In Dante's Inferno, Dante creates creative images between his own sin and the punishment they would receive in Hell. One of the main themes that Dante uses in the book is allegory, or how the punishment fits the sin. This theme illustrates what happens to people who sin on earth. In this theme Dante created a hell that had nine levels, each one worse than the first. Starting with a lesser heaven and ending with the frigid ninth circle, where Lucifer resides. In each circle sinners are punished according to their crimes. For example, those who are sent to the circle of lust are forced to endure violent winds and storms for all eternity. As Dante travels through hell, the punishments become much worse. The first level is purgatory, canto four, a place where people go who have done neither good nor evil. The idea of ​​purgatory, or limbo, is a region located on the edge of hell where those who were not saved even if they had done no wrong were sent after death. Dante's version of this area is more generous than that of most of the realm of hell. Purgatory is the first circle of hell, including honest and moral non-Christian adults, as well as unbaptized children. (Lummus, 63). One could find some of the great philosophers, poets and heroes in this realm. For example, poets and philosophers like Homer and Aristotle live their eternity in limbo. When Dante first enters Limbo, he finds himself on the edge of a dark valley. Virgil, the poet who first came to him in the dark woods, tells him that it is time to enter the valley, Dante is afraid to enter it, but Virgil assures him that everything will be fine. A flame breaks out and illuminates the valley and Dante sees a large castle where great thinkers, poets and philosophers lived. (Dante. 4-15 Along with ... half of the card ... being devoured for eternity for example; it is believed that this would be a better punishment. In conclusion, allegorically, Dante's Inferno represents the soul sees corruption and sin for what it really is. Dante as a writer creates a lot of tension between the impartial punishment of God's justice and Dante's sympathy for the lost souls he sees around him. As Dante travels further into hell, Dante he feels less inclined towards pity for souls, because the sins become so great that even Dante feels he deserves what he receives. This writing exercises the wisdom of divine justice and those who have sinned receive the perfect punishment for their sin. Works cited Alighieri, D. Inferno. 2011. Class readingsLummus, D. Dante's Inferno: Critical Reception and Influence 2006. Stanford University. Retrieved from Web April 18, 2014