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One example in particular is in Dante’s, The Inferno, where hell is described as having many layers, which are categorized by individual sins, such as thievery, and are punished for an eternity. In Dante’s model, more sin centered, a soul would be sent to a certain layer of hell for one sin that he had committed. However, perhaps a more personalized Hell, sinner-centered, that deals with each sinner individually for each sin committed and its severity, would allow for people to be punished more effectively. In each specific section, people are punished for one sin in the same manner. This does not compensate for the severity of the sin itself. The people are punished in the same manner, despite the severity of their sin, such as thievery. For example, those who committed thievery are condemned to a pit of serpents, as Dante describes, “Serpents—of weird kinds….people were running, naked and terrified, without a hope of hiding or a chance at heliotrope for safety,” (Dante, 201). All of the thieves are tortured by the same serpents in the same way. None are punished more severely if they had robbed a poor family to buy a new car, as opposed to stealing a loaf of bread to feed a family. This is an example of why a more personal model is needed, so that people can be punished according to the severity of their sin, as opposed to just the sin itself. Furthermore, the model that Dante describes does not take into account multiple sins. Again, his model concentrates on the idea of the sin, not the sinner. If a person were to commit two horrible sins, in Dante’s model, they would only be punished for one. In fact, the person may be given a punishment for the lesser of the two sins. For example, a possible error that can be seen in this method is with Cleopatra, who committed the sin of lust as well as, suicide. Dante has placed her in the second circle; lust, which is the lesser of her two sins. The lustful must walk around quietly and sadly with their partners, while the suicides must be tortured constantly by animals picking at their branches. With a personal hell, both punishments could be carried out at the same time. She also committed a sin that would put her in a lower circle, the seventh, for suicide. Dante believed that she should be punished for her lust, instead of her worse sin, suicide. With a more personalized hell, Cleopatra could be punished not only for her lustful ways, but also for her suicide. A more personalized Hell, one that punishes for every sin, would be a more effective method. This model would be more effective because instead of the sin, we concentrate more on the sinner and what they did in their life. There are many people in this world that commit plenty of horrible sins, and they should be punished for all of them. There could be personal sections of Hell, instead of circles for individual sins. In these personal sections, a soul would be put in an environment that would fit their sin committed. This would provide more appropriate means of punishing those who have committed multiple sins. A person, such as described above, could be punished the same way Dante describes, but suffer all of the punishments, as apposed to one. Dante’s punishments may be effective; however, the grouping takes away from the many other sins that deserve punishment. In their own section they can be punished by the severity of their sin, as well, as for all of the sins they have committed. For example, Cleopatra could be a tree with all of her lovers as trees around her. Then constantly, they are being eaten and taken away right in front of her eyes. This personalized punishment would allow for her to suffer the constant anguish of the suicide, and the loss of her multiple lovers. This new model would also allow for differences in the severity of one sin. For example, the thieves could be chased by different numbers and types of serpents for how much they stole and their reasoning for stealing. Therefore, a thief that stole to feed his family would not be punished as harshly as one who stole to buy a new car. A personalized hell would suffice for multiple sins, as well as severity, by creating a more sinner-centered environment where people are punished for what they did, not just their sin. There are many different ideas about how Hell should be organized; however, the idea of a personalized hell seems to capture all the sins and guarantee proper punishment. Dante’s layered Hell appears to be focused on certain sins, and some people are not punished for all of the sins they have committed. It also does not allow for people to be punished for the severity of their sin, they are just punished. The more personalized hell would allow for sinners to be punished in a manner that would encase all of their sins. Bibliography: Dante. The Inferno. Word Count: 883
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