Michel De Montaigne, a fifteenth century French essayist once said that, "The perpetual work of your life is but to lay the foundation of death. (21st Century Dictionary of Quotation, 1993) In The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri conveys the concept that actions throughout life determine the quality of the afterlife. In various instances throughout his work, Dante shows the correlation between actions on Earth and the nature of eternal life. He views life on Earth as …showed first 75 words of 663 total…

…showed last 75 words of 663 total…is willed must be, and is not yours to ask what it means." (91-93) The need to face evil is inconceivable by God's creations. God's will must not be questioned. It is crucial to face the trials that bring eternal life with Him. Dante Alighieri shows throughout his work the direct connection between life on Earth and life after death. He also puts forth concepts that are fundamental to the beliefs of the Christian Church.