Canti 21-27

Since Dante is walking in the footsteps of Christ, I react in two ways:
1) I feel that Dante is thinking very highly of himself to compare himself to Christ.
2) I interpret that Dante is the only living person to walk along the same path that Christ did.

In lines 106-108, canto 21, a demon tells Dante and Virgil that there is a broken arch that prevents them from going onward:

"Then he said to us: 'Further along this ridge you cannot go, for the sixth arch lies all shattered at the bottom. But if you still wish to go forward, walk along this bank: nearby is another ridge that makes a path.'" (lines 106-110).


In the lines following this quote, Dante actually dates his journey into Hell.

"Yesterday, five hours later than now, one thousand two hundred and sixty-six years were completed since the way was broken here" (lines 112-114 canto 21).

According to the notes on page 330, "yesterday" refers to Good Friday, thus Dante's journey occurs on a Saturday. "Five hours later than now" refers to the time of day, which would be noon. And it is believed that Christ died at noon. And Christ died at the age of 34, in 34 A.D. Thus, (as we do the math) Dante dates his journey into Hell at the year 1300. Also in the notes it says that Dante was 35 years old when he made the journey into Hell. Thus, he is imitating Christ once more in the poem.

The arch was believed to be broken during the earthquake that occurred at the moment of Christ's death. The path that was carved out was made by Christ himself as he descended into Hell to save the souls of those who preceded him.

It seems that Dante feels that he is an important chronicler of the punishments in Hell. Also that he feels that he is important enough to literally follow in the footsteps of Christ and his path into Hell. But, unlike Christ, Dante does not pass judgements on the sinners he sees being punished. He merely acts as an observer, and is sometimes horrified by the punishments. I must mention that also, unlike Christ, Dante is not divine, but like Christ he is eternal, through his writing.

Also I must note the connection with the metaphor of the Scales of Justice in the Inferno. Hell is layered, and no sin is equal; some sins are greater than others. And the punishments match, parallel, or reflect the sins in either an ironic, literal or metaphorical way.