Right from the start we see a relationship that is quasi-antagonist in which Dante and Virgil are somewhat estranged. The emphasis on the relationship between Dante and Virgil is deliberately inserted by Dante to highlight the relational anthropology of Christianity – humans are not simply sociable animals, but deeply relational animals with emotions and desires, and that learning, and trust is often accompanied with others. Their relationship reaches its consummation in Purgatory as Virgil becomes a sort of father figure for Dante and Dante even calls Virgil father on several occasions, thus sealing their relational development. The relationship between Dante and Virgil changes dramatically over the course of the poem. Virgil informs Dante he is to journey with him through Hell before he can begin his ascent up the slopes of Mount Purgatory to Heaven. When we first meet Virgil, it is after Dante is unable to ascend the mountain to heaven, blocked by three vicious creatures who deny Dante his path up the mountain. Virgil as Dante’s guide has been one of the most commented on and speculated in the literary reception of Divine Comedy. Augustine even regarded him as a pre-Christian prophet! The choice of Virgil as the poet of love is also symptomatic of the relationship that the two build through the poem which I will now help to parse out. Because of this Virgil was regarded as the most Christian of the Greek and Roman poets before Christ. Love is a central theme in all of Virgil’s poetry.

Dante was a lover and love runs through his works. Virgil comes to know this and remarks to Dante that he is proud while they journey up the mountain of Purgatory. Dante wants to be the greatest of the Italian poets. Virgil was the greatest of the Roman poets. Why did Dante choose Virgil? There are many reasons. Love is the theme that unites all of Dante’s guides. Bernard, the great Augustinian philosopher and theologian of Divine Love in the Middle Ages. Beatrice takes over for Virgil and becomes Dante’s guide to enter in Heaven and guides him through the early circles of Heaven. Virgil is Dante’s guide through Hell and Purgatory. The theme of guide and relationship runs throughout the Divine Comedy. In continuing our examination of some of the themes of Dante’s Inferno, we now turn to examine the transformative relationship between Virgil and Dante within the first part of the Divine Comedy.

Download dante and vergil