Inferno 21-27

In Canto 24, Verse 91 it says, “Amid this harsh and savage plenty were running naked, terrified people, without hope of a crevice or a heliotrope: their hands were bound behind them with snakes; these thrust through the loins their tails and heads and were knotted in front. And behold, a serpent hurled itself at one near our bank and transfixed him where the neck is knotted to the shoulders. Neither O nor I has ever been written so fast as he caught fire and burned and was all consumed, falling to ashes; and when he was on the ground, destroyed, the dust gathered together by itself and instantly became the same one again. Thus the great sages profess that the Phoenix dies and is reborn, when it approaches its five hundredth year.” I found it surprising that these shades were thieves, and they were reborn after being burned and falling to ashes. This seems as a big punishment because they are always reborn, and it hurts to do that, they will keep being reborn, for the sins they had performed. These people were terrified, and didn’t want to be burned, or become the same person again. The theme here is being reborn, but as a huge punishment. I would have thought that this punishment should be for a shade that performed a worse act than stealing. Maybe murder? But I think that the author wanted these shades to really learn their lesson. There’s not much that these shades can do, they are stuck here. Once they are burned to death, they will suffer the consequences and fall in one piece again. I found it interesting that these shades resembled a Phoenix, which is another animal reference. The animals keep having a major impact in the continuation of the story.

4)Ulysses was with another shade Diomedes, who both suffered for the same punishment. Dante really wanted to talk to Ulysses, he said “If they can speak within those flames, master, much do I beg you, and beg again that each prayer be worth a thousand, that you not refuse to wait until the horned flame comes here: see that I bend toward it with desire.” Dante wanted to hear Ulysses story, I think that he didn’t know why Ulysses ended up where is he. Dante wanted to try and figure out what brought Ulysses there. I think Dante was confused in why Ulysses was there. Ulysses told Dante what happened to him. Ulysses tried to save his men on the ship, but failed. “My Companions I made so sharp for the voyage, with this little oration, that after it I could hardly have held them back.” Dante probably felt pity for Ulysses here because they died suddenly from the whirlwind, and Ulysses couldn’t save his other men. I think that Dante wanted to reward his heroism. They were very happy that they saw a mountain, and then they died suddenly. I think that Dante felt pity for this man, but it didn’t really show it.