Complete the sentence.Dante includes a beast based on the mythological figure to show the lack of mercy given upon sinners in the afterlife.

Dante includes a beast based on the mythological figure of the Minotaur to show the lack of mercy given upon sinners in the afterlife. In "The Divine Comedy," particularly in "Inferno," the Minotaur symbolizes the brutality and ferocity of the sins committed by those who inhabit the circles of hell. The Minotaur, as a creature that is part man and part bull, also reflects the theme of the dual nature of humanity, caught between reason and bestial instinct. By placing such a monstrous figure at the entrance of the seventh circle, where the violent reside, Dante emphasizes the inescapable nature of divine justice, where sinners face the consequences of their earthly actions without any possibility of mercy or redemption. This use of mythological creatures helps Dante present his moral and philosophical ideas regarding sin and its eternal repercussions.