The Inferno:The Inferno:Howl Like Dogs Howl Like Dogs

In the Freezing Storm: In the Freezing Storm: Circle Three (The Gluttons)Circle Three (The Gluttons)

FeracoFeraco

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

14 November 201214 November 2012

Canto VI: Data FileCanto VI: Data File• Setting: The Third Circle Setting: The Third Circle • Figures: Cerberus, Ciacco, PlutusFigures: Cerberus, Ciacco, Plutus• Allusions: Florentine Politics, JudgmentAllusions: Florentine Politics, Judgment• Punishable Sin: GluttonyPunishable Sin: Gluttony• Summary: Dante awakens and finds Summary: Dante awakens and finds

himself in the Third Circle. The poets himself in the Third Circle. The poets discover Cerberus slashing at the discover Cerberus slashing at the gluttons, but elude him by feeding him gluttons, but elude him by feeding him some of the foul waste the souls beneath some of the foul waste the souls beneath them writhe in. When Dante passes, one them writhe in. When Dante passes, one soul, Ciacco, rises and speaks with him, soul, Ciacco, rises and speaks with him, sharing a prophecy regarding Florence – sharing a prophecy regarding Florence – one we already know comes true. The one we already know comes true. The poets move on.poets move on.

The PunishmentThe Punishment

The Third Circle is reminiscent of a giant The Third Circle is reminiscent of a giant trash heap, or the runny inside of a foul trash heap, or the runny inside of a foul dumpster.dumpster.

The sinners lie in waste, both human and The sinners lie in waste, both human and otherwise, freezing at all times (their obsession otherwise, freezing at all times (their obsession with material left their souls cold), while they are with material left their souls cold), while they are consumed by a ravening beast (Cerberus, the consumed by a ravening beast (Cerberus, the personification of their unchecked desires).personification of their unchecked desires).

It’s curious: Dante seems to consider It’s curious: Dante seems to consider gluttony a worse sin than lust.gluttony a worse sin than lust.

They’re both Deadly Sins, and both are They’re both Deadly Sins, and both are considered “Sins of the She-Wolf” (i.e., sins of considered “Sins of the She-Wolf” (i.e., sins of immoderation).immoderation).

Not everyone shared Dante’s view; others Not everyone shared Dante’s view; others believed lust was the greater evil.believed lust was the greater evil.

GluttonyGluttony But for Dante, the relationship between lust But for Dante, the relationship between lust

and gluttony stretched back to Biblical times: Eve and gluttony stretched back to Biblical times: Eve eats (consumes) the fruit she isn’t supposed to eat, eats (consumes) the fruit she isn’t supposed to eat, and and thenthen tempts Adam, who consumes it in turn. tempts Adam, who consumes it in turn.

Temptation and consumption link both sins; Temptation and consumption link both sins; in both cases, we’re supposed to resist instinct.in both cases, we’re supposed to resist instinct.

Gluttony, however, only requires the Gluttony, however, only requires the weakness of one (as opposed to shared desire – weakness of one (as opposed to shared desire – and connection is almost always beneficial).and connection is almost always beneficial).

Just as Dante added complexity to lust during Just as Dante added complexity to lust during his study, he seems to add complexity to it here.his study, he seems to add complexity to it here.

Another thing to consider: The gluttony we Another thing to consider: The gluttony we encounter is not confined to matters of food or encounter is not confined to matters of food or money.money.

The factions and figures battling endlessly The factions and figures battling endlessly over power in Florence are gluttons in their own over power in Florence are gluttons in their own right.right.

CerberusCerberus In most portrayals, Cerberus is a three-headed In most portrayals, Cerberus is a three-headed

dog; in some (Dante’s included), at least one of his dog; in some (Dante’s included), at least one of his heads retains some human qualities.heads retains some human qualities.

He popped up in He popped up in The AeneidThe Aeneid as well; Aeneas’s as well; Aeneas’s retainer (the Sybil) feeds him something that causes retainer (the Sybil) feeds him something that causes him to fall asleep.him to fall asleep.

Here, Virgil throws something foul down his Here, Virgil throws something foul down his throat, and he moves away choking…a very different throat, and he moves away choking…a very different tone, and one in keeping with McAllister’s point that tone, and one in keeping with McAllister’s point that Dante’s deliberately disgusting throughout Dante’s deliberately disgusting throughout The The Inferno.Inferno.

Cerberus is an appropriate figure here because Cerberus is an appropriate figure here because he represents unhinged consumption; just as the he represents unhinged consumption; just as the Gluttons consumed everything they could reach, so Gluttons consumed everything they could reach, so they are consumed by Cerberus as soon as he can they are consumed by Cerberus as soon as he can reach them.reach them.

Dante’s physical descriptions – greasy beard, Dante’s physical descriptions – greasy beard, clawed hands, swollen gut – are meant to conjure up clawed hands, swollen gut – are meant to conjure up an image of gluttony itself; it’s easy to forget that an image of gluttony itself; it’s easy to forget that Cerberus is canine and not simply monstrous.Cerberus is canine and not simply monstrous.

CiaccoCiacco He’s an interesting figure, yet one about whom we He’s an interesting figure, yet one about whom we

know little: Boccaccio’s portrayal of him captures a man know little: Boccaccio’s portrayal of him captures a man who was both pleasant and ravenous, someone who could who was both pleasant and ravenous, someone who could fit in well with polite company yet was utterly unable to fit in well with polite company yet was utterly unable to control his appetites.control his appetites.

Something subtle that’s worth noting is that Dante Something subtle that’s worth noting is that Dante should have known him, should have recognized him, but should have known him, should have recognized him, but doesn’t.doesn’t.

Florence was extremely powerful, but very small; as Florence was extremely powerful, but very small; as a figure of stature, Dante knew everyone.a figure of stature, Dante knew everyone.

Yet Ciacco’s gluttony was so great that it destroyed Yet Ciacco’s gluttony was so great that it destroyed his very substance, rendering him unrecognizable to Dante his very substance, rendering him unrecognizable to Dante – another instance of poetic justice, in a way.– another instance of poetic justice, in a way.

That fear – the fear of being forgotten, even if it That fear – the fear of being forgotten, even if it meant being notorious – is palpable, and one wonders to meant being notorious – is palpable, and one wonders to what degree Dante shared it; it’s the same attitude that what degree Dante shared it; it’s the same attitude that informs the rage against death we felt so strongly while informs the rage against death we felt so strongly while reading reading Gilgamesh.Gilgamesh.

And it underscores just how terrible the sins of the And it underscores just how terrible the sins of the souls in the lower circles are: those individuals souls in the lower circles are: those individuals wantwant to be to be forgotten.forgotten.

The Last JudgmentThe Last Judgment

At the end of Canto VI, Virgil At the end of Canto VI, Virgil alludes to the Last Judgment (i.e., alludes to the Last Judgment (i.e., the Apocalypse). the Apocalypse).

According to medieval Christian According to medieval Christian thought, time ends when God thought, time ends when God descends (as Christ) and judges all descends (as Christ) and judges all souls, at which point he’ll separate souls, at which point he’ll separate the virtuous from those who cannot the virtuous from those who cannot be saved.be saved.

The former go to Heaven, and The former go to Heaven, and the latter to Hell.the latter to Hell.

The Last Judgment (cont’d)The Last Judgment (cont’d)

Raffa: “Souls would be judged Raffa: “Souls would be judged immediately after death and would then immediately after death and would then proceed either to hell (if damned) or purgatory proceed either to hell (if damned) or purgatory (if saved); this judgment would be confirmed at (if saved); this judgment would be confirmed at the end of time, and all souls would then spend the end of time, and all souls would then spend eternity either in hell or in heaven (as eternity either in hell or in heaven (as purgatory would cease to exist). purgatory would cease to exist).

““The The Divine ComedyDivine Comedy presents the state of presents the state of souls sometime between these two judgments. souls sometime between these two judgments. The souls of the dead will be reunited with their The souls of the dead will be reunited with their bodies at the end of time. The suffering of the bodies at the end of time. The suffering of the damned (and joy of the blessed) will then damned (and joy of the blessed) will then increase because the individual is complete and increase because the individual is complete and therefore more perfect [or flawed].”therefore more perfect [or flawed].”

In ConclusionIn Conclusion

The Third Circle is fairly minor; The Third Circle is fairly minor; it’s noteworthy mainly for its it’s noteworthy mainly for its introduction of politics (which will introduction of politics (which will have a more important role as we have a more important role as we proceed), for its graphic depiction of proceed), for its graphic depiction of depravity’s ultimate price, and for depravity’s ultimate price, and for the interesting questions it raises the interesting questions it raises about reputation, identity, and the about reputation, identity, and the legacies we leave (or never leave) legacies we leave (or never leave) behind.behind.