Inferno as a political story
...Frederick II, until he was accused of treachery and was imprisoned, so he committed suicide to run away from the torture. The heretics are in the sixth circle, the wrathful in the fifth, the miserly in the fourth, the gluttons in the third, the lustful in the second, and those that, “…lacked Baptism’s grace, which is the door/ of the true faith you were born to (IV, 35-6),” in the first circle. Dante blames the state of Italy primarily on the selfish leaders who make the decisions, secondly those forced to carry out the leaders orders and do the “dirty work,” and finally those who let others act through their own inactions. One of the political allusions is found in the third circle, where the gluttons are punished. Dante is confronted by a shade that turns out to be named Ciacco, who was thought to be a political leader of Florence. Ciacco prophesizes of Florence’s political future, “After many words given and taken/ it shall come to blood; White shall rise over Black…There, / pride, avarice, and envy are the tongues/ men know and heed, a Babel of despair (canto VI, 61-72).” Ciacco’s prophecy is the first of many reoccurring prophecies in Inferno. His prophecy explains the feud between White and Black Guelphs. In the third Bolgia, where the Simonists are punished, Dante is confronted with Pope Nicholas III. Nicholas III mistakes Dante for Boniface VIII, “Are you there already, Boniface? Are you there/ already? he cried (XIX, 49-50).” Boniface was known for his free circulation of religious offices to his family and political partners. Nicholas also proclaims that Pope Clement V will follow Boniface and face the same tortures that Boniface did. The largest number of Florentines can be found in the second region of the ninth circle, where the traitors of state and country are punished. In this circle, Dante lists political people such as Bocca delgi Abati. Also, “I saw Buoso da Duera (canto XXXII, 116).” Buoso da Duera was sent out in charge of a Ghibelline army to oppose the passage of one of Charles’ armies, but accepted a bribe, and allowed for the French to pass near Parma. In addition to the Italian figures encircled within the problematic political system of Italy, Dante speaks to many historical figures through his journey. He is lead by Virgil, who was an Italian poet. Virgil has with great knowledge, Dante says in canto II to Virgil, “ O Muses! O Hig...