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| http://alenthony.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/simonists-racists-and-cannibals/ |
Canto XIX opens with Dante explaining the atrocities of those in the third pouch. These men are Simonists. They bought their religious right in order to have power in the church. Dante carries a negative, demeaning tone when discussing their sins. These men lay buried in hot sand that only allows their feet and legs to protrude out of the surface. They wither in pain as flames dance across their feet. Dante notices that one sinner is burdened by redder flames that torture the soul to an extreme. Virgil recommends getting closer to the soul in order to answer Dante's question. Once by the sinner Dante begins to speak with the man. The soul mistakes Dante for Boniface who is to take his place when he reaches the underworld. Virgil urges Dante to the correct the confusion and he learns the identity of the man as being Pope Nicholas III. The Pope laments about how those on earth are worse sinners. Dante dives into a tirade about how those who commit simony deserve the fate they choose. Virgil approves of this stance and the two journey towards the fourth pouch.
This pouch is reserved for Diviners, Astrologers, and Magicians. Their torture forces them to walk in a slow processional that reminds Dante of the church. The heads of these souls are turned around because in their lifetime they were constantly trying to look forward into the future. At the beginning of Canto XX Dante uses a unique writing technique when he address the audience directly. "May God so let you, reader, gather fruit / from what you read..." (XX, 19-20). This torture over takes his emotions and he is reprimanded by Virgil for showing pity towards these sinners. Virgil gives details about many of the different souls he recognizes. In particular he tells the story of Manto. This sorceress was the founder of his hometown and he sees it as his duty to tell Dante the true origin of the city. After finishing his story Virgil tells about other sinners he identifies. The duo then journeys forth and reaches the fifth pouch.
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| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malacoda |
Dante notices this section to be rather dark. A pit full of pitch sits under a bridge. As the souls surface demons armed with prongs poke at them. The content of the pit reminds Dante of the Venetians when they fix their boats in the winter season. He is alarmed by Virgil's shout as a demon flies in with a new resident. Virgil then has Dante hide behind a crag in order to negotiate with the demons. At first the overseers try to bully Virgil but, he uses his divine fate to quiet the masses. The head demon, Malacoda meaning "Evil-Tail", gives ten demon escorts to the travelers because the "bridge is out". He recommends that they go to the next ridge in order to pass through this pouch. Dante is nervous about traveling with the demons but Virgil calms his nerves. Before the group leaves Dante eyes the pit and tries to make conversation with the sinners that surface. The souls have learned to avoid being skewered by making quick appearances through the surface and then diving back in. Finally one of the men is pulled up on shore so that Dante is able to speak with the him. He learns that this pouch is meant for those who took brides. Dante then asks the soul if any Italians reside in the residue. The demons are astonished to learn that these souls have found ways to avoid their torture. The monsters then attempt to grab the beached soul before he can return to the pit. The man escapes the demon's clutches and is able to cause two demons to fall into the sticky tar of the pit. With all the excitement of their comrades trying to save the beast Virgil and Dante take their leave.
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Dante worries that because he caused so much distress to the demons that they will come after them. Virgil agrees with this line of thinking and moments after the guide explains his plan for escape the demons come into sight. Virgil grabs Dante and runs with him like a mother guards her child. He slides down an embankment and the demons are forced to watch them escape outside of the fifth pouches boundaries. The two enter into the sixth pouch and witness the procession of well-dressed sinners. After closer examination Dante notices that the clothing is lined with lead even though on the outside it looks dazzling. The weight of the cloth forces the souls to walk in a very methodical, slow manner. While Dante and Virgil talk one of the sinners recognizes Dante's Tuscan accent. The narrator learns that this pouch is reserved for hypocrites. He also notices one man who lays in a crucified position on the ground. This man is forced to endure the weight of those who walk in the processional as they travel over him. Dante learns the identity of the man to be Caiphus. Dante's acquaintances explain his torture through stating "'That one impaled...counseled the Pharisees that it was prudent / to let one man -- and not one nation suffer" (XXIII,115-116). Virgil watches this take place and asks Dante's native brothers how they can reach the next section of Hell. He is dismayed to learn that Malacoda deceived the travelers and that the their is no connecting ridge. The souls are able to relay an existing passage and see the men on their way.
Their trek to the seventh pouch is treacherous. Dante requires Virgil's encouraging words in order to make the trip. After arriving at the pouch Dante is disturbed by the villainous serpents who resided in the embankment. The souls that live here are naked and are bound by the serpents. The souls are damned for this pouch because they are known as being thieves. These creatures take pleasure in torturing their victims. Dante is amazed to witness a soul being bite by a serpent. He then immediately burst into flames only to be reincarnated after his ashes touch the ground. Virgil asks the unfortunate soul about his identity. To Dante's surprise he personally knew the sinner when he lived on the earth. Vanni Fucci, recognizes Dante and is ashamed to be seen in his miserable state. He admits to stealing the ornaments from the sacristy. In order to help his self-esteem the soul prophesies the defeat of Dante's political party back in Florence.
The opening of Canto XXV relates back to the previous Canto. Vanni Fucci has gone from shame to outrage and Dante is able to describe the scene in the following passage:
"When he had finished with his words, the thief
raised high his fists with both figs cocked and cried:
'Take that, o God; I square them off for you!'
From that time on, those serpents were my friends,
for one of them coiled then around his neck,
as if to say, 'I'll have you speak no more';
another wound about his arms and bound him
again and wrapped itself in front so firmly,
he could not even make them budge an inch" (XXV, 1-9).
After Dante's fellow countryman is taken away the travelers are able to view another phenomenon. Three sinners are brought into the pouch with two serpents alongside. One of the serpents coils himself around a sinner and the two begin to morph together to form one creature. While this takes place the other serpent bites the belly of one of the other sinners. Dante describes these events with great detail and is mesmerized that in the end he does not fully trust his own account of the occurrence.
As the two beginning to journey forth to the eighth pouch Dante relishes in the idea that Florence is well represented in Hell. The men travel on and arrive at the eighth pouch, reserved for Fraudulent Counselors. Flames can be seen all around and Virgil explains to his companion that each hold the soul of a sinner. Dante notices one flame that burns taller then the others and is told that it holds both Ulysses and Diomedes. The living soul wishes to talk with these men but Virgil cautions the traveler because of his Tuscan accent. He in turn recommends that he become the intermediary and talks to the flame directly. Dante agrees and through Virgil he hears Ulysses story.
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