Seeing as how we were all assigned a different sin, I figured I would post on the one I was assigned--flattery. In Canto 18, Dante writes on more than just flattery, but the section devoted to flatterers is by far the most interesting. First off, flattery is defined as "excessive and insincere praise, especially that given to further one's own interests. It is over-complimenting in order to gain favor or position, which is not a lack of love, but a perversion and abuse of it against one's fellow human. The characters given are quite interesting: Alessio and Thais. Alessio is a guy from Bologna, who is involved in a party that Dante does not support. Thais is a "wench", as Virgil says, that over-complimented her lover on his... adequacy. Both of these are really weird characters.
The funniest part of this section is the punishment for these flatterers. They are covered in excrement, in hair, fingernails, everywhere. It's gross, but funny to think about the implications. These people's words in life were used to get them approval or do win a position. Basically, their words, as Dante writes, are crap.
P. S. I commented on Sierra and Darby's posts.
Hahaha I agree Nate!!! Every time I hear someone trying to flatter someone else, I always think that what they are saying is a load of crap because they never mean and are only trying to get something out of it. Just because Dante is an ancient doesn't mean he didn't see the same things we do.
ReplyDeleteYes definitely. And I think of, like we mentioned in class, of the term "brown-noser." And it is interesting to see different sins still considered sins, even though they are not because of a lack of love. It can be sinful because it is a manipulation of/ perversion of love.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I cant think of a better punishment for sinners whom were, in life, full of crap. Dante's sense of irony is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSierra's comment slays. Haha anyway, I really appreciate Dante's creativity when it comes to the punishments. He basically personifies the saying "you are what you eat" with sinners.
ReplyDeleteThis is so incredibly ironic. Dante does such a great job of punishing sins in a way that is clear and entertaining for readers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sierra's comment; flattery is not a lack of love. Flattery is a perversion of it, and I feel it is a complete lie.
ReplyDelete