Dante’s Inferno Canto 5 and Canto 24 (79 to end) PDF

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Summary/reactive essay of Dante’s Inferno Canto 5 and Canto 24 (79 to end)...

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Andrew Lisa Professor Beneteau Dante’s Inferno Canto 5 and Canto 24 (79 to end) Within these sections of Dante’s Inferno, Dante describes a sample of the symbolic retribution which takes place within the Circles of Hell. Canto 5 describes the punishment for the sin of lust, for which the offenders are caught up in a circling wind in which they are blown around. The symbolism seen in this example is a reversal of how lust overtakes a soul. In life, lust is like a wind which a person gets swept into and, once caught up in it, it is very difficult to escape from the lifestyle. Therefore, Dante uses a symbolic wind which has swept the lustful into a circling and unpredictable flow which they cannot easily escape. Similarly in Canto 24, Dante describes the symbolic punishments which thieves receive in their respective Circle of Hell. Dante describes the thieves as having hands which are bound by serpents. This is symbolic of how the hands of thieves are the tools by which they commit their sinful actions, and therefore they are bound to take away that ability. Also, the fact they are bound my snakes represents their sly nature, which is like that of a reptile. Dante then describes another element of the punishment in saying, “and there within I saw a deadly swarm of serpent so extravagant in form- remembering them still drains my blood from me” (Dante 24.82-84). To add to the punishment, flying lizard-like animals chase them down and attack them. In doing this, the thieves catch fire and turn to ash, and then painfully reform into a human again. This represents how they destroyed the trust which humans are supposed to have in each other, therefore they are completely destroyed literally and repeatedly....