The Traveler’s Guide Through Hell

            Who would be your ideal travel companion on a journey to a mystical, remote island? Perhaps it would be a native who has first-hand knowledge of the local hot-spots. Maybe it would be your level-headed mother who keeps you from being swallowed by jungle animals. It might even be your overly-prepared friend who prides herself in reading all of the travel brochures and speaking the regional language. But what if you had a fellow traveler who encompasses every desirable characteristic imaginable? It sounds too magnificent to exist, right? Well, you are correct in theory. This faultless individual cannot be found in the world today. However, this unique specimen of a man named Virgil lies within the confines of Dante’s epic poem Inferno. This literary work of art tells the tale of a character by the name of Dante (not to be confused with the author Dante) who roams the Circles of Hell under the supervision of one groovy tour guide, Virgil. Virgil proves to be the ultimate travel companion through Hell by undertaking the impressive roles of guide, reason, and teacher.

            Virgil’s most coveted title exists in the role of Dante’s tour guide. Upon introducing himself to Dante, Virgil promptly tells Dante to “follow me” and declares that he will be Dante’s “guide” “through an eternal place” (9). If you have ever been on a trip with indecisive companions, you know very well how frustrating it can get. That makes Virgil’s immediate imperative command sound like a sweet blessing. Virgil also discloses that he has already journeyed through Hell due to the commandments of the brutish witch Erichtho (89). Virgil’s statement establishes him as a trustworthy guide, and that proves crucial on a trip to a place as dangerous as Hell. A credible guide also proves vital on vacations to foreign lands, because if you are aware of imminent threats, it becomes less likely that you will fall prey to them. For example, if your guide tells you pickpockets are prevalent in a specific area, you will guard your belongings with extra care, making sure not to leave your possessions within easy access. Virgil possesses more than one characteristic of a perfect travel companion.

            Virgil’s characteristics and actions undeniably echo reason and wisdom. It seems important to note that Virgil proves to be more than the average Uncle Virgil. (Am I the only one with an Uncle Virgil?) He happens to be The Virgil that wrote the masterpiece the Aeneid. It goes without saying that any sane individual would be delighted to have a poet spitting out rhymes as he or she traverses a foreign land. Evidence already suggests from his writings that Virgil encompasses a little more intelligence than the standard Homo sapiens. His wisdom remains steady—if not more powerful—in his afterlife, and that rings true countless times within the Inferno. Virgil’s vast reason comes in handy when the Evil Claws try to pursue Dante and Virgil. Dante panics, but Virgil remains calm, cool, and collected by stating that he has “devised a single plan” to escape the Evil Claws (237). Inevitably, one guy always panics, but it proves a splendid phenomenon when another takes control of the dire situation. Virgil demonstrates himself to be a bona fide Fred Jones, who directs the gang to split up and comes up with all kinds of elaborate schemes. He happens to be a poet, and he personally knows Scooby Doo. What more could you want in a fellow traveler? Well, the creek that manifests itself as Virgil’s exceptional characteristics does not run dry yet.

            Virgil’s astounding intellect lands him the position of Dante’s teacher. In the pilgrimage to the Underworld, Dante faces a double obstacle by personally stating that he has to overcome “the battle through/ the journey, and the pity of my heart” (13). Not only does Dante have to conquer the long road through Hell, but he has to overcome his pity for the condemned souls. Virgil insistently instills in Dante the idea that weeping over the lost souls proves itself to be a worthless act. In one instance, Dante cries for the distorted figure in Hell, but Dante rebukes him, saying, “Here pity lives the best when it is dead” (205). Basically, Virgil’s cheeky reprimand means that Dante needs to stop blubbering over the hopeless shades and move on with his life. It would be quite convenient to have Dante around on a vacation to constantly teach me essential life lessons. For instance, maybe he could teach me to eat less at those vacation buffets. Honestly, you have to possess some serious self-control to be able to keep your hands off the endless shrimp and the ever-flowing chocolate fountain. Virgil, teach me your ways.

            Virgil demonstrates himself to be the epitome of travel companions through his diverse roles of guide, reason, and teacher. Even though Hell vastly differs from the typical person’s exotic vacation, they say that once you have seen Hell, you have seen it all, so a Hawaiian getaway would not prove terribly trivial for Virgil. And hey, maybe he can even teach you how to limbo (or not to Limbo) while you are there. Granted, Virgil remains physically absent on the Earth, but he manifests himself within the pages of his writing. Sometimes books are the best travel companions anyway. Ultimately, books are words that someone wrote. Are we not words that God spoke?