Which animal represents greed and is the most fearsome for Dante?

In Dante's "Inferno," the She-Wolf symbolizes greed and avarice. This animal embodies insatiable hunger and represents the various manifestations of desire and materialism that can lead souls to sin and ultimately to hell. The She-Wolf is depicted as particularly fearsome and unsettling in Dante's journey as it obstructs the path to salvation, embodying the overwhelming nature of greed that can consume individuals entirely.

The choice of the She-Wolf also highlights Dante's perceived dangers of unchecked greed in society, illustrating how such traits lead to moral decay and spiritual downfall. This imagery aligns with Dante’s thematic exploration of sin and its consequences, making the She-Wolf a critical figure in understanding the depth of human vices and the fears they evoke in the poet's vision of the afterlife.

The other animals mentioned also have distinct representations. For example, the Lion symbolizes pride, and the Leopard represents lust, but neither carries the same direct association with greed as the She-Wolf does in this context. The Serpent often embodies deceit and treachery. Thus, the She-Wolf stands out as the most fearsome representation of greed in Dante's narrative.