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Explain Dante’s use of allusion in Canto V of the Inferno. What purposes do the references to Minos and the lustful figures from mythology serve? Your answer should be at least one hundred words.

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In Canto V of the Inferno, Dante uses allusion to Minos and the lustful figures from mythology to illustrate the severity of the sin of lust. Minos was a character from Greek mythology who was known for judging the dead and sending them to their appropriate circle of hell. Dante uses Minos as a symbol of judgment and punishment in the Inferno, as he is depicted as the one who assigns the lustful souls to their circle of hell. Dante also references the lustful figures from mythology, such as Dido and Cleopatra, to emphasize the universality of the sin of lust. By alluding to these figures, Dante suggests that even the most powerful and respected figures in history are not immune to the consequences of their sins. Overall, Dante's use of allusion in Canto V serves to underscore the gravity of the sin of lust and the inevitability of divine justice.
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