Dante’s Inferno Canto I-VIII

Salvation

I find it very interesting that although these souls are in Hell, they way Dante explains things makes it seem that there is still a chance for salvation or at least an end to their suffering. In Canto III, when Charon refuses to cross Virgil and Dante over Acheron, I assumed it was because Dante is alive. Charon says, “And thou, the living man there! Stand aside from these who are dead!… Away with thee! For another road and other ferries thou shalt make, not here; a lighter skiff must bear thy load.” (Canto III, 88-93). I thought that when Charon said from another road or other ferries he meant that he will be making the trip across Acheron many more times and when Dante is dead then he will be able to cross over, however, that was not the case according to the notes. The notes say that Charon is referring to the boat that takes souls destined for Heaven to Mount Purgatory. Charon is reluctant to take Dante across the river until Virgil commands him to do so because he recognizes that Dante is a “soul in grace” (p. 90). After reading the notes section, the way Charon describes that through another road or ferry Dante will get where he needs to go, it seems as if the Angel boat to Mount Purgatory stops at Acheron. If in fact, it does stop at Acheron, then there is a chance for salvation in Hell because although Dante hasn’t crossed over to the circles he is still in Hell, regardless of his being at the top, or the center of Hell, he is still in it.

 

The second passage that indicates that there might be a possibility for salvation is in Canto IV when Dante asks Virgil if the suffering of the souls of the gluttonous will ever stop. Virgil responds, “they’ll be more near complete after the judgment than they yet have been” (Canto IV, 110-111).  Considering that the souls are just essences and not bodies, making them more complete would be giving them bodily form. Also, the fact that this is a response to the misery of the soul’s coming to an end as they are now, indicates that there is still a judgment to be had. If the judgment was prior to their being in hell and their current situation is their fate, then the answer to Dante’s question would simply be yes, they will continue to suffer endlessly. Virgil’s response although not concrete indicates that there is hope for salvation or at least a way to end their suffering.