Inferno, Canto 9 to 16

In Canto 9 and 10 of Inferno Virgil returned to Dante telling him that their passage to Dis, the lower city of hell was denied. Suddenly they are approached by three furies that spawn Medusa, luckily Virgil covered Dante’s eyes in time for him to not become stone. After this a heavenly messenger makes the furies leave and grants them access to Dis, during their journey in the 6th circle Dante discusses politics with a fellow Florence citizen from generations prior, during this discussion the father of one of Dante’s friends rises asking questions about his son. Personally, this text affected me by making me more thankful to those that help me, my family constantly tries to help me even though it does not always work just like Virgil trying to get Dante into Dis. Although they failed to help me I appreciate that they were looking for my best interest, Virgil shows this when even after failing Dante he saves his life by covering his eyes from Medusa. Also this text has affected me personally by making me aware of what I say, the tense and manner of my wording may misinterpret what I mean. This is shown when Dante accidentally speaks of his friend Guido in the past tense to his father, since his father cannot see the future and heard Dante speak in past tense he assumes his son has passed. A part of this text that really caught my attention was when the heavenly messenger came walking across the Styx river. This caught my attention because it says the messenger walks on water instead of being submerged like the sinners, this alludes to Jesus Christ being pure and walking on water meaning that the messenger too was sinless. It also caught my attention because it seemed that all was lost for Dante’s access to Dis but instead the messenger comes saving the day by giving them access and making the furies leave. A part of the text that evokes emotional feelings is when Dante discusses politics in hell with the fellow Florence citizen from the rival political family. This part made me laugh because how was it possible that a dead politician in hell and an exiled political on a spiritual journey would find time to discuss politics without arguing even their was plenty of bad blood on both sides. It also made me sad because during their discussion Guido’s father interrupts asking questions of his son, misinterpreting Dante’s reaction for his son being dead he goes back to his tomb. This made me sad because the different souls in hell cannot communicate therefore when Dante leaves so does the truth of Guido, causing the father to forever mourn on false beliefs. This part of the text reminds me of a book I read in high school on Greek Mythology because during this Canto Medusa is mentioned. This text also reminds me of the Bible in ways, a messenger is sent from God to save humans, Jesus saved humans from sin while Virgil helps Dante remove this sin. This text supports my beliefs because I am Christian, the text speaks on a journey of spiritual salvation, the salvation I constantly must seek after committing even the lightest of sins. By being a Christian I believe there is a Hell, the work takes place in a journey through hell therefore making it support my beliefs. This part of the text gave me insight on Hell and the punishments for my sins, it also gave me the idea to be more humble because many pleasures of the modern day world are sinful.