The Inferno, written by Dante Alighieri in the 14th century, is the first part of a three-part epic poem called the Divine Comedy. It is a journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, with the Inferno being a depiction of Hell.
In the Inferno, Dante finds himself lost in a dark forest and is confronted by three beasts that block his path. He is then rescued by the spirit of the ancient Roman poet Virgil, who offers to guide him through Hell and Purgatory on a journey to reach Heaven. Dante agrees and the two set off on their journey.
As they journey through Hell, they encounter a number of sinners who are punished for their wrongdoing in life. These punishments are meant to fit the crime, with each circle of Hell containing sinners guilty of a particular sin. The deeper into Hell they go, the more severe the sins and punishments become.
The first circle of Hell, Limbo, contains the souls of those who were virtuous but did not have the opportunity to be baptized into the Christian faith. The second circle contains the souls of the lustful, who are blown about by a violent storm. The third circle contains the gluttonous, who are forced to lie in a muddy slush. The fourth circle contains the avaricious and prodigal, who are forced to push giant boulders up a hill, only to have them roll back down again.
As Dante and Virgil continue their journey, they encounter the violent and the fraudulent, who are punished in the fifth and sixth circles of Hell, respectively. The seventh circle contains the souls of those who committed suicide, as well as the violent against God, nature, and art. The eighth circle, called Malebolge, is divided into ten bolgias, or ditches, each containing sinners guilty of a particular type of fraud. The ninth and final circle of Hell, called Cocytus, contains the souls of those who betrayed others, with the innermost circle reserved for the ultimate betrayer, Judas Iscariot.
Throughout the Inferno, Dante grapples with the nature of sin and punishment and the possibility of redemption. He also reflects on the role of free will in determining one's fate in the afterlife. The Inferno ultimately serves as a cautionary tale, warning readers to strive for virtue in life in order to avoid the horrors of Hell.