The opening word of Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, Inferno, is “Nel” which translates to “In” or “Midway” in English. This preposition immediately plunges the reader into the heart of the narrative, setting a scene of disorientation and lostness within a dark wood. It serves as an entry point to a journey through the realms of the afterlife.
As the initial word, it carries significant weight, establishing the poem’s in medias res opening. Its function as a preposition highlights the protagonist’s precarious state, caught between the path of righteousness and the path of sin. This word’s placement and meaning are critical for understanding the protagonist’s initial predicament and the allegorical journey he is about to undertake. Historically, the choice of this word also resonates with the medieval concept of life as a pilgrimage or journey towards salvation, emphasizing the protagonist’s metaphorical lostness and the quest he must undertake to regain his spiritual footing.
