The vision of hell

The Inferno is the first of three parts in an epic poem entitled The Divine Comedy that chronicles Dante's journey through Hell and into Heaven. His journey is prompted by a spiritual crisis in midlife, when he wakes to find himself lost in the woods and wandering fearfully disoriented and and alone, symbolizing his own sense of confusion and darkness. He sees the Sun rise over a mountain in the distance (symbolizing Heaven) and attempts to approach it, but is thwarted by three beasts of worldliness: the Leopard of Malice and Fraud, the Lion of Violence and Ambition, and the She-Wolf of Incontinence. These beasts drive him back into the darkness of error. Just when all seems lost, a spirit appears. It is the ghost of Virgil, Roman poet and Symbol of Reason, who has come to guide Dante back to his path to the top of the mountain. Virgil informs him that this path will take them through Hell and eventually to Heaven, where Dante's beloved Beatrice awaits. It is she, and two other holy ladies, who have sent Virgil to Dante, seeing him lost in the Dark Wood of Error. Dante readily accepts Virgil as his Master, Mentor, Guide, and voice of reason. They begin the journey through the Nine Circles of Hell.