Dante is
the author of Inferno,but he is also theand the point of view character. As
the character from whose point of view the story is told, he acts as a catalyst for the reader
to discover the underworld, at the same pace that he discovers it. Virgil is Dantes guide
through the underworld. Since Virgil was pagan, he is not allowed to go to Paradisebut is still
a worthy and respectable person. He takes Dante through each level, mentoring him, explaining
things to him and keeping him safe. Since the audience is experience the underworld through
Dantes point of view, however, Virgil also acts as a guide for the reader. He is not the
narrator of the story, but he is a mentor figure. He is arguably the second most important
character in Inferno.
On a metatextual level, Virgil is
also Dantes guide in the process of writing the
Inferno. Dante was clearly a tremendous fan of Virgils, choosing him to be
the mentor in his epic poem as a way to honor him, and perhaps also to improve his own standing
as a poet, by writing a story in which they are friends. In modern parlance, at least regarding
the characters of Virgil and Dante, Inferno could be considered a work of
excellently done fan .
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