Emma Kunzmann

Miss Skirtich
19 March 2018
English 10: World Literature
Virgil as an Inspiring Fatherly Figure

Has one ever been so afraid or angry in their life that they rely on another person to give

them perseverance and courage? In Dante Alighieri`s "Inferno", the dauntless figure Virgil is

Dante`s guide through the shameful and profane abyss of hell. Dante Alighieri delineates Virgil

as a fatherly figure to Dante in "Inferno" by acting as his patron, showing his pride, and through

his righteous anger.

Dante Alighieri delineates Virgil as a fatherly figure to Dante in "Inferno" by acting as

his patron. In many instances in Dante`s "Inferno," Virgil is the one to be Dante`s saving grace

and mentor. Their expedition through circle seven round three leads them to the fearful and

deceptive creature, Geryon, half beast, half scorpion. As they climb onto the monster`s back,

Virgil exclaims, "Mount it in front, and I will ride between you and the tail" (Alighieri 137).

Dante is riding on the front, while Dante makes sure he is protected from the poisonous scorpion

tail. Whenever Dante and Virgil seem to be in danger, Virgil always keeps his role as a fatherly

figure and calmly persuades Dante that he will be alright. While a monster swoops down to pick

up Virgil, he calmly says to Dante, "come, and I will hold you safe"(Alighieri 256). Virgil

portrays a fatherly figure in this moment when he offers to hold Dante in his hands and protect

him. He states that he will hold him in his hands, showing that Virgil has authority and

leadership over Dante. Dante Alighieri delineates Virgil as a fatherly figure to Dante in "Inferno"

by acting as his patron.

Additionally, Dante Alighieri delineates Virgil as a fatherly figure to Dante in "Inferno"

through his pride. Virgil exposes an exorbitant amount of his pride throughout Dante`s "Inferno."
When Dante first meets Virgil, he spends time dramatically proclaiming his love for Dante. After

Virgil hears Dante`s words of praise, he responds, "You follow me and I will be your guide"

(Alighieri 7). This portrays how Virgil does not even deny any praises given to him by Dante,

but he knows he is wise and strong enough to be Dante`s guide through hell. Another time when

Virgil displays his pride is when they are in they are in the boat with Phleygas and a man of the

name Pilippo Argenti comes roaring out of the water. Virgil shoves him back into the raging

waters, and short of breath, he proclaims, "Indignant spirit, I kiss you as you frown" (Alighieri

61). He calms Dante down and calls him indignant out of frustration. Virgil knows he is strong,

and Dante is still weak. Dante Alighieri delineates Virgil as a fatherly figure to Dante in

"Inferno" through his pride.

Finally, Dante Alighieri delineates Virgil as a fatherly figure to Dante in "Inferno"

through his righteous anger. Virgil conveys his righteous anger in Circle 8 Bolgia 3 when they

encounter the simonists, "Gold and Silver are the gods you adore!"(Alighieri 156) Dante belittles

Pope Nicholas III for his corruption of the church. As Dante and Virgil diminish into the lower

levels of hell, it is palpable that Dante becomes unsympathetic towards the sinners. As Dante

tries to get a certain sinner to talk to him, he violently exclaims, "Either you tell me who you are,

or you won`t have a hair left on your head" (Alighieri 264). Dante exudes righteous anger in this

part of "Inferno". He is torn apart at the image of these sinners, and he cannot believe some of

the sins that were committed. He becomes more heartless and his dauntless guide persuades him

to keep going onward with their journey. Dante Alighieri delineates Virgil as a fatherly figure to

Dante in "Inferno" through his righteous anger.

In conclusion, Dante Alighieri delineates Virgil as a fatherly figure to Dante in "Inferno"

by acting as his patron, showing his pride, and through his righteous anger. Virgil was a guiding
and caring father figure along the journey through hell. Dante always admired Virgil because of

his prodigious poetical works. In the beginning of Dante`s “Inferno,” Dante exclaims, “For you

are my true master and first author, the sole maker from whom I drew breathe” (Alighieri 6).

Dante shows his compassion towards Virgil, and in this moment, he describes how much he

trusts and admires Virgil. Towards the end of "Inferno," Dante finds his courage and bravery

through Virgil. At the beginning, he cried at the sight of two lovers being in hell for eternity, and

towards the end, he threatens sinners who committed treason. His heart of sweet innocence is

now corrupted with the darkened images of corruption, disease, and sin. Virgil, as a fatherly

figure, put Dante in a position to reach success, which is exactly what he did. Readers learn

from Virgil what it takes to always look out for one person in life, especially when it gets rough.