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Dante 's Inferno, By Dante The Pilgrim

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From the very beginning of Dante’s Inferno, a difference in the characterization of Dante the Poet and Dante the Pilgrim is very evident. While Dante the Poet is the one essentially writing the epic poem and shamelessly assigning each sinner’s punishment, Dante the Pilgrim is traveling through the different Circles of Hell and experiencing each sinner’s emotions first hand. Dante the Poet has a different perspective on each sinner which permits him to be aware of details that Dante the Pilgrim is oblivious to, thus leading to their differing viewpoints on each person encountered. By examining Dante the Pilgrim’s actions towards sinners through the duration of this epic poem, specifically when interacting with those placed in Limbo, Francesca and Paolo, Phlegyas, and eventually Bocca, a transition within Dante the Pilgrim’s attitude towards the sinners is very apparent. Because the sins became more and more extreme in both God and Dante the Poet’s eyes as they traveled through each circle and ultimately approached Circle Nine of Hell, Dante the Pilgrim transformed into a character very similar to Dante the Poet. Beginning in Circle One of Hell, Dante the Pilgrim’s actions allow for his quick alteration as a character to be very clear at the conclusion of the epic poem. While in this circle, he often expresses high levels of emotion towards the sinners he meets, such as Homer, Horace, Ovid, and Lucan. The poet determined each human placed in this circle was there because

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