In this piece, I was hoping to depict Dante Alighieri, the protagonist of his own story in "The Divine Comedy," but I wanted to do something different. Instead of the gloomy expression we often see in medieval depictions, I wanted to frame Dante as a sort of modern hero. He very much was the hero of his own story, literally and figuratively. And that story is still so relatable today.

He encountered and conquered obstacles on his journey, both physical and psychological.
Before encountering Beatrice, he confronted his greatest fears and emerged triumphant from them all with newfound wisdom. His story is a unique one that holds lessons for all who read it; namely that no matter how difficult the road may be, it is possible to overcome them if one has faith in themselves.

And this is a lesson that we can all take with us on our own journeys. We must never forget that we are the protagonists of our stories and that we have the power to shape our destinies by being brave and strong. This is why I believe it is so important to never give up, even when obstacles seem insurmountable. Each of us has the potential to be a hero in our own lives - all we need to do is choose to keep going and never give up on ourselves.

So let’s remember Dante today and take inspiration from his story. He was able to reach paradise through sheer determination and resilience, and so can we. Let’s be the heroes of our own stories and write the next chapter with courage and inspiration.