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What Role Does Plutus Play In Dante's Inferno

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In the fourth circle of Hell, the poet and his guide Virgil come across Plutus, the god of wealth and the overseer of the punishment of hoarders and spendthrifts. Plutus is portrayed as a grotesque character whose vocalisation is characterised as a ‘clucking voice' that is produced by chickens.

‘Pape Satan, Pape Satan, Aleppe!
Then Plutus with his clucking voice began;
And that benignant Sage, who all things knew,'

(7:1-3)

Upon encountering Dante and Virgil, Plutus initially utters incomprehensible words, but eventually articulates clearly: "Pape Satan, Pape Satan, Aleppe!" The aforementioned expression is a modified rendition of the Latin phrase 'Papa Sanctus,' which translates to 'Holy Father.' The inclusion of the term 'Satan' and the nonsensical syllable 'Aleppe' implies that Plutus is deriding the legitimacy of God and the Pope, who have historically been regarded as the earthly envoys of divine authority. …show more content…

The protagonist Dante encounters a communication between Plutus and another character in an unfamiliar language. However, Dante later identifies the language as a variant of the Italian dialect. Virgil's proficiency in communicating with Plutus highlights his sagacity, intellect, and familiarity with the diverse languages and cultures of Hell. Dante describes Virgil as a "benignant Sage" possessing omniscience, emphasising his function as a mentor and guide to the less experienced poet. Virgil's composed and self-assured comportment when confronted with Plutus's animosity serves as a model for Dante, who is still acquiring the skills to traverse the intricate ethical and metaphysical terrain of

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