-65). This character was remorseful even while alive, but he still wound up in Hell. Another reinforced theme that reemerges through out the book is that of the authors disdain for Boniface VIII referred to here as "the Great Priest -may he rot in Hell!" (67). Great Priest is used as another name for Pope.

Dante's use of language is the most interesting part of his story because it's what has stayed relavent as time passed. He combines many different styles to add interest to the story. One technique that he uses are metaphors, "the time of life that cautions every man to lower his sail and gather in his lines" (78-79). This is a metaphor for middle age or a near death experience.

Another literary device he uses is when he adds contrast by using slightly crude imagery. "while I was still encased in the pulp and bone my mother bore" (70-71). This use of imagery is very powerful and makes the other parts even more lyrical. Although it is crude it also adds intrest. This layering of tecniques is facinating.

This passage exemplarifies Dante's skill in manipulating language and literary tecniques. The contrast between the flowy metaphor and the crude imagery is facinating. The passage uses many of his skills and Dante's talent really shows. It is an interesting passage that uses many literary devices.