No, the title of this post does not refer to the new brand of nerf weaponry (although I am going to patent the name). Today we're going to talk about the ramifications of Dante's personal exploration fo the underworld, just as a fun little excercise.
I always keep in mind that this work is fiction first and foremost. Dante did not take any journey, beyond the psychological exploration of himself. However, let's pretend this is an actual account. Dante did venture through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. Every person, angel, demon, and creature was there and very real. What would be the impact of such a journey, then? Certainly, it would be the talk of the underworld for years, if not centuries. Almost every soul he meets is stunned by his appearance. His very presence upsets the balance, causing disruption and doubt throughout. Imagine yourself stuck in Inferno. Everything that has occurred in the world of suffering has followed some pretty firm rules, foremost of them is that this is the realm of the dead. When a living soul saunters through your misery, it messes with the order of things. If Dante can just walk through here like it is a ride at Disneyland, who's to say I can't, eventually, escape this place. Maybe eternity has exceptions. Maybe it's all a big farce. Maybe I'm not suffering, just dreaming. And maybe, Lucifer, or even God, isn't as all powerful as previously thought. Can you imagine what was going through the guardian of the terrace of Avarice, PLuto's, mind, when we meet him? He is noticeably distraught, exclaiming "Pape Satan, Pape Satan alleppe!". He clearly fears the reaction Dante and Virgil will receive from the underlord, as well as what punishment might be in store for himself for allowing them to traverse his territory. Virgil casually dismisses him, stating that whatever power he may have, Lucifer's got no jurisdiction here. That's crazy. You're on his turf. Presumably, security has spotted Dante and Virgil. And yet, his hands are tied. They've got diplomatic immunity. So what does Pluto tell his minions when they sit down for lunch. They've all got the same question. And what if Pluto relays the same message he received? Lucifer can't stop this human and oh yeah, he's being led by one who was supposed to be trapped in Limbo for eternity. Think of the dissent among the staff. In one fell swoop, the entire system will be questioned. Lucifer's absolute authority will never recover it's complete autonomy. And I know, many folks will say, God is the ultimate authority, but it is a unisvers built upon very precise rules, ones stating that once you are in one place in Inferno, you aren't going anywhere. Christ did save Moses and Abraham and those folks, but they were given and express ticket to Heaven. There was no tour of the rest of Inferno and Purgatory. And how is Virigl going to feel after this? He gets to have a little vacation, acting as tour guide for Dante. When he returns, he will have knowledge of a variety of terraces and will actually get a glimpse of Heaven. Inferno will be much, much worse for him. And the jealousy will be profound. Homer and Ovid won't let you sit at their table anymore.
Joking aside, it does create chaos where order presided. It creates hope where dispair was pervasive. It might be the most interesting thing to happen in the underworld since Orpheus went to find Eurydice. I can't imagine the staff meeting afterwards.
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