Circle 6 (The Heretics)

Circle 6

Canto 10

The Heretics

(Just to let you know: a Heretic is a person who hold unorthodox opinions in any field.)

"These are the arch-heretics of all cults, with all their followers," he replied,"Far more than you would think lie stuffed into these vaults. Like lies with like in every heresy, and the monuments are fired, some more, some less; to each depravity its own degree."

The way Dante described the Heretics punishments got me thinking about the type of people that fall under that class. When I thought about I realized that a lot of people are in that category. That Includes rebels without a cause, people who have different interpretation of a religion, like Christianity and Judaism , who disagree just to disagree. That kind of sucks though because I know a lot of people like that. What I like about this quote is that it is finally clearer to me now that the severity of the punishments in Dante vary by the sin. I think thats pretty justifiable. Also, I love the fact that the leaders burn with their followers. I think its only fair that they do. They had them united in sin so now they must be united in punishment this time I think the punishment fits the crime.

Circle 6

Canto 11

The Heretics

"And if," it cried, "you travel through this dungeon of the blind by the power of genius, where is my son? why is he not with you?"

I'm not trying to give away plot or anything, but just to explain where this quote came from, Dante encounters another soul which asks to know why his son isn't with him. This line made me laugh and at the same time made me feel bad for the poor soul. Whenever I read this quote I just want to blurt out, "I guess he's not as smart as Dante now is he!" This is just another example of arrogant Dante is. He thinks he's such a genius that he can travel through hell? I think that was another way of Dante saying "Look at me I'm a poet and I'm sooo super smart Naa Naa Naa Boo Boo!" Poor guy, he thought his son was on Dante's level? Not. But seriously Dante is really conceited.

Circle 6

Canto 12

The Heretics

"And he: "Why does your understanding stray so far from its own habit? or can it be your thoughts are turned some other way?"

This quote came from Virgil after Dante started questioning the severity of the punishments. This is one of the first times that Virgil gets sort of an attitude toward Dante. This confused me at first because I thought that Dante was allowed to ask questions about the punishments but I read what Dante said over again and I realized that Dante was questioning Gods decisions and for that Virgil was scolding him. I sort of like how Virgil keeps Dante in check it pushes the whole Father/Son and Teacher/Student theory that I have about them. However i am really starting to wonder if Virgil is just as dependent of Dante as Dante is dependent of him. Every now and then you see these weak points in Virgil wear he gets scared and Dante notices and I always wonder if Virgil would be able to stand strong if it wasn't for Dante. Virgil's character is the true mystery.