Abandon all hope, ye who enter here Dante Alighieri Quotation Early 14th century Italy 0 0 0 0 Write the first comment Meaning The phrase "Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate" literally means "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." This message is directed at the damned souls who cross the threshold of Hell, indicating that once inside, there is no possibility of redemption or salvation. Hope, an intrinsically human emotion, is abandoned upon entering Hell, a place of eternal suffering and damnation. Philosophically, it represents the despair and irreparability of the fate of sinful souls. Allegory The image will feature an ancient and majestic bridge representing the passage to Hell, inscribed with Dante's famous phrase. The shadowy figures at the start of the bridge symbolize the damned souls ready to enter Hell. The starry night sky contrasts with the dark theme, bringing a touch of light to highlight the sense of lost hope. The desolate landscape with erupting volcanoes and rivers of lava represents Dante's Hell, while the barren trees and desolate mountains accentuate the desolation and lack of hope. The image, although somber, is detailed and prompts reflection on the journey of life and the choices that lead to definitive consequences. Applicability In everyday life, this phrase can be used as a warning about situations where there seems to be no way out or chance of improvement. Additionally, it can serve as a reminder of the importance of reflecting on our decisions and actions to avoid finding ourselves in hopeless situations. Although it has a tragic connotation, the phrase can also emphasize the necessity of maintaining hope, as it is one of the forces that drive us forward. Impact This phrase has had a huge impact on literary and popular culture. It is one of the most well-known lines of the Divine Comedy and is often quoted in various contexts to symbolize despair, fear, or hopelessness. It has influenced a wide range of artistic and literary works and is used in ways that go beyond its original context, often in philosophical and psychological discussions. Historical Context The phrase dates back to the early 14th century, the period when Dante Alighieri wrote the Divine Comedy, which was completed around 1320. This was a time of significant political, social, and cultural changes in Italy and across Europe. Criticisms There are no particular criticisms of the phrase itself, but rather of the severity of Dante's vision of eternal damnation. Some might find Dante's view too draconian and not in line with more merciful and modern approaches to spirituality and morality. Variations Dante's phrase does not have notable variations, but interpretations can differ. In non-Western cultures, eternal despair can be understood in different ways depending on religious and philosophical views about the afterlife, redemption, and hope. Go back to the description 280 characters left Send Comment No Comments In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity. Sun Tzu Read more "Through me the way is to the city of woe, through me the way is to eternal pain, through me the way among the lost people." Dante Alighieri Read more And then we emerged to see the stars again. Dante Alighieri Read more Our long national nightmare is over. Gerald Ford Read more And I: 'Master, what is so heavy that it makes them lament so strongly?'. Dante Alighieri Read more America is back. Joe Biden Read more You were not made to live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge. Dante Alighieri Read more In the middle of the journey of our life, I found myself within a dark forest, for the straight way had been lost. Dante Alighieri Read more In His will is our peace. Dante Alighieri Read more O tempora, o mores!. Marcus Tullius Cicero Read more Love, which absolves no loved one from loving, seized me so strongly with his charm that, as you see, it does not leave me even now. Dante Alighieri Read more By signing in, you'll enable saving your preferences and be able to post comments. By signing in, you'll enable saving your preferences and be able to post comments. Sign in with: or Sign in with your email address: Email Password Sign in Loading... Name Insert your name or nick (3 to 20 char). Email Insert a valid email address to be verified. Password 8+ chars, 1 uppercase, 1 lowercase, 1 number, 1 special @$!%*?_+ Clicking the Create account button will send you a verification email. Create account New here? Create an account. Previous Close
"Through me the way is to the city of woe, through me the way is to eternal pain, through me the way among the lost people." Dante Alighieri Read more
In the middle of the journey of our life, I found myself within a dark forest, for the straight way had been lost. Dante Alighieri Read more
Love, which absolves no loved one from loving, seized me so strongly with his charm that, as you see, it does not leave me even now. Dante Alighieri Read more