Canto 3
Hell Gate
Summary: As Dante and Virgil approach the outer gate of Hell, he reads a sign above the gate that makes it out to be a person. It is saying “I am the way into Hell” pretty much. It is written in dark color to represent the negative connotation of the statement above the gate. As the pair carry on, they come across the sinners of the level. Dante asks Virgil what they have done to deserve their fate. He explains and they move on. (See; Sin and Punishment sections)
Sin:
The people Dante comes across moaning and goraning are suffering due to their lack of infamy and praise in their lifetime. They have “lost the good of the intellect” (Dante, 17). These people were not faithful to God but, instead were selfish and only worried about themselves.
Punishment: The individuals guilty of this particular sin have no hope of death and the world has completely disregarded them. They do not exist to the world and they are known as cowards. These sinners are naked because they have never lived and are irritated by flies and wasps. The stings from the insects ooze blood that mixes with their tears as they walk on worms.
Characters:
- Charon the Demon: he has eyes that glow like coals, he gathers in all the people condemned to that level of Hell.
Discussion Questions:
1.) Why is the punishment that the sinners recieve in this level appropriate for their sins?
2.) What is significant about the quote over the gate?
Reading Check Questions
1.) What is the sin that these individuals are guilty of?
a. laziness
b. not believing in God
c.selfishness
d. B and C
2.) What is their punishment?
a. to walk on worms for eternity
b. to be stung by wasps
c. to be deemed a coward
d. all of the above
3.) What symbol was used to represent the connotation of the
sign over the gate into Hell?
a. fear
b. worms
c. darkness
d. color
4.) What does “the good of the intellect” mean?
a. to be intellegent
b. to be a good person
c. to teach people
d. the vision of God
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