What does the lion symbolize in Dante's Inferno?

In Dante's Inferno, the lion symbolizes pride, which is one of the three beasts that Dante encounters early in the narrative. The lion represents the excessive pride that can lead individuals to sin and stray from the righteous path. It embodies the kind of arrogance that can inspire fear in the hearts of others and can cause chaos and disruption in society, which aligns with one of the veins of Christian moral teaching that Dante weaves throughout his work.

By introducing the lion as a formidable obstacle to Dante's journey, the text illustrates the struggle one must confront when dealing with pride. This symbolizes the internal and external battles that individuals face in overcoming their faults and the heavy consequences of allowing such pride to dominate their lives. The symbolism of the lion thus functions as a critical thematic lens for understanding the nature of sin and the human condition in Dante's narrative.