Trees as Archetypes

         Throughout history, trees have been archetypal symbols of knowledge and life. Many works of literature have used the symbol of the tree to deeper enlighten readers to understand certain characters. Dante’s Inferno is no exception. Trees are the archetypes in circle 7, round 2 (the violent against themselves). The people that committed suicide are forced to be gnarled, deformed trees in a dark forest, where they are tortured by harpies. Dante uses the symbol of the tree to show to the reader what he thinks of the lack of wisdom and lack of consideration that people who commit suicide have. 

          Trees are well known for representing wisdom and knowledge. Many people know the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Another example of trees representing knowledge is that Buddha reached Nirvana under the Bo tree of wisdom. Dante uses the symbol of the tree to emphasize the lack of knowledge (not to insult anyone, but there are so many different options, rather than to take your own life) of people who commit suicide. Dante shows that because they are not knowledgable about their death in life, they are forced to become the symbol of knowledge in death. In this circle, Virgil’s diction also point back to knowledge, because while talking to Dante, he uses words such as “learn” “to understand” and “thinking.”

           Trees are also known for representing life. Most people known the phrases “tree of life” or “family tree.” Dante uses this symbol to enhance the contrapasso of this circle. Because people who committed suicide took themselves out of the “tree of life,” they are now forced to be trees. The irony found in this example is similar to that of Dante’s found throughout the book. The poet says “ Briefly is the answer given: when/ out of the flesh from which it tore itself/.....It falls into the wood, and landing there/ wherever fortune flings it, it strikes root”(105). This quote helps explain that the reason for the sinners becoming trees, is their “taking themselves out of the tree of life” so to speak.

         Dante uses the symbol of the tree in Circle 7, round 2 in the forest of the people who committed suicide, to enhance the contrapasso and provide more reasons for the punishment that he chose and that he thought was fit.