Dante was guided by the poet Virgil (70-17 BC) on a tour of Hell. On the stop of Circle-II where all the 'lustful' sinners were tormented by violent storm, blowing the souls of those sinners all over the place. One of them was Francesca who had been an acquaintance of Dante. Seeing him touring her tormenting place, she made a comment and complaint to Dante.
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321 AD)
Poet Virgil (70-17 BC)
Francesca and Paolo was in love. The jealous husband Gianciotto (in the background) took the sword and killed both of them. Dante condemned both Francesca and Paolo to Hell for lustful love.
"...Love, which quickly lays hold on gentle heart, seized this one for the fair person that was taken from me. Love, which quickly lays hold on gentle heart, seized this one for the fair person that was taken from me, and the mode still hurts me. Love, which absolves no loved one from loving, seized me for the pleasing of him so strongly that, as though seest, it does not even now abandon me. Love brought us to one death. Caina awaits him who quenched our life."
Francesca was married to Paolo's brother, Gianciotto ("Crippled John"). Francesca's soul told Dante that her husband should be destined for punishment in Cain--the infernal realm of familial betrayal named after Caina, who killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8)--for murdering her and Paolo.
Dante's view on Hell
Here is the romance and punishment story between Francesca and Paolo.
Francesca was engaged to Gianciotto for political reasons. Gianciotto was a crippled, ugly looking-man. Giaciotto's brother, Paolo, on the other hand, was a very good looking, handsome young man. On the day of meeting face-to-face, (The dating of the Dark Age Era.), Gianciotto afraid of being rejected by Francesca, asked his brother, Paolo, to meet her instead. Looking at this handsome, good looking man mistaking Paolo as her fiancee, she was very happy that she would eventually marry to such a good-looking person.
On the night of wedding, the truth was eventually revealed; Francesca felt deeply deceived and betrayed. Meanwhile, Paolo fell in love with Francesca, who also loved Paolo in return without any restraint.
One night Gianciotto caught both of them in bed. Gianciotto was very angry. He took his sword and was trying to kill his brother. Francesca attempting to save Paolo's life, stood in between Gianciotto and Paolo and was killed.Gianciotto then killed his brother Paolo. Both Francesca and Paolo's souls were condemned and were sent to Hell, Circle -II for eternal torment of the violent blowing winds.
Francesca told Dante, the one who should be brought to Hell was her husband, not her or Paolo. The punishment for Caina (Biblical story, Caina killed his brother Abel) should also reserved for her husband who killed his brother.
Who should be punished? The story-teller would like to hear the opinion from you.
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