4 ms·

(Spoilers ahead for those who haven't read both Infernos.) While Niven & Pournelle's Inferno was definitely inspired by Dante's, it's a key plot point that Niv

by ggreer 12y ago

(Spoilers ahead for those who haven't read both Infernos.) While Niven & Pournelle's Inferno was definitely inspired by Dante's, it's a key plot point that Niven & Pournelle's Hell was fundamentally different. In Dante's Hell, there is no possibility of redemption. No matter how sorry one feels or how much one strives to make amends, Hell is forever. In Niven and Pournelle's version, Hell is a form of purgatory. This is first hinted at by the missing "Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here" sign. It's made obvious when the protagonist escapes Hell at the end of the story, having suffered less than many prisoners do today. That distinction is probably why I enjoyed Niven & Pournelle's Inferno much more than Dante's. That and the fact that Dante had the subtly of a Soviet propagandist. He wrote his political adversaries into his depiction of Hell. Even bad fanfic can't get away with that today.

jgallag8 12y ago
The reason there is no hope for those in Dante's hell is because they are in death as they were in life. They are not so much being punished as they are simply extending the less than ideal life they lived before. In this sense, there suffering is not so much inflicted upon them as it is self-inflicted. This is the reason that there is no hope for them; they are their by their own will. (I guess it is assumed that their character becomes fixed in death.) As to Dante not having subtly, I have to disagree. For example, the contrapasso associated with each circle of hell at first seems to have nothing to do with that circle's particular sin. It takes, at least for me, quite a bit of thought to be able to begin to see the subtle connection. These connections, though, often reveal something quite profound about human nature. I am likely quite biased in my opinion, since I believe the Comedy is perhaps the greatest work of literature ever written. I think it is a pity that the Inferno tends to get the bulk of the attention. Even though it's great, the Purgatorio and Paradiso are even more fascinating. Edit: There is no denying that Dante had strong political opinions though: about Florence, about the role of the Church in politics (that it shouldn't have any), about the Holy Roman Empire, etc.
GFK_of_xmaspast 12y ago
"Even bad fanfic can't get away with that today." http://www.brendan-nyhan.com/blog/2006/12/michael_crichto.html http://www.brendan-nyhan.com/blog/2006/12/michael_crichto.ht...

by ggreer 12y ago

jgallag8 12y ago

The reason there is no hope for those in Dante's hell is because they are in death as they were in life. They are not so much being punished as they are simply extending the less than ideal life they lived before. In this sense, there suffering is not so much inflicted upon them as it is self-inflicted. This is the reason that there is no hope for them; they are their by their own will. (I guess it is assumed that their character becomes fixed in death.) As to Dante not having subtly, I have to disagree. For example, the contrapasso associated with each circle of hell at first seems to have nothing to do with that circle's particular sin. It takes, at least for me, quite a bit of thought to be able to begin to see the subtle connection. These connections, though, often reveal something quite profound about human nature. I am likely quite biased in my opinion, since I believe the Comedy is perhaps the greatest work of literature ever written. I think it is a pity that the Inferno tends to get the bulk of the attention. Even though it's great, the Purgatorio and Paradiso are even more fascinating. Edit: There is no denying that Dante had strong political opinions though: about Florence, about the role of the Church in politics (that it shouldn't have any), about the Holy Roman Empire, etc.

GFK_of_xmaspast 12y ago

"Even bad fanfic can't get away with that today." http://www.brendan-nyhan.com/blog/2006/12/michael_crichto.html http://www.brendan-nyhan.com/blog/2006/12/michael_crichto.ht...