The Journey 7.3

The Journey Circle7.3 Physical Journey 1) The Blasphemers a) The blasphemers lie supine in the flaming sand. The first blasphemer Dante encounters is Capaneus who still remains cursing the Christian God and praising the Roman Gods. Virgil curses him for this. b) Virgil shows Dante the boiling rill which allows them to continue their conquest through Circle 7-3 2) The Sodomites c) While walking along the rill, Dante sees his former mentor walking among the ranks of The Sodomites. d) Some sodomites call to Dante asking for news of Florence. 3) The Usurers e) Before Virgil and Dante get on the Geryon, the Usurers sit with purses around their throats. One of them curses Dante.

Moral Journey a) Dante is still pretty shocked. He doesn’t seem as much afraid as he was in the forest, but he is none the less shocked. He doesn’t have pity for the man at all and he seems somewhat annoyed with him. (pg. 129-130) b) Dante is confused about the rill for a while, but Virgil readily explains it to him. c) Dante still holds his mentor in great respect. He speaks with the man as an old friend would and actually doesn’t seem to want to part with him. (pg. 137139) d) Dante talks about how he admired the men as political people. He pities them in their state. Technically, you shouldn’t admire someone who’s burning in Hell, so Dante is still far from Moral Redemption. e) The Usurers really freak Dante out and he gets scared away when they yell at him. (pg. 152, paragraph 2)