Welcome to Hell. Explore Wikis Community Central. Register Don't have an account? Edit source History Talk 1. Categories Major Characters Characters Add category. In this case, Virgil was familiar with the twists and turns of Hell since he had been there before. As a result, heaven entrusted him with the responsibility of ensuring that Dante passed through those territories safely. In fact, he protected Dante in a number of scenarios in the poem. In some cases, he looked for mechanisms of penetrating the various barriers in their way.
Virgil uttered the same statement when they met Minos. He silenced protests against Dante by explaining their mission in the place. He lets everyone know that the divine power mandated their purpose. One must realize that although Virgil was an authority in hell and purgatory, he still had a number of weaknesses.
These flaws meant that Virgil was not fit enough to guide Dante through heaven. Someone else who was worthy of that responsibility took it up. In one instance, Dante and Virgil encounter the demon Malacoda. However, he never gave them truthful information concerning the next bridge. Virgil was naive enough to believe a flimsy character like Malacoda. In another situation, Friar Catalano tells him that evil agents are creatures that cannot be trusted because they are so proficient at hiding their real intentions.
Virgil is not all-knowing as one may be tempted to think Hollander The poet probably chose to portray him in this manner in order to demonstrate the limits of reason. He wanted to prove that, in spiritual matters, it took more than just logic to enjoy the most supreme rewards that heaven could offer. Therefore, while Virgil was an crucial piece of the puzzle, he still did not signify the ultimate message in the poem.
Dante himself represented the main theme. He had completed a journey towards getting to know God. Virgil is a guide to Dante because he offers a context or explanation to the events in the journey. Virgil guides Dante to think the right way about sin and about god. In the beginning of the story, Dante had lost his ways and it is Virgil's job as human reason to help him get back on track. Virgil describes how human beings are deserving of praise or for blame.
Virgil expresses that he will explain as much as reason will allow him to and Beatrice will have to explain the rest to Dante. He explains to Dante the relationship between free will and love. Virgil is telling dante that the only way to understand true love is to be free and to be free you must follow the path of God and not sin.
Virgil is the best person for the job of guiding Dante through hell and purgatorio. To scare some sense into Dante, Virgil seems to provoke every single "guardian" of Hell they encounter. Him too. You bet. And after the black comedy encounter with the demons, Dante has a healthy fountain of fear for tapping into later.
At one point, Virgil even sends Dante away on his own to talk to some sinners while he deals with Geryon. And how does Dante do?
When the usurers tell him to scram, Dante raises no argument and runs back to Virgil. But Virgil is not hoping for Dante to get hurt. He does his best to protect Dante, and he does get them safely past every guardian of Hell he incites. To his credit, he also risks his own life errr, afterlife?
As stern as Virgil tries to be, we know that deep down inside, he just wants to share a beer with Dante while watching the big game. Virgil likes Dante, and his affection shows in their pseudo-familial relationship. How many times have we heard Virgil call Dante "son," or heard Dante call Virgil "father"? Dante is like the son Virgil never had. This comes to light most apparently in their flight from the two-timing demons. In lifting Dante to his chest and carrying him as he sprints toward safety, Virgil becomes a mother figure to the terrified Dante.
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