So what are we, as the readers, supposed to make of all of this? Dante describes so many horrific and hellish scenes, each seeming to be more creatively disturbing than the last. What is Dante's purpose in describing each part of hell to us? I have been trying to take note of the encounters that he has with different souls in the different layers of hell. Sin is obviously the underlying issue for each of the souls. In canto 18 on page 185, Dante stops and talks with a soul (Venedico Caccianemico) that catches his attention. Venedico explains that his motives and reason for being in the eighth circle is because of the "avarice of [his] heart." It is interesting to take note of and track the motives and reasoning behind each soul and further connect that to which circle of Hell they end up in.
I commented on Hannah's and Nate's!
I definitely believe that sin is the underlying issue throughout for each of the souls. It is interesting that the motives and reasoning behind each soul lead to different circles of hell.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think the motivation of behind each of the souls is interesting and I don't entirely understand the purpose of having them all explained to us either except to gain knowledge of something we wouldn't otherwise know about. What I find interesting as we learn about the individual souls is that I find myself identifying with them in one way or another and therefore thinking about which circle of hell I would end up in! It's a scary thought! and as I'm on this thought process, it hits me - the price for my sin has been paid for, I do not need to fear hell. Praise the Lord for that!
ReplyDelete