Why Dante?

Since its creation in the late 14th century millions have been captivated by the demonic tale of Dante's journey through the very depths of hell. This rises the question, of why are people so eager to read of the gruesome tortures and horrific scenes of hell? The truth is that it is in human nature to want to know the unknown and and to explore the world of the afterlife without actually dying.
"You living soul, stand clear if these who are dead" (III.73). No living man knows what Hell is actually like, or if there even is a Heaven or Hell, but Dante does offer his own personal description of what he believes Hell to be. Here lies part of the attraction for readers of Dante's work. People are interested to see as to what kind of people go to hell and the tortures that they must endure. When I think Hell, I do not imagine a place full of the world's greatest thinkers such as Socrates, Plato and Homer. But Virgil explains, "They did not sin;/ If they have merit, It can't suffice without/ baptism." (IV.25-27). Dante explains why he places certain people in Hell, although others might not agree with his judgement, it doesn't matter. Dante's Inferno is about one man's own prediction of the depths of Hell and his interpretation is as good as anyone's .
Dante describes a Hell that comes off as very concrete and the rules of Heaven and Hell are clearly defined. An example of this concreteness can be seen in the line, "Through me you enter into the city of woes" (III. 1). Dante describes Hell as a city and as any city, it is laid out in different zones or i this case circles. Each different circle is reserved for the punishments of different sinners, with the deeper circles having more severe punishments. Dante goes even further to describe the geographical location of Hell. "In the middle of the sea/ Lies a waste land called Crete" (XIV. 77-78). Virgil goes on to tell of a mountain from which water goes on to flow down to the depths of Hell. When Hell comes to mind, one thinks of a fiery waste land full of pain of suffering, but there is never a specific location which is actually designated as the home of the Devil. Today the word of religion and its components, including Heaven and Hell, is a very grey area. However, Dante is so clear and precise in the presentation of Hell and this perhaps is a result of the different religious state of mind at the time of his journey. Dante is so specific in his description of Hell, that the readers begin to believe as if he has actually traveled there.
"Who could find the words, even in free-running prose/ For the blood and wounds I saw, in all their horror-/ Telling it over as often as you choose" (XXVIII. 1-3). These three lines sums up what Dante's Inferno is all about and why it is so appealing to readers. Dante talks about events and scenes so obscene that gruesome at times the reader has trouble reading on. He describes the severity of the punishments of Hell and goes where only a few writers would dare go. It goes without saying that Dante did not travel to the depths of Hell and yet the reader gets such a detailed description of the Inferno. In providing such a specific account of Hell, Dante makes the reader being to question and dwell on their own religious thoughts and what the afterlife, whether it be in Heaven or Hell is actually like.