Another thing I have noticed with this book is a size discrepancy. In the back of the book there is a drawing of the different circles in Hell, with each circle a little smaller than the one above. As I make my way through the rest of the book, the circles that Dante describe seem the be growing in size. Each new circle now has a division of sinners, with the eighth circle having ten pouches by Canto XXX. I have found it interesting that the deeper sins have this wide variation and subgroups. I am curious if this is mainly to tailor punishments to the specific sins. For example, in Canto XXVI the eighth circle, eighth pouch, Ulysses and Diomedes are receiving punishment. Virgil goes on the say, “Within that flame, Ulysses / and Diomedes suffer: they who went / as one to rage, now share one punishment.” …show more content…
In Canto XXIV, when Virgil and Dante are climbing the mountain, Virgil responds to Dante with the line, “The only answer that I give to you / is doing it…A just request / is to be met in silence, by the act.” (Canto XXIV, 76-78) Virgil’s response is simple, but direct that there is no discussion required only action. I found this line interesting and wanted to share