Symbolic Retribution

Definition- A punishment that symbolizes a crime that was once

committed.

In Circle One the crime that was committed wasn’t really a crime more so a sin.
The people that fell into this canto in Hell didn’t believe in god and did nothing to make
the world better or worse. So their punishment was to just be surrounded by people who
had done the same thing and they are just kind of hanging out there. The punishment
reflects the sin because since they did nothing in life, they are doing nothing in the after
life. Three examples of symbolic retribution are the sun was divine illumination because
light is known for good and peacefulness and the sun is in the sky and light such as
heaven. The Dark Wood of Error stood for worldliness because it was a representation of
the corruption taking place in the world. Virgil was human reasoning because he kept
Dante’s head on his shoulders.