I want to discuss Virgil, is he a suitable guide to lead Dante through hell?
When first begining to read this work I thought he was a decent guide. He is a resident of Limbo, which made me think oh he may not know very much about the rest of hell. Being from limbo he may be sheltered from some of the things that go on in the sectors of hell that are being punished more severely than the residence of Limbo. Even now I'm not really sure if Limbo is really being punished because they don't have anything really bothering them. The punishment I see the people of Limbo experiencing is that they must suffer the grief of not being in heaven, which is a great burdon, however, they don't have any physical punishments like the other circles of hell. Regardless of where Virgil comes from, after reading more of Dante's Inferno I have determined that he is a very suitable guide for Dante. Virgil was selected by Beatrice to lead Dante, why I'm really not sure but nonetheless Beatrice chose him so he has to have somthing going for him. Whether it be that God trusts him for this mission or a test from God to see Virgil on this quest. Another reason I believe Virgil is a good guide for Dante is because when Beatrice tells him of the mission he is about to embark on she also mentions that if he does a good job she will give good word to God. Knowing the grief that Virgil is experiencing in Limbo I believe he will do everything in his power to have favor in Gods eyes. One last thing to note why Virgil is a good leader for Dante, at the begining I thought that because he is apart of Limbo he wouldn't know about the deeper circles of hell but really he has already been though them because in Canto XXI, Virgil says "As for any outrage they may do me, have no fear. I know this place and had exactly such a scuffle here before." I think Virgil is a good guide for Dante to follow throughout hell.
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