The Inferno: Canto 6
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.
2/23/2026: Canto 6
Synopsis:
Dante and Virgil enter the third ring of Hell, where gluttonous souls are tormented by a constant cold rain. They encounter Cerberus, the overseer of this ring, as well as Ciacco, one of Dante's acquaintences from Florence. It ends with a reflection on the last judgement, when the torment will be even worse as the souls are reunited with their bodies.
Thoughts:
I'm noticing that some things in the poem elicit an emotional, almost visceral response in me that I have trouble articulating. For instance, when Virgil slams a double-fistful of mud down Cerberus's throat, it seemed fitting to this ring of Hell, in which Gluttony is punished. The same with the never ending rain and hail, and the muddy slop that the entire ring, including the souls becomes. Both seem very fitting for Gluttony, and Esolen goes into more detail in the notes saying the mud Cerberus is force-fed is to tear the illusory veil from the immoderate use of food and drink. But as I'm reading it, before I look at the commentary, I can't really identify why these things seem so fitting. I probably need to slow down and think more closely when I have these feelings, rather than so quickly turning to Esolen's notes.
I was listening to the Ascend podcast about Cantos 2 through 5, and they also have some very good insights. I like the podcast because they have different takes on things. It reminds me that one's reflection on literature has a certain personal nature to it.
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