Dante"s use of allegory in the Inferno greatly varies from Plato"s "Allegory of the Cave" in purpose, symbolism, characters and mentors, and in attitude toward the world. An analysis of each of these elements in both allegories will provide an interesting comparison. Dante uses allegory to relate the sinner"s punishment to his sin, while Plato uses allegory to discuss ignorance and knowledge. Dante"s Inferno describes the descent through Hell from the upper level of the opportunists to the most evil, the treacherous, on the lowest level. His allegorical poem describes a hierarchy of evil. Conversely, Plato"s "Allegory of the Cave"...
meets Mohammed and gruesomely describes him: "Between his legs all of his red guts hung with the heart, the lungs, the liver, the gall bladder, and the shriveled sac that passes shit to the bung.

In essence, while each author uses allegory to deliver his message, the elements of purpose, descent/ascent, characters and mentors, and views of the world are separate and distinct in each piece. Plato"s purpose is to discuss human ignorance, while Dante is exploring human sins. Plato"s characters are nameless and faceless, while Dante"s are individually described. Finally, Plato perspective is sociological, while Dante"s is religious.