Who guides Dante through Hell?

Virgil serves as Dante's guide through Hell in "Dante's Inferno." He represents reason and human wisdom, essential for navigating the complex and often treacherous landscape of the Inferno. Virgil’s presence is crucial, as he helps Dante understand the nature of sin, justice, and redemption. His guidance is significant not only for the physical journey through the nine circles of Hell but also for the moral and philosophical insights Dante gains along the way.

Other characters, such as Beatrice, later appear in Paradiso, guiding Dante through Heaven, but she does not play a role in guiding him through Hell. Lucifer is the embodiment of evil and resides at the very bottom of Hell, and Charon is the ferryman who transports souls across the river Acheron to Hell, but neither serves as a guide to Dante in the sense that Virgil does. The role that Virgil plays as a knowledgeable guide underscores the themes of wisdom and the journey of the soul through sin and towards redemption.