Chase Hamblen
English 2410
Mr. Wesley Jarrett
10 April 2012
Inferno
Canto I I awoke from a daze to find that I was in a dark unfriendly place with cave-like features, filled with sin and wrongdoings. I do not recall how I got to such a place, but after collecting myself, I noticed a very dim light to one end of the cave, so I proceeded toward it. The path I had chosen seemed to descend, and as I appeared to reach the light I was astonished to find a lion with a bright glow blocking the path. As he paced back and forth, looking at me hungrily, I considered retreating. After realizing I was no match for the magnificent beast, I turned and began to venture back to the other side of the seemingly never-ending cave. Then, a man appeared before me and stated that his name was Izuel, a fallen angel. He explains that the lion represents different forms of evil and tells that another greater being that represents good will come one day and remove the lion from its post. Amazed by this story and his Izuel’s arrival, I asked why he had been banished from Heaven. He told me the story of how he had spoken against God and had been sent to Hell, and has been sent by my long lost wife in Heaven and given a short time to guide me to Heaven. He then outlines what the journey will be like and warns me that I must first journey with him through Hell. He says that there are three levels that we must travel through and that each level will be worse than the last, consisting of obstacles we must overcome. I agree to so with him and we proceed onward.

Canto II As we approach what seems to be a tall gate, I can feel a great amount of heat emanating from the path that lies ahead. Izuel tells me that this is the first level of Hell, reserved for those who have committed small acts of wrongdoing, such as stealing others’ property and bearing false witness. These souls all face the same punishment, which requires that they sit in a frozen pool of water for all eternity. The punishment looks very painful and my assumptions are confirmed when I notice the grimace upon everyone’s discolored face. Izuel tells me that he must stop and talk to one of the souls for a moment so I continue to press on. I walk until I notice I can no longer see my guide and ahead I can see the outline of a larger being. Upon approaching the figure I learn that it is a minotaur that stands watch over the gate to the second level of Hell. He demands that I state my business, and I explain that I am being guided to Heaven by Izuel. My answer angers him and leaves him disbelieving, but as he begins to advance towards me Izuel appears behind me and stops the angry beast and explains what I am here for. After hearing this, the nameless minotaur sidles over and we are given permission to enter the second level of Hell.
Canto III The temperature continues to increase as we venture ahead. I see a bright glow as we walk over a small hill. As we reach the crest of the hill, I am amazed to see an endless lake of molten rock. Izuel states that in the second level of Hell, sinners such as murders and those who committed adultery must forever bathe in the river of flames. The closer I get, the louder the screams are that pour from the flames. I feel sorry for these souls and Izuel continues to scold me and tell me that these souls deserve the punishment that they are receiving and we are not to feel sad for their fate but instead look at it as what could be if you live life in sin. We travel around the edge of the lake for a very long time before turning of and taking a trail that slopes downward.
Canto IV We approach the gate to the final level of Hell. This gate is towering and engulfed in flames, and there is a beast (half man, half goat) guarding this gate. There is a hatred in his eyes that I will never forget, they seemed to see straight through you. Izuel asked me to step aside while he spoke with the beast. Izuel spoke in a language unrecognizable to me and the beast stepped aside and allowed us to pass through. As we approached the gate, the flames died down long enough for us to walk through the gate. Izuel explained as we walked that this level of Hell was reserved for only the worst souls, such as those who had committed acts of mass murder, tried to defy God, or worshipped Satan. These souls were forced to push large boulders up an eternal hill while walking on fiery sand and being whipped by more of the goat-like men. At the bottom of these hills stands a demon of gargantuan size. He is larger and more frightening than any of the demons and beasts I had seen previously. I know without being told that this demon is Satan himself. We continued straight toward him and before we reached him Izuel picked me up and swiftly flew upward and over Satan. Izuel then explained that we had passed the middle of the Earth by passing over Satan and so we walked on and reached the outer crust of the Earth in no time.