Confessions Confessions As The Pilgrim Travels Through...

It becomes clear that the use of confession in death is decisive factor to where in Hell one will end up. Unlike in life, confessions in Hell are merely a formality to help decide where one best belongs, since atonement is supposed to happen pre-death; therefore confession is now the evidence against you when being judged. Therefore, once in Hell there is no possibility to ascend since one didn t take the opportunity in life to confess. Confessions in life show a yearning to change, a confession in death is meaningless, as you cannot better yourself once you’re no longer alive. Within all the circles of hell, the reader witnesses all forms of confession, however the confessors never seems to be able to admit that they are the cause for†¦show more content†¦Inferno 5:7 Minos’ role as judge is interesting; he plays the judge and the jury, leaving little room for pity for the condemned souls; â€Å"they tell, they hear, and then are hurled down†(Inferno 5:15), bringing about a warped sense of justice. Justice in Inferno is based upon the confessions of the sinners, diverting from the normative use of confessions, which is to repent and grow from one’s mistakes. However, as the reader witnesses throughout Inferno, even with confession sinners aren’t fully admitting to the wrongs they’ve done in life. Those entrapped in the different circles are continuously deflecting the blame of the sin they’ve done, being forever blameless of their life actions; making them sinners in death, just as much so as they were in life. Deflection is best portrayed in Dante’s interaction with Francesca. Francesca’s skillful poetics sprouts pity within Dante; who describes her as a gentle and kind spirit, whose â€Å" torments make [him] weep for grief and pity†(5:117). He is captivated and moved by Francesca’s confession, convinced that the only thing that Francesca and Paolo are guilty of is their love, which lead to their demise, damning them to Hell. The story brought out the longing Francesca and Paolo had for one another, allowing Francesca to