Screaming as They GoScreaming as They Go

FeracoFeracoMyth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

6 November 20096 November 2009

Canto VII: Data FileCanto VII: Data File

• Settings: The Fourth and Fifth CirclesSettings: The Fourth and Fifth Circles• Figures: Plutus, FortuneFigures: Plutus, Fortune• Allusions: StyxAllusions: Styx• Punishable Sins: Hoarding and Punishable Sins: Hoarding and

Wasting (Fourth Circle), Wrath and Wasting (Fourth Circle), Wrath and Sullenness (Fifth Circle)Sullenness (Fifth Circle)

Canto VII: Data FileCanto VII: Data File• Summary: After leaving the Third Circle, the Poets Summary: After leaving the Third Circle, the Poets

encounter Plutus, who shouts an unintelligible encounter Plutus, who shouts an unintelligible warning to Satan upon seeing them. Virgil warning to Satan upon seeing them. Virgil silences him by reminding him of God’s will, silences him by reminding him of God’s will, recalling the poets’ escape from Charon and recalling the poets’ escape from Charon and Minos. Dante sees men fighting over great Minos. Dante sees men fighting over great stones, and realizes that these men grew stones, and realizes that these men grew obsessed with money – either their ability to obsessed with money – either their ability to hoard it or waste it. None of them are even hoard it or waste it. None of them are even recognizable, and the poets move toward Styx as recognizable, and the poets move toward Styx as Virgil discusses Fortune’s purpose. When they Virgil discusses Fortune’s purpose. When they arrive, Dante witnesses a ferocious, unending arrive, Dante witnesses a ferocious, unending battle between the Wrathful; the Sullen lie battle between the Wrathful; the Sullen lie beneath the swamp’s surface, denied the light of beneath the swamp’s surface, denied the light of day forever.day forever.

Hoarding and WastingHoarding and Wasting• Also referred to as Avarice and ProdigalityAlso referred to as Avarice and Prodigality• Just as Dante elevated lust above gluttony, he chooses to Just as Dante elevated lust above gluttony, he chooses to

place financial avarice and prodigality below consumptionplace financial avarice and prodigality below consumption– Timothy 6:10 claims avarice is "the root of all evils,” and Raffa Timothy 6:10 claims avarice is "the root of all evils,” and Raffa

asserts that “medieval Christian thought viewed the sin as asserts that “medieval Christian thought viewed the sin as most offensive to the spirit of love”most offensive to the spirit of love”

– At least with consumption, someone benefits (temporarily); no At least with consumption, someone benefits (temporarily); no one benefits from obsessive miserliness, nor from money one benefits from obsessive miserliness, nor from money wasted rather than invested or spent wiselywasted rather than invested or spent wisely

• Just as he compared man’s hunger for political power with Just as he compared man’s hunger for political power with gluttony via Ciacco’s prophecy, Dante explicitly blames gluttony via Ciacco’s prophecy, Dante explicitly blames avarice for the corruption gripping his cityavarice for the corruption gripping his city

• Unlike his fairly sympathetic portrayals of sinners in the first Unlike his fairly sympathetic portrayals of sinners in the first three circles (Homer, Francesca, Ciacco), Dante merely three circles (Homer, Francesca, Ciacco), Dante merely scorns the sinners we find herescorns the sinners we find here

The PunishmentThe Punishment• The Fourth Circle’s punishment is shared by Hoarders and The Fourth Circle’s punishment is shared by Hoarders and

Wasters alike; both parties strain against giant rocks, Wasters alike; both parties strain against giant rocks, yelling angrily at one another as they charge and collide yelling angrily at one another as they charge and collide repeatedlyrepeatedly

• The rocks symbolize the mundane nature of the things the The rocks symbolize the mundane nature of the things the sinners obsessed over; now that obsession is just dead sinners obsessed over; now that obsession is just dead weightweight

• Also, Dante notes that he can’t recognize any of them Also, Dante notes that he can’t recognize any of them individually; the combination of anger and empty greed has individually; the combination of anger and empty greed has dimmed their souls so greatly that there’s nothing much dimmed their souls so greatly that there’s nothing much left of themleft of them

• In order to drive home his view that Greed destroys the In order to drive home his view that Greed destroys the light of God within a person, Dante takes special care to light of God within a person, Dante takes special care to note how many religious officials – even popes! – appear note how many religious officials – even popes! – appear herehere

PlutusPlutus• It’s not clear what Plutus is exactly supposed to be; some It’s not clear what Plutus is exactly supposed to be; some

translators take Virgil’s “you wolf of Hell!” statement translators take Virgil’s “you wolf of Hell!” statement literally and give him canine features, while others claim literally and give him canine features, while others claim he’s humanhe’s human– Dante seems to be splitting the difference, giving him speech Dante seems to be splitting the difference, giving him speech

while rendering him incapable of delivering it in a fully human while rendering him incapable of delivering it in a fully human languagelanguage

– His anger seems animalistic, hinting yet again at our darker His anger seems animalistic, hinting yet again at our darker naturenature

• Also, it’s not clear which god he’s supposed to represent; Also, it’s not clear which god he’s supposed to represent; Pluto was the Lord of the Underworld in many myths, Pluto was the Lord of the Underworld in many myths, whereas Plutus was simply a God of Wealthwhereas Plutus was simply a God of Wealth

• Dante seems to be fusing Pluto’s ability to rule with Plutus’s Dante seems to be fusing Pluto’s ability to rule with Plutus’s traditional status, thus creating a creature who hungers for traditional status, thus creating a creature who hungers for both power both power andand wealth – “the great enemy” wealth – “the great enemy”

FortuneFortune• Dante believed that everything you did came Dante believed that everything you did came

back to you in the end, particularly due to divine back to you in the end, particularly due to divine influence; influence; The Inferno’sThe Inferno’s system of divinely- system of divinely-governed poetic justice makes this perfectly cleargoverned poetic justice makes this perfectly clear

• However, what about what happens along the However, what about what happens along the way?way?

• Dante elevates Fortune above the fray of the Dante elevates Fortune above the fray of the mortal world, painting her as a distributor; just as mortal world, painting her as a distributor; just as God distributes light and goodness throughout God distributes light and goodness throughout creation, Fortune distributes worldly goodscreation, Fortune distributes worldly goods

• She is, in many ways, impossible for mortals to She is, in many ways, impossible for mortals to understand (think understand (think Gilgamesh’sGilgamesh’s divinities) divinities)

FortuneFortune• Boethius' Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy,Consolation of Philosophy, which Dante read which Dante read

following Beatrice’s death, clearly inspires Dante’s use of following Beatrice’s death, clearly inspires Dante’s use of Fortune, although the former’s is more negativeFortune, although the former’s is more negative

• He believed you should ignore what Fortune brings you, He believed you should ignore what Fortune brings you, concentrating instead on what you knew to be permanent concentrating instead on what you knew to be permanent and certain (divine love and justice, for example)and certain (divine love and justice, for example)

• Boethius illustrates this in Boethius illustrates this in ConsolationConsolation by showing himself by showing himself as he’s gradually stripped of everything – possessions, as he’s gradually stripped of everything – possessions, honor, freedomhonor, freedom– This obviously would have more relevance for Dante in the This obviously would have more relevance for Dante in the

years years afterafter he read the book! he read the book!• He eventually argues that the easiest way to learn his He eventually argues that the easiest way to learn his

lesson about Fortune is to experience bad luck, for there is lesson about Fortune is to experience bad luck, for there is no better teacher that only the immutable is worthwhileno better teacher that only the immutable is worthwhile

In ConclusionIn Conclusion

• The Fourth Circle is worth knowing The Fourth Circle is worth knowing simply for its portrayal of obsession simply for its portrayal of obsession (the sinners’ obsession with wealth) (the sinners’ obsession with wealth) and its explanation of Fortune’s roleand its explanation of Fortune’s role

• It’s also important to remember both It’s also important to remember both how the sinners are punished and how the sinners are punished and why that punishment existswhy that punishment exists

Wrath and SullennessWrath and Sullenness• It’s interesting that both the Fourth and Fifth It’s interesting that both the Fourth and Fifth

Circles contain linked sins; that said, they’re Circles contain linked sins; that said, they’re linked in different wayslinked in different ways

• The Hoarders and Wasters have different sins, but The Hoarders and Wasters have different sins, but they sin according to the same principle (their they sin according to the same principle (their attitudes toward material wealth are corrupt); this attitudes toward material wealth are corrupt); this is why their punishments are identicalis why their punishments are identical

• The Wrathful and the Sullen, on the other hand, The Wrathful and the Sullen, on the other hand, embody the embody the samesame sin, but in different forms: sin, but in different forms: anger that’s expressed immoderately (the anger that’s expressed immoderately (the Wrathful) and anger that’s harmfully repressed Wrathful) and anger that’s harmfully repressed (the Sullen); this is why their punishments differ, (the Sullen); this is why their punishments differ, even though they live in the same areaeven though they live in the same area

The PunishmentThe Punishment• The Wrathful and the Sullen occupy the Styx’s The Wrathful and the Sullen occupy the Styx’s

swamp-waters togetherswamp-waters together• The Wrathful are locked in an endless, desperate The Wrathful are locked in an endless, desperate

physical battle in which every soul fights the physical battle in which every soul fights the others; they can only see and do hateful thingsothers; they can only see and do hateful things

• The Sullen lie beneath the water, gurgling out The Sullen lie beneath the water, gurgling out something approaching a hymn – a darkly ironic something approaching a hymn – a darkly ironic twist, considering that Dante believes they twist, considering that Dante believes they wasted the light of God within themselves by wasted the light of God within themselves by sulking (rather than celebrating their fortune in sulking (rather than celebrating their fortune in life)life)

• The water over their heads symbolizes the anger The water over their heads symbolizes the anger they internalized, using it to distance themselves they internalized, using it to distance themselves from Godfrom God

StyxStyx

• Styx was long used in mythology as Hell’s major Styx was long used in mythology as Hell’s major river, although it turns up elsewhere as a marsh river, although it turns up elsewhere as a marsh or swamp (Virgil did this in or swamp (Virgil did this in The AeneidThe Aeneid))

• As usual, Dante’s descriptions are more As usual, Dante’s descriptions are more physically realistic than his predecessors’physically realistic than his predecessors’

• Dante turns it into a swamp here in order to Dante turns it into a swamp here in order to heighten the sense that we’re encountering heighten the sense that we’re encountering corrupted morality; here, the swamp corrupted morality; here, the swamp isis the Fifth the Fifth CircleCircle

• Like Acheron, Styx doubles as a border; it Like Acheron, Styx doubles as a border; it separates Upper Hell from Dis, the Walled City of separates Upper Hell from Dis, the Walled City of Lower HellLower Hell

In ConclusionIn Conclusion

• Even though we cover a lot of ground Even though we cover a lot of ground here – two circles’ worth! – Canto VII here – two circles’ worth! – Canto VII is fairly minor, and the Fifth Circle is fairly minor, and the Fifth Circle barely registersbarely registers

• It’s worth remembering for its It’s worth remembering for its treatment of the final Sin of the She-treatment of the final Sin of the She-Wolf (the Heretics of the Sixth Circle Wolf (the Heretics of the Sixth Circle fit, but only partially)fit, but only partially)

Canto VIII: Data FileCanto VIII: Data File

• Settings: The Fifth Circle, Styx, and Settings: The Fifth Circle, Styx, and DisDis

• Figures: Phlegyas, Filippo Argenti, Figures: Phlegyas, Filippo Argenti, Rebellious AngelsRebellious Angels

• Allusions: The Harrowing of HellAllusions: The Harrowing of Hell• Punishable Sins: Wrath and Punishable Sins: Wrath and

Sullenness (Fifth Circle); unofficially, Sullenness (Fifth Circle); unofficially, the denial of God’s will also countsthe denial of God’s will also counts

Canto VIII: Data FileCanto VIII: Data File• Summary: As the poets watch great flames shoot Summary: As the poets watch great flames shoot

up from towers on the other side of Styx, up from towers on the other side of Styx, Phlegyas races across the marsh in order to Phlegyas races across the marsh in order to shuttle them over to Dis. He’s angry to see a shuttle them over to Dis. He’s angry to see a mortal in Hell (yet mortal in Hell (yet another another Threshold Guardian!), Threshold Guardian!), but Virgil deals with him in the usual fashion. One but Virgil deals with him in the usual fashion. One member of the Wrathful, Filippo Argenti, member of the Wrathful, Filippo Argenti, approaches the poets, but he’s set upon and torn approaches the poets, but he’s set upon and torn apart by his fellow sinners (to Dante’s delight). apart by his fellow sinners (to Dante’s delight). When the poets reach the gate of Dis, they’re When the poets reach the gate of Dis, they’re denied entrance by the Rebellious Angels, and denied entrance by the Rebellious Angels, and even Virgil can’t force his way past them; the even Virgil can’t force his way past them; the Canto ends with the poets nervously awaiting Canto ends with the poets nervously awaiting divine intervention from a Messenger.divine intervention from a Messenger.

PhlegyasPhlegyas• Just like the other figures we’ve encountered – Just like the other figures we’ve encountered –

Minos as the last vanguard of Reason, Cerberus Minos as the last vanguard of Reason, Cerberus as Gluttony personified, and Plutus as the as Gluttony personified, and Plutus as the representation of Financial Avarice – Phlegyas is representation of Financial Avarice – Phlegyas is associated with his realm’s sin (in this case, associated with his realm’s sin (in this case, uncontrollable wrath)uncontrollable wrath)

• That said, he’s angry for a reason; not only is he That said, he’s angry for a reason; not only is he the son of the old war god (Ares), but another the son of the old war god (Ares), but another god, Apollo, raped his daughtergod, Apollo, raped his daughter– The furious father burned Apollo’s temple to the ground, The furious father burned Apollo’s temple to the ground,

and was promptly slain by himand was promptly slain by him– He was then cast down to Hell for showing contempt for He was then cast down to Hell for showing contempt for

the gods; this is where Virgil shows him in the gods; this is where Virgil shows him in The AeneidThe Aeneid

Filippo ArgentiFilippo Argenti• It’s not clear why Dante hates Filippo Argenti so deeply, and It’s not clear why Dante hates Filippo Argenti so deeply, and

it’s a little unsettling to see the poet react so happily to the it’s a little unsettling to see the poet react so happily to the sight of a soul being torn to shredssight of a soul being torn to shreds– Virgil often has to rebuke Dante for showing compassion for Virgil often has to rebuke Dante for showing compassion for

the sinners he encounters (after all, he’s supposed to be the sinners he encounters (after all, he’s supposed to be recognizing and recognizing and rejectingrejecting sin), so the elder man approves of sin), so the elder man approves of Dante’s hateDante’s hate

• We know little about him, save that he belonged to the Neri We know little about him, save that he belonged to the Neri faction (which would have placed him at odds with Dante)faction (which would have placed him at odds with Dante)

• Some critics suggest that Argenti had wronged Dante in the Some critics suggest that Argenti had wronged Dante in the past somehow, proposing that Argenti’s brother took past somehow, proposing that Argenti’s brother took possession of Dante’s property after his exile, or that possession of Dante’s property after his exile, or that Filippo himself had slapped Dante during an argumentFilippo himself had slapped Dante during an argument– Boccaccio just shows him beating someone in order to Boccaccio just shows him beating someone in order to

highlight his violent temperhighlight his violent temper

The Rebellious AngelsThe Rebellious Angels• The Rebellious Angels plummeted into Hell after The Rebellious Angels plummeted into Hell after

choosing the wrong side in the great battle choosing the wrong side in the great battle between God and Satan (this separates them between God and Satan (this separates them from the Angels who chose no sides, who ended from the Angels who chose no sides, who ended up in the Vestibule)up in the Vestibule)

• All traces of their former beauty have been All traces of their former beauty have been erased; now they’re simply hideous, transformed erased; now they’re simply hideous, transformed by their wrath and hatred into monstersby their wrath and hatred into monsters

• They lie in wait outside of Dis (the walled city of They lie in wait outside of Dis (the walled city of Lower Hell), trying to stop the poets from Lower Hell), trying to stop the poets from entering; it’s reminiscent of their failed resistance entering; it’s reminiscent of their failed resistance to Christ during the Harrowing of Hellto Christ during the Harrowing of Hell

The ResistanceThe Resistance

• In theory, the Rebellious Angels don’t have In theory, the Rebellious Angels don’t have the right to deny Dante and Virgil entrance the right to deny Dante and Virgil entrance to Dis; God’s will still reigns supreme hereto Dis; God’s will still reigns supreme here

• However, these beings ended up where However, these beings ended up where they are because they habitually resist they are because they habitually resist God; it’s not like they haven’t done this God; it’s not like they haven’t done this beforebefore

• What’s surprising is how troubled Virgil What’s surprising is how troubled Virgil seems; the end of the Canto leaves seems; the end of the Canto leaves readers worried and tensereaders worried and tense

In ConclusionIn Conclusion

• Circles Four and Five close out our Circles Four and Five close out our experiences with the Sins of the She-Wolf, experiences with the Sins of the She-Wolf, although we can (and will) lump the although we can (and will) lump the Heretics in with themHeretics in with them

• As we approach Dis, Dante’s travels As we approach Dis, Dante’s travels through Hell slow markedly; there’s more through Hell slow markedly; there’s more time for conversation and encounterstime for conversation and encounters

• None of these sins are “light” – but we’re None of these sins are “light” – but we’re about to get about to get seriousserious