The Past Determines the Future Spiritual guidance is often used as a catalyst for the progression of a story. In Hamlet and Inferno, the mystics are the entities that help the tale have a conflict that allows the story to have many possibilities for resolution. Both of these beings come from the past, highlighting how what happened in the past helps outline what will happen in the future. Without this spiritual guidance the conflict would not occur and the story would have no plot. Therefore, mystical beings are an integral part of both stories, intertwining the two texts through the concept of divine intervention. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In Hamlet, Virgil is the ultimate guide to Dante. He serves as a dual mentor: both to Dante in the novel, and to Dante the writer in his quest to define and think through his life. Virgil channels ideas from the past to help the character Dante complete his quest into the underworld and the writer Dante continue his poetry. Without Virgil's guidance the journey would never have begun. Before Dante officially began his journey to Hell, the hero doubted his ability and heroics. His “soul… assailed by cowardice” (Dante 15), would have surrendered before his epic expedition began. By providing the security of having the support of the divine, it allows Dante to experience Hell with a greater feeling of security. Without this trust, Dante would not have been able to retreat into the depths of Hell with such a discerning eye. Therefore, his journey would have been aimless and he would not have gained much from his experiences. Virgil is Dante's safeguard. The appearance of Hamlet's late father paved the way for Hamlet's actions. Without the guidance given by the ghost, Hamlet would have no definitive proof of Claudius' betrayal and regicide and would have no clear path to revenge. Hamlet did not know for sure that Claudius had killed his father, although the situation between Claudius and Hamlet's mother Gertrude was strange. When the ghost of his father asked him to “avenge his foul and unnatural murder” (Shakespeare 31), Hamlet had a mission and Hamlet's story had a plot. Without the words of the late king, Claudius would only be Hamlet's enemy due to Claudius' unusual relationship with Hamlet's mother and, later, that he inherently snatched the crown away from Hamlet, who was next in the line of succession. However, Hamlet would not have known that Claudius had killed not only the idea of ​​a harmonious family, but also the person he admired most: his father. Since the apparition was actually his father, Hamlet uses his heightened passions as a vehicle to move forward in his quest for revenge, which also moves the plot forward. The spiritual guides, showing insights into the authors' views on morality, highlight the ideas of revenge and sin. For example, in Hamlet, revenge is deemed necessary by the spiritual guide. The dead will not be released until they are avenged. Although Hamlet needed to kill his evil uncle, he could not kill him while Claudius was praying in a church, as this would have given Claudius eternal salvation instead of relentless pain. Although Shakespeare created the idea of ​​Hell based on Dante's Inferno, he did not have the horrific imagery to accompany the eternal terror. Furthermore, Hamlet, a mortal human, takes it upon himself to act as divine and bestow upon Claudius a punishment to which no mortal has the right or power. On the contrary, in the Inferno, Dante is more removed from revenge. He witnesses characters like Ugolino and.