CANTO 7CANTO 7By Brooks McGeeverBy Brooks McGeever

In Canto seven, Virgil and Dante travel to the Fourth Circle In Canto seven, Virgil and Dante travel to the Fourth Circle in Hell and find the demon Plutus.in Hell and find the demon Plutus.

The pair pass the demon by Virgil’s works.The pair pass the demon by Virgil’s works. Dante finds that a ring is formed with two groups of souls Dante finds that a ring is formed with two groups of souls

pushing weights at each other making there efforts pushing weights at each other making there efforts pointless.pointless.

These souls are of those who hoarded and squandered their These souls are of those who hoarded and squandered their money.money.

Most of the souls here are unrecognizable to Dante.Most of the souls here are unrecognizable to Dante. They then head to the Fifth Circle of Hell to through the They then head to the Fifth Circle of Hell to through the

muddy river Styx were they find the presence of the muddy river Styx were they find the presence of the wrathful, the people who lived angry lives.wrathful, the people who lived angry lives.

This is a picture of Dante and Virgil This is a picture of Dante and Virgil passing the Demon Plutus, heading passing the Demon Plutus, heading into the Fourth Circle of Hell.into the Fourth Circle of Hell.

All of the souls in the Fourth Cirle of All of the souls in the Fourth Cirle of Hell are of those who hoarded and Hell are of those who hoarded and squandered their money during their squandered their money during their lives.lives.

Most of the souls here are those of Most of the souls here are those of Popes and clergymen Cardinals.Popes and clergymen Cardinals.

Virgil tells Dante that they all share Virgil tells Dante that they all share one same characteristic: they were one same characteristic: they were not prudent with the goods of not prudent with the goods of Fortune. Fortune.

Virgil explains that “Fortune” is Virgil explains that “Fortune” is transfer worldly goods between transfer worldly goods between people and nations through the people and nations through the instruction of god.instruction of god.

Men who curse her when there Men who curse her when there possessions are lost end up here.possessions are lost end up here.

Soon they travel down to the Fifth Circle of Hell, which borders the muddy river Styx.

Covered in mud on the banks are the souls of the wrathful who lived angry lives.

However Virgil informs Dante that many souls lie under the mud that he can not see.

The souls under the mud are those of the sullen, those who muttered and sulked under the light of the sun. Now these souls gargle and choke under the mud.