In Canto Twenty-Four is the seventh ditch of Malebolge (the eighth circle of Hell) where the thieves are kept. I find it interesting that there are so many different kinds of venomous snake creatures in this ditch of hell. Why are the snakes associated with thievery? What is the connection exactly? It is especially confusing when I searched meanings and symbolism of serpents. The results I found were that snakes are associated with renewal; however, this does not seem to be relevant in this particular context. Maybe I am missing something?
Another scene of imagery that is depicted in this Canto is that the people are running "naked, frightened, and without hope" with their wrists "strapped behind their backs by snakes." Their nakedness is an exposure that depicts their shamefulness of being a thief. And the fact that the sinner's hands are tied behind their backs depicts their actual sin of using their hands to steal.
I commented on Nate's and Darby's!
I think it has to do with Satan's connection to the serpent. Thieves are associated with snakes due to the serpent that stole the purity of Man in Eden. So then, to be a snake in life, it is fitting that you are punished by your own kind is it not?
ReplyDeleteI thought of John the Baptist calling the Pharisees and Sadducees a "brood of vipers". I agree with Daniel's connection of Satan's serpent form in the garden of Eden. Serpents are venomous and devious, full of deception. Maybe that is where the connection is made.
ReplyDeleteI was kind of looking at it similarly to how you were but Daniel poses an interesting view that is of Satan as a serpent being a thief because he stole the purity of man, and this was the most influential theft all.
ReplyDeleteI love the question of "why snakes?" All of the comments above are quite true (Satan imagery, brood of vipers,etc.) One thing I would point out is that the "brood of vipers" was (in context) a reference to the Pharisees, not thieves. But still good reference. Personally, I would like to add that snakes are generally sneaky creatures, they do not come out in the open too often and quite a few of them steal eggs and such from other creatures. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Daniel's connection, but I would like to add that serpents were cursed to "crawl on their bellies" after a serpent tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit and in essence, stole away their innocence. I feel like these snakes are attempting to escape the divine punishment they inflicted upon themselves the way they earned it: stealing. By stealing one's human form, but have their own human form snatched away afterwards, because they ultimately can't escape from their punishment. These thieves earned their place here by stealing, and they're trying to regain their humanity by stealing others'. It's a never-ending cycle.
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