New Characters:
1.
Griffolino: a sinner that was known from the previous canto,
guilty of alchemy.
2.
Gianni
Schicchi: a rabid
spirit, guilty of evil impersonation.
3.
Myrrha: a
rabid spirit, guilty of evil impersonation.
4.
Master Adam: a counterfeiter, who is suffering from terrible
dropsy. He lays down with an unbearable thirst, an extremely swollen stomach,
and constant visions of fresh stream and rivers.
5.
Sinnon of
Troy: the false witness who walked the Trojan horse
into Troy and signaled his fellow warriors.
6.
Potiphar’s
Wife: a false witness who accused Joseph of rape.
Summary:
The last canto ended
with Cappachio finishing up his story. This Canto begins with an extended
metaphor, used to emphasize the horrifying rage that two incoming spirit
possessed. Once the metaphor is over Cappachio is then hooked onto one of the
tusks of the rabid spirits. The spirit continues to run, dragging Cappachio
along the ground, ripping his stomach. Griffolino explains that these two
shades are Myrrha and Gianni Schicchi. Dante learns that these two are Evil
Impersonators and Griffolino continues to explain the story of their sin. Dante
then moves on to observe a sinner, who is lying on the ground. We find that he
is Master Adam, a counterfeiter. He is lying in agony with a swollen stomach,
suffering from dropsy. Dante asks the sinner who are the two lying next to him.
Master Adam introduces them as the Potiphar’s wife and Sinon the Greek. However,
Sinon becomes offended by Master Adam’s description and hits him on his swollen
stomach. Master Adam retaliates by hitting him back. The two sinner argue back and forth, reminding one
another of there sins.“The two falsifiers- one of words, the other of coins-
are now condemned to speak only truths, but they are bitter truths that only
intensify their pain” (Martinez, Durling 479).
Dante remains to watch
the banter, but is then scolded by Virgil for wasting time. Dante feels
extremely embarrassed and ashamed, but is immediately forgiven by Virgil.
Sin and Sinners:
Ø The
Evil Impersonators:
Ø Gianni
Schicchi: Disguised himself as his uncle, so that he could change his will in
Schicchi’s favor. “the other who goes off there, to gain the queen of the herd
dared to counterfeit in himself Buoso Donati, making a will and giving it legal
form” (Dante 467).
Ø Myrrha:
Disguised herself as another women so that she could seduce her own father.
“Myrrha, who became, beyond right love, her father’s lover” (Dante 467).
Ø The
Counterfeiters:
Ø Master
Adam: a counterfeiter of gold coins. “they induced me to mint the florins that
had three carats of dross” (Dante 469).
Ø The
False Witnesses:
Ø Potiphar’s
Wife: a woman who attempted seduced Joseph, from the book of Genesis, but when
she failed accused him of rape. “One is the false woman who accused Joseph”
(Dante 469).
Ø Sinon
of Troy: an expert liar, who walked with the Trojan Horse and lit the signal
lamp for the warriors. “Remember, perjurer, the Horse…and let it be bitter to
you that the whole world knows it” (Dante 471).
Punishment and Contrapasso:
v
The Punishment: To suffer a specific disease personalized to your sin.
I.e. Dropsy or “putrid fever”, or even madness.
v
“In
life they seized upon the appearance of others, and in death they must run with
never a pause, seizing upon the infernal apparition of these souls” (Ciardi
243).
v
“The
heavy dropsy that so unpairs the members, with that it ill converts, that the
face does not answer to the belly” (Dante 467).
v
“if
I am thirsty and liquid swells me, you have burning fever and a head that
aches” (Dante 471).
v
The Contrapasso: the side effects that the sinners face from their
diseases are parallel to the creation processes of their falsities.
v
For
example: Master Adam’s process of making fake gold coins is parallel to the
effects of dropsy on the liver.
Important Quotes:
•“But
neither Theban furies nor Trojan ever made anyone so cruel, not to woul
beasts, let alone human limbs, as two pallid, naked shades I saw, who ran
biting in the manner of the pic when the sty is opened” (Dante 465).
•“I
saw one made in the shape of a lute, if he had his groin cut from the other
forked part” (Dante 467).
•“saying
to him: ‘Although I am deprived of movement by my heavy limbs, I have and arm
loose for such business’” (Dante 469).
•“I
was all intent to listen to them, when my master said to me: “Now keep looking,
for I am not far from quarreling with you!” (Dante 471).
Discussion Questions:
1.Virgil is becoming quit upset with Dante,
as the story continues to unfold. Why do you think Virgil’s patience is wearing
thin?
2.In this canto, Dante witnesses an
argument between two sinners. The sinner seem to offend the other by exposing
their sins. Do you think the shame that these two sinners impose on each other
relates to the other sinners who are becoming to ashamed to be remembered? Can
you think of any other sinners that would justify your answer?
3.Give your opinion on the Contrapasso of this level. Please include
examples of the sinners and their punishment to support your opinion.
Sources:
· Alighieri, Dante. The Divine Comedy of Dante
Alighieri: Inferno. Vol. 1. Trans. Robert M. Durling. Ed. Robert M. Durling.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. N. pag. Print.
·
Alighieri, Dante. The
Inferno. Trans. John Ciardi. New York: Signet Classics, 2009. N. pag.
Print.
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