The Inferno: Canto 3
Created .For Lent, I'm reading The Inferno, part one of The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. As I make my way through this classic work, I'll journal my experience. I'm using Anthony Esolen's translation, and will supplement my reading by listening to Ascend: The Great Books Podcast.
The plan is to read one Canto each day, once through on my own, then once with the notes in the back of the book, and journal my thoughts here.
2/20/2026: Canto 3
Synopsis:
Dante passes through the gate of hell, and encounters the souls of the small-souled. These damned souls lived lukewarm lives; realy, the never lived at all. They will not be admitted to Heaven or to Hell, for to admit them to Hell would be to give glory to the other souls there, for at least those souls did something, at least that's how I read it. They are tormented by stinging flies and wasps, and their blood mingles with tears drops to the ground as food for maggots.
Then they get to the river, and meet Charon, who tells Dante he can't come, but Virgil tells him to be quiet, and that Dante is to be allowed admittance. Dante gets in the boat full of damned souls, then there's an earthquake, and he passes out from fear.
Thoughts:
I'm probably going to see myself in all these sections of Hell, though I hope not. This anteroom to Hell, full of the small-souled, resonated with me. It's not ambition or position (there's a Pope mentioned as being here). Pope Benedict XVI's remark, "The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness", came to mind as well here. Greatness is loving greatly, daring to live your life.