Dante's Poetic Justice

Canto XX

Dante and Virgil reside within the eight circle of hell, in its fourth pouch. In this pit they are able to see those who in the upper world were considered Diviners, Astrologers and Magicians. This lie in this whole because “since he wanted to see ahead, he looks behind and walks a backward path”, Dante is talking about all of the creatures that in here are punished to walk backwards, this because their heads have been turned backwards. As poetic justice is defined by the old proverb “what goes around, comes around” it is exemplified in this canto by the punishment.

The Magicians, Diviners and Astrologers used magic and their power on earth, to look further upon what God had given them at the moment, wanting to look at the future and alter it before it ever got to them; defying God’s power to control your life and living life one step at a time. They were punished to look backwards and unable to look forward anymore. Which goes back to the old proverb which defines poetic justice, because they wanted to look forward while on earth now they have to look backwards in hell.