The Inferno by Dante Alighieri is an poetic account of a journey through Hell, in which the punishments inflicted upon sinners are often said to "fit the crime.". This concept is central to the structure and meaning of the text, as Dante uses it to illustrate his belief in the justice of God and the importance of moral accountability. One example of the punishment fitting the crime can be found in the 3rd circle which is the circle of gluttons. Dante Alighieri says: “In the third circle am I of the Rain Eternal, maledict, and cold, and heavy; Its law and quality are never new. Huge hail, and water sombre-hued, and snow,Athwart the tenebrous air pour down amain; Noisome the earth is, that receiveth this. Cerberus, monster cruel and uncouth.” (canto VI). To me this punishment fits the sin because in life these people enjoyed their excessive amounts of food and drink and now that they are dead, …show more content…
The 8th circle is where the people who sowed discord are cut apart by demons. Dante describes his surroundings by saying: “where without his arms the old arlardo conquered, and one his limb transpierced, and one lopped off, should show, it would be nothing to compare with the disgusting mode of the ninth bolgia. A cask by losing centre-piece or cant was never shattered so, as I saw one rent from chin to where one breakrth wind. Between his legs were hanging down his entrails; his heart was visible, and the dismal sack that maketh excrement of what is eaten.”. (Canto XXVIII) This is a fitting punishment because Virgil explains that these souls “sowed scandal, discord, and schism when alive,” in death their physical bodies are literally torn apart the way they tore apart the figurative body of human relationships and communities. I think this is fitting because now that you have broken a bond or planned harm to another person you get to figuratively feel how that person felt when you tore them