Dante's Inferno (Day 2)

A quote that seemed to stand out was, “A little after that I saw such havoc/ Made of him by the people of the mire, That still I praise and thank my God for it. They were all shouting, “At Philippo Argenti!” And that exasperate spirit Florentine…We left him there, and more of him I tell not” (VIII, 58-64). During this scene is the first time we do not see any pity coming from Dante, which was a reoccurring characteristic that came from him. The little that is known of Argenti is that Dante has hatred towards him because of some disagreement they had while on the streets in Florence. They were also from two different families and parties, which may explain their bitterness towards each other, as well. But still this is the first time Dante willingly watches someone tortured without any pity towards them.

A second quote that was significant was in Canto XI, verses 80-84, “Hast thou no recollection of those words/ With which thine Ethics thoroughly discusses/ The dispositions three, that Heaven abides not, - Incontinence, and Malice, and insane Bestiality? And how Incontinence Less God offendeth, and less blame attracts.” This importance of this quotation here is that it talks about the necessity and reason for the divisions of hell. Incontinence is what offends God the least, so the punishment is least severe. Dante was confused why some sinners were receiving harsher punishments, but the quote here explains why people are in the division of hell that they are. The theme that appears here is that how we act on earth affects where we go in the afterlife. We will have to endure the same treatment that we gave to our neighbors on earth.