Dante Alighieri

During my undergraduate studies at Ohio University and later at Mercer University, I found wisdom in unlikely places. One of the most powerful lessons came to me from a 14th-century poet named Dante Alighieri.

While serving my 45-year prison sentence, I had limited resources, but I made the most of them. My sister sent me books from the Penguin Classics series, including The Divine Comedy. Dante’s Inferno was more than a novel—it became a metaphorical guide for my journey through incarceration.

Dante’s story begins in a dark forest where he is lost and pursued by three beasts, which symbolize lust, greed, and pride. I probably didn’t come to that understanding on my own. I had to turn to other resources, such as the Cliff’s Notes, to become a guide. In prison, I had time, but I didn’t always have teachers around me. Fortunately, people in my support network would send me the resources I needed. Later, as I brought mentors into my life, I could share what I learned and they would help me understand more.

These allegories that Dante used resonated with me. Like Dante, I found myself in a dark place, overwhelmed by forces beyond my control. His journey through the Inferno—the circles of hell—mirrored the challenges I faced in prison. To move forward, Dante relied on the guidance of his mentor, Virgil. Together, they navigated the depths of despair, each circle representing a unique trial that required reflection and resolve to overcome.

What stood out most was the structure of Dante’s journey. After enduring the Inferno, he ascended through Purgatorio—a realm of transformation—before finally reaching Paradiso, a state of enlightenment and peace. This progression helped me accept that in order to emerge stronger, people had to face our trials, learn from them, and remain steadfast in the pursuit of growth.

During my 26 years in prison, I encountered my own metaphorical circles of hell—moments of loss, despair, and uncertainty. But Dante’s journey reminded me that each trial could be an opportunity to learn, adapt, and prepare for what lay ahead. Like Dante, I believed that my struggles would ultimately lead to transformation if I focused on personal development.

Dante’s reliance on a mentor also inspired me. I didn’t have a Virgil to guide me physically, but I had books. The authors of those books became my mentors. Then, other people came into my life and they helped me as well. That process of learning helped me feel as if I was making progress every day. Although I’d made many bad decisions that led me to prison, I could work to become better, to make amends.

Through reading classical literature, and learning from mentors, I developed confidence, and a mindset that allowed me to frame my challenges as stepping stones toward success.

I got a simple, profound message from Dante Alighieri’s Inferno. He helped me accept the inevitability of adversity. We all face it. It can also become a pathway to strength. By accepting challenges and using them as opportunities for growth, I could find my way out of the dark forest and toward a brighter future.

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