Final answer:
Dante uses language to differentiate among sinners in 'The Divine Comedy', assigning them to different circles of Hell based on the nature of their sins, using vivid imagery and the concept of contrapasso.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dante expresses his views about sinners with a complex use of language, vivid imagery, and symbolic representation of sin and virtue in his epic poem, The Divine Comedy. Differentiating among sinners, Dante does not view them all in the same light but rather allocates each to a circle of Hell that corresponds to the severity and nature of their sins.
He uses contrapasso, a concept where the punishment fits the crime, to illustrate the divine justice for each sinner’s transgressions.
For instance, the treacherous are frozen in ice in the lowest circle of Hell, signifying the coldness of their betrayal, while the lustful are swept by a never-ending wind, reflecting the lack of control and the tempestuous nature of their desires.
The language in these depictions not only characterizes the sinner but also conveys Dante’s moral standpoint on the purity and gravity of different sins.