Satan - The very Epitome of Contrapasso
...apasso is the Aristotelian theory that states a soul’s form of suffering in Hell contrasts or extends their sins in their life on earth, so they never forget their crime against God. Although some of the punishments are seemingly arbitrary, they are fitting because contrapasso forces each sinner to re-live the worst aspect of their sin to ensure they never forget their crime. Satan’s crime was that he exalted himself to be like God. “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14). The contrapasso for this was that he would rule over Hell as the Emperor of the sorrowful realm (Inferno: 34:28). Just as he desired to be like the most High in heaven, so was he in Hell. As the poets descend deeper into Hell it becomes clear to the reader that Dante’s Hell is a conical depression in the surface of the earth, created by Satan when he was cast down from heaven. This Hell, being a dep...