Damn Francesca: Justice in Dante’s Inferno V

Indianapolis, IN

Justice is done, for Dante's Francesca is rightly condemned to the circle of the lustful. The aim of this paper is therefore to explain biblical reasons for Francesca da Rimini's damnation. Through reference to the Old and New Testaments and, especially, to epistles written by the Apostles, I define sin and God's moral law that demonstrates Francesca's violation of biblical ethics. Condemnation, though, goes beyond transgression and requires defiant intentionality. Fully aware of her violation of divine law and continually unrepentant, Francesca suffers God's wrath and does not receive Christian redemption. Dante presents Francesca sympathetically, and certainly she is a victim of circumstances. However, within the context of biblical dictates and Christian theology, she is justly damned.