Today we discussed how the punishments in Hell fit the sins committed. Also, we concluded that Virgil is Dante's protector and actually cares for him. The poem is a religious allegory for a person’s journey through life when he strays from the path of God, and finds himself in a “dark forest,” or sinful path where he cannot see the righteous way.
We mainly focused on the idea that the punishments in Hell are defined by its circles in Dante’s Inferno are befitting of the sins committed on Earth, as well as the three major categories of sin in Hell. The three major categories of sin in Hell are incontinence (circles 1-6), violence (circle 7), and fraudulence (circles 8-9). We then looked at several examples from the book that highlight how the punishments fit the sins, such as how the Gluttons are forced to lie in mud like swine, and the Lustful who swirled their minds with sinful thoughts are stuck swirling around in a vortex of wind for eternity. We then spoke about Medusa's head turning people to stone, causing them be "hard hearted" and therefore, unable to repent, which leads to dispair.
It becomes evident that Virgil very much cares about Dante. Virgil covered Dante's eyes so that he could not even be tempted to look at Medusa, whose gaze would turn him to stone. He climbed between Dante and Geryon's tail so that Dante could not be stung. He makes every cast out angel realize that Dante is not a spirit and "walks on the ground" so that they are not too rough with him. This is important because Virgil can read minds and is invulnerable. Also, Virgil and Dante's honest friendship provides an example for the model friendship, while people with fraudulent friendships are waiting below in Hell.
Word Count: 296
Passages:
Page 1272, lines 9-12
O Highest Wisdom, how you demonstrate
Your art in Heaven, on earth, and here in Hell!
How justly does your power make awards!
Here Dante comments about how God creates punishments in hell that fit the crimes done during life. This exemplifies the idea of contrapasso.
Page 1273, lines 70-72
But actually I was the she-bear’s son,
So greedy to advance my cubs, that wealth
I pocketed in life, and here, myself.
Here Pope Nicholas III explains how his punishment for the crime simony was just. Because he pocketed money in life, he is stuck in an uncomfortable rock pocket for eternity.
Page 1267, lines 94-99
Then he who once before had helped me out
when I was threatened put his arms around me
as soon as I was settled, and held me tight;
and then he cried: “Now Geryon, start moving,
descend with gentle motion, circling wide:
remember you are carrying living weight.”
Here Virgil reveals how he cares about Dante and wants to protect him by putting his arms around Dante and holding on to him. He also cautions Geryon to take care of the living person on his back.
Terms:
Allegory- a poem story that has a deeper meaning, either political or religious
Contrapasso-a “counter-penalty,” or retribution in Hell that matches the sins in life (punishment fitting the crime)
"Capanean statement"-Capaneus’ line in Canto 14, line 51, “What I once was, alive, I still am, dead.” Those in Hell continue to sin those sins they committed on Earth; ex: Francesca's attempt to seduce Dante.
Despair- "an absence of hope; Hell is despair;” it is life without God.
Comments (4)
Paige Wartko said
at 11:58 pm on Oct 14, 2009
Walt- I know it looks like I changed a lot of stuff, but I tried to keep a lot of what you said. A lot of it went into the terms or the passages because the summary was too long.
Walt Miller said
at 9:50 am on Oct 15, 2009
Hey, no worries. I was just trying to start us off with something. Thank you though
Brian Croxall said
at 10:38 pm on Oct 16, 2009
I have to admit that I was surprised to see that "contrapasso" and Capaneus's line made their way into these notes before we talked about them yesterday. That leads me to suspect that someone in the group has been reading the introduction in the Norton. Good job. It's one of the smartest things you can do. After yesterday's (15 October) class, however, I hope you've noticed that I draw a line between the concept of "contrapasso" (which I link to the penalty fitting the crime) and what Capaneus says. What Capaneus's statement teaches is that the punishment is to sin for eternity. Of course, I suppose you could say that this is a very fitting punishment for the crime, but the sinners in hell don't see it in this way.
I was a bit surprised that your summary didn't mention more about Virgil's despair and why this happens. While you mention Medusa and the concept of allegory, you didn't get the whole point into the notes. I would have expected to see one of the passages come from this portion of the text as well. On the whole, however, you've picked good passages. I would have liked to see them explained just a bit more...but I'm also aware that I'm picky. You nailed the definitions.
Finally, I've noticed that only two people contributed to these notes. Good work, Walt and Paige. The rest of you: try to avoid Circle 5.
pattyparade said
at 2:01 am on Oct 18, 2009
Wasn't really sure what to change, so I just added little things. Hope it helps!
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