Mackenna Crosby Canto III- Canto IV

Canto III

Circle: Vestibule of Hell

Sin: Opportunists- Took no sides in the Rebellion of the Angels

Punishment: Forced to chase after a banner that runs forever
-Stung by wasps/hornets who make them bleed
-Worms and maggots below them feast on their blood

Sinner: Pope Celestine V

Retribution: In life, the Opportunists were not committed to either good or evil, they shifted back and forward for their own personal gain, instead of being loyal to one side. In Hell, these sinners are now punished by being forced to continuously move with no definite direction.

In this canto, Dante and Virgil enter the Vestibule of Hell, where they find the opportunists. The vestibule is neither in Hell, nor out of it. They are given no place, because they took no sides. Here the poets come across Pope Celestine V, who was tricked into leaving his position as Pope, so that Boniface VIII could replace him. Dante does not pity him, and does not stop to speak to him. When reaching the river called Acheron, the ferry man, Charon, notices that Dante is alive and refuses to allow him to cross. Virgil forces Charon to take them on his ferry, and once they are aboard, Dante swoons for the first time in his journey.

Question: Who is Dante referring to in this quote?
"And some I knew among them; last of all/ I recognized the shadow of that soul/ who, in his cowardice, made the Great Denial." (line 55-57)

Canto IV

Circle: Circle one-Limbo

Sin: The Virtuous Pagans- Those who were born before Christianity, or those who were never baptized.

Punishment: They have no hope.

Sinner: Homer, Horace, Ovid, Lucan

Dante awakes after swooning and is now in Limbo, the first circle of Hell. This is the circle in which Virgil resides and he explains to Dante that he pities these souls because they are punished for never learning Christianity. Dante sees souls in the distance coming towards them, and Virgil identifies them as Homer, Horace, Ovid and Lucan. These souls greet Virgil and Dante courteously, addressing Virgil as the "Prince of Poets". The souls lead Dante to the Citadel of Human Reason, where recognizes many Virtuous Pagans, all of whom he considers to be noble. The poets continue their voyage, and make their way to the edge of Circle two.

Question: Refer to the quote below and explain why Dante's assumption of the reason for Virgil's pale face is incorrect.
"And I, sick with alarm at his new pallor,/ cried out, 'How can I go this way when you/ who are my strength in doubt turn pale with terror?'" (line 16-18)