Who offers dante help in Cantos 1 and what is the plan that this helper proposes?

In Canto 1 of the "Inferno," Virgil offers to guide Dante through Hell and help him ascend from its depths. Virgil explains that Dante must journey through Hell in order to reach Heaven, as he is lost in a dark forest, symbolizing his spiritual confusion and sin. Virgil proposes that they travel through Hell together so that Dante can learn from the sinners' punishments and gain the wisdom needed to redeem himself.