blog entries

Chapter 5
Minos- allusion to Greece judge/king. Was the son of Zeus and Europia.
“Francesca, your suffering makes me weep for sorrow and pity” Line 104 Francesca was a lover who was killed for her lustful relationship with a man, however the couples reason for this sin was a book. Dante could be making a comment on how powerful books can be, and in doing so possibly give a reason for his writing this one. Perhaps Dante is hoping to help recharge the church by producing a book capable of showing all the sins of hell.
Canto 6
“wherever I step or look. I am in the third Circle, a realm of cold and heavy rain”-Line 5 Dante fainted at the tale of the lovers, odd considering what he has already seen in the 2nnd and 1st circle and what he is soon to see, this is one of his most negative reactions. This could be because he knows he will end up in this circle of hell when he dies due to his relationship with Beatrice.
Canto 7
“Fortune, like any other god, foresees, judges, and rules her appointed realm.” Line 76 – Fortunes a strumpet whom controls men, yet Virgil describes how those who curse her should actually be thanking her, if she does not give them wealth then they cannot end up in this circle of hell for the greedy.
“this canticle they gargle from the craw, unable to speak whole words.” This seems like a description of an extremely angry man and thus fits the punishment of those who could not control their anger. You can see the man foaming at the mouth incapable of words out of frustration, and then compare that image to these buried souls.
Canto 8
Phlegyas- first off Phlegyas complains of being tricked by Virgil, as if this has happened in the past. Phlegyas burnt down the temple of Apollo because Apollo had raped and killed his daughter and given his grandchild to a centaur. For this he was thrown into hell.
“Baked red as though just taken from the fire”- these mosques are suffering as they were temples for false idol. The muslims were not exactly popular in this period of time, and even their great rulers like saladin were put in the first circle of hell. Heaven is a one denomination society in this book.