Grace Kasemeier

P. 2

Dialectical Journals
Level

Who

Sin

Level

Punishment

Symbolism

Virtuous
pagans:
specifically
great
philosophers
and poets
such as
Plato,
Socrates,
and
Democritus.
Also babies
that are
unbaptised.

They didnt
believe that
Jesus was
their savior
and this was
due to the
fact that they
existed
before he
did. They
also were
searching for
knowledge
and they
never found
the truth of
God and that
is their sin.
The babies
are there
because they
havent
accepted
Jesus as
they are
babies.

Limbo there
isnt really sin
because
Dante wants
to make his
soul (if it is
sent to hell)
he will be
fine.

They are
punished by
the
hopelessnes
s that they
can never
leave and
that they can
never
achieve the
knowledge
but they can
see it.

The
contrappasso
is that they
searched for
knowledge in
life so in
death they
cant have it
and are
forever stuck
without it.

Those who
betrayed
reason for
lust:
specifically
those who
cheated or
destroyed
something
because of
that such as
Helen,
Achilles,
Paolo and
Francesca.
Minos is the
guard

Their sin is
giving into
unholy lust.
Paolo and
Francesca
were
together in
life even
though they
were married
to different
people and
that is why
they are
punished.
Helen is
there

The carnal
level is the
she-wolf of
incontinence.

They are
forever swept
around in an
unrelenting
wind.

The
contrappasso
is that in life
they were
swept up by
their
emotions and
in death they
will never
stop and
never be able
to be
together such
as Paolo and
Francesca.

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

because he
is the judge
in Greek
mythology of
where each
soul gets to
go. He was
also born
from the rape
of Europa by
Zeus and
therefore is a
perfect judge
for this level.

because she
started a war
because of
her lust,
personally I
feel this is
super unfair
and stupid
but thats not
really the
point.
Achilles also
made the
Trojan War
escalate by
not fighting
because he
was making
a hissy fit
about a girl
who is
literally a
trophy wife.

Those who
eat
excessively
in life
specifically
Ciacco and
Cerberus
who is there
to eat the
sinners for
eternity.
Cerberus is
an apt
symbol of
gluttony as in
greek
mythology he
is a dog with
three heads
and therefore
a ravenous
appetite.

Their sin is
gluttony
which only
encompasse
s food and it
is defined as
such
because the
food is
actually
consumed.
Ciacco who
is from
Dantes
hometown of
Florence and
is a glutton
his nickname
is literally the
Hog. He is
also a
symbol of the
corruption of

The glutton
level is the
she-wolf of
incontinence
because it's
another form
of not
controlling
oneself.

Their
punishment
is to be
overly obese
and in the
freezing cold
of sludge and
garbage and
filth. They are
also eaten by
Cerberus.

The
contrappasso
is that in life
they wasted
away and did
nothing but
eat and
produce
garbage
therefore in
death they
are nothing
but garbage
and the food
of a ravenous
beast.

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

the wealthy
and how
because of
his excess
the poor
remain
starved.
4

The
Hoarders and
Wasters, we
dont see
anyone
specifically in
this level
because
there anger
has
transformed
them beyond
recognition.
Plutus is the
guard for this
level and in
greek
mythology
hes the god
of the
wealthy
making him
the perfect
guard for this
level which
contains
those who
were
obsessed
with wealth in
life.

Their sin is
being
excessively
greedy with
money and
possessions
and not using
them or
being
wasteful and
frivolous with
money or
possessions.

The
Hoarders and
Wasters is
the level of
incontinence
and the
she-wolf
because they
cant do
anything in
moderation.

The
Hoarders are
on one side
and the
Wasters are
on another
side and
each side
has weights.
There anger
drives them
needlessly
forward as
they clash
over and
over again.

The
contrappasso
is that in life
they were
consumed
with money
and
themselves
therefore in
death their
souls are
dragged
down by
weight and
anger has
completely
transformed
them.

The Wrathful
and the
Sullen, there
is no living
guardian.
Dante meets
Filippo

Their sin is
being overly
and fiercely
angry and
depressed
because both
of them

The level is
Incontinence
and is the
She- Wolf
because they
didnt have
control of

Their
punishment
is to be
forever stuck
in the marsh
of the River
Styx, all

The
contrapasso
is that
because they
wallowed in
life in death
they wallow

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

Argenti who
he treats
differently
than every
other soul
hes seen
and wishes
Argenti
further
torment.

squandered
their life and
didnt live it to
its full
potential.

their
emotions and
let their
emotions
control them.

naked, the
wrathful
attacking
each other
forever and
the sullen
stuck
beneath the
bog singing
about their
sin.

in their own
filth.

The City of
Dis: This
whole level is
for the
heretics.
Which
according to
Dante is
those who
doubted in
the existence
of any God
especially the
true God.
The people in
this level
include the
rebellious
angels in the
war between
Lucifer and
God,
Epicurus,
Emperor
Frederick II,
the Cardinal
of Ubaldini,
Farinata
Degli Uberti,
Anastasius,
and
Cavalcante
Dei
Cavalcanti.
Medusa and

Their sin is
not believing
in God even
when they
had access
to his
doctrine.
They
blatantly
disregarded
it. Everyone
mentioned in
this level
aside from
Medusa and
the furies is
there
because of
their violence
against God
by
disregarding
his existence.
Medusa and
the Furies
are there
because of
the violence
they
represent.
Also
according to
Greek
mythology
Medusa slept

This level is
the sin of the
lion, of
violence
because their
denying of
Gods
existence
was a violent
action
against him.

Their eternal
punishment
is to be
trapped in
flaming
tombs and
when
Judgement
day comes
they dont
have the
ability to be
saved and
are trapped
in the burning
tombs
forever.

The
symbolism of
their
punishment
is that in life
they were
violent
against God
so in death
his flame
eternally
burns them.
They are also
unable to see
each other
because in
life they were
unable to see
anything but
themselves
as they didnt
believe in
God.

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

the Furies
are
mentioned as
being in this
level.

with
Poseidon on
the altar of
Athena which
is definitely a
form of
heresy.

This level is
for the
Violent and
Bestial but
this is split
into three
sections: 1.
The violent
against
neighbors:
This section
is for the
murderers
such as
Alexander
the Great
and Attila.
The guards
are the
centaurs. 2.
the violent
against self:
This section
is for the
suicides and
self harmers
specifically
Pier Delle
Vigne,
Jacamo Da
Sant Andrea,
Lano Da
Siena, and
an unknown
Florentine
suicide. 3.
The violent
against God,
art, and

1 The people
in this level
murdered
their
neighbors of
broadened
term of
neighbors to
incorporate
neighboring
countries
such as Attila
and
Alexander
the Great.
The centaurs
guard this
level
because in
Greek
mythology
they
destroyed
every village
they went to
and reveled
in it. 2 The
people in this
level killed
themselves
or harmed
themselves.
3. The
people in this
section are
there for
either being
blasphemous
to God like

This level is
the sin of the
lion of
violence as
the people in
this level all
did actions
that were
violent.

1.The souls
in this level
are forever
steeped in
blood and
are stuck
deeper
depending on
how badly
they sinned.
The centaurs
are the
guards and if
anyone tries
to escape the
blood the
centaurs
shoot them.
2. The souls
in this level
no longer
have a
human form
and are
trees. They
can only
speak if
someone
breaks their
branches or
harms them
in some way.
There are
also those
who run and
are chased
by hounds
until the
hounds catch

1 The
symbolism of
their
punishment
is that in life
they spilled
the blood of
neighbors so
in death they
must forever
be stuck in
their own
blood. 2 The
contrapasso
here is that in
life they were
silent about
their pain and
they defiled
their bodys a
gift from god
so in death
they are
denied this
gift and
forced to be
in tree form
and only able
to talk when
in pain. 3 The
symbolism
for this
section
differs slightly
but overall
it's that in life
these souls
sinned and in
death their

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

Nature: This
section is
split into a
further three
sections and
are the
violent
against God,
such as the
blasphemers
specifically
people who
believed in
the true
God and
targeted him
or did actions
specifically to
disregard him
or hurt the
faith.Capane
us is in this
section. The
second
section of the
last section
of layer
seven is for
the
Sodomites
which usually
relates to
bestiality but
Dante make
it targeted
especially
towards gay
people and
those who
had sex for
pleasure.
People here
include Sur
Brunetto
Latino,
Jacopo
Rusticucci,

Capaneus or
for having
sex not for
reproductive
purposes
such as Sur
Brunetto
Latino,
Jacopo
Rusticucci,
Guido
Guerra, and
Tegghiaio
Aldobrandi
who were
either gay or
simply
enjoyed sex.
Or the last
section was
for those who
defiled art or
industry
anything that
improved
Gods
creations or
showed its
majesty.

them tear
them apart
and then the
souls reform
only to repeat
the pattern.
3. The souls
in this section
all have
different
punishment
all though all
of them are
stuck in a
dessert with
fiery rain
pouring down
on them.The
blasphemers
are forced to
lay down
upon the
sand, the
sodomites
run through
the sand, and
the usurers
huddle
together.

sins live on
so their
punishment
is eternal and
because the
nature of
their sins
were seen as
wrong and
unnatural
their
punishment
is a
perversion of
the rain that
in life brought
new life to
the earth but
in this level it
only brings
fiery torture.

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

Guido
Guerra, and
Tegghiaio
Aldobrandi.
The last
section is for
those violent
against art
which isnt
necessarily
just paintings
but it's
anything that
glorifies what
God has
made.
8

This is the
level of fraud
but it is more
complex than
that as it is
divided into
ten Bolgias.
Geryon is the
guard of this
level.The first
Bolgia is for
the
panderers
and
seducers,
specifically
Venedico
Caccianemic
o and Jason.
The second
Bogia is for
flatterers,
those who
falsely
flattered in
order to put
themselves
ahead,
specifically
Alessio

The overall
sin is fraud it
is however
more specific
for each
Bolgia.
Geryon is the
guard of this
level
because he
has three
faces each
with a
different
purpose
implying that
one of them
is false or all
of them. The
people who
are in the first
Bolgia are
there
because they
lied to get
what they
wanted
specifically
through
seduction

The sin is the

sin of the
leopard
which is
treachery
and fraud
because all
the souls
knowling did
these things.

The
punishment
for the first
Bolgia is
being
eternally
whipped and
chased by
demons. The
punishment
for the
second
Bolgia is to
be sunk in
filth and
excrement.
The
punishment
for the third
Bolgia is that
theyre stuck
upside down
in
tube/cavities.
Their feet are
set on fire
and
depending on
the severity
of their crime

The
symbolism of
each
punishment
is different.
The
symbolism
for the first
Bolgia is that
in life they
herded
others to
listen to their
lies so in
death they
are herded
by demons.
The
symbolism
for the
second
Bolgia is that
in life these
souls falsely
flattered so in
death they
are stuck in
excrement
the physical
equivalent of

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

Interminelli
and Thias.
The third
Bolgia is for
the
Simoniacs,
specifically
Pope
Nicholas III is
mentioned.
The fourth
Bolgia is for
fortune tellers
and diviners,
like
Amphiareus,
Tiresias,
Aruns,
Manto,
Eurypylus,
Michael
Scott, Guido
Bonatti, and
Asdente.
The fifth
Bolgia is for
grafters,
those who
sold political
favors for
money
specifically
the Senator
of Lucca,
Friar Gomita,
and Michel
Zanche. The
guardis
Malacoda.
The sixth
Bolgia is for
hypocrites,
specifically
two friars and
Caiaphas.
The seventh
Bolgia is for

and
pandering
such as
Venedico
sold his sister
to gain favor
with the
Marquis
Obbizo da
Este of
Ferrara and
Jason
seduced
many women
to get the
Golden
Fleece. The
second
Bolgia is for
those who
falsely
flattered to
get what they
wanted.
Alessio
Interminelli is
not stated as
doing
anything
specifically,
just flattering.
Thais is in
this level
because she
tried to flatter
a servants
master. The
sin of the
third Bolgia is
selling favors
and offices at
the expense
of the
integrity of
the Church.
Pope
Nicholas III

the heat is
higher.
Eventually
theyll
disappear
through the
cavity into
the rock for
eternity. In
the fourth
Bolgia the
souls have
their heads
backwards
on their
bodies and
their eyes are
blinded by
tears. In the
fifth Bolgia
the souls are
submerged in
pitch and if
they try to
escape
demons use
hooks to tear
them apart
limb from
limb. In the
sixth Bolgia
the souls
have to walk
in circles
wearing lead
robes and
Caiaphas is
tied to the
floor where
all the other
souls walk
over him. In
the seventh
Bolgia the
souls are
bitten by
snakes and

their
flatteries. The
symbolism
for the third
Bolgia is that
it's a
perversion of
a baptismal
font. In a real
Baptism the
people are
heads up so
because
these sinners
mocked God
they are
upside down
and instead
of water they
are
baptised
with fire. The
symbolism
for the fourth
Bolgia is that
in life they
tried to see
the future so
in death they
are blinded
with tears
and because
they distorted
Gods will
their bodies
are distorted.
The
symbolism in
the fifth
Bolgia is that
the pitch is
slippery just
like their
deeds of
accepting
bribes. Their
deals were in

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

thieves
specifically
Vanni Fucci,
the five noble
thieves of
Florence,
Agnello,
Cianfa,
Buoso,
Francesco,
and Puccio
Sciancato.
The eighth
Bolgia
contains the
evil
counselors,
specifically
Ulysses,
Diomede,
and Count
Guido Da
Montefeltro.
The ninth
Bolgia is
divided into
three
subsections
and contains:
the sowers of
religious
discord,
political
discord, and
discord
between
kinsmen.
Specific
souls in
these
sections are
Mahomet,
Pier De
Medicina,
Curio, Mosca
De Lamberti
and Bertrand

did this. The

fourth Bolgia
is for diviners
and fortune
tellers. Their
sin being that
they tried to
see what
only God is
allowed to
know.
Amphiareus,
Tiresias,
Arnus Manto,
Eurypyles,
Michael
Scott, Guido
Bonatti, and
Asdente are
in this level
because they
predicted the
future and
were
magicians,
thus
spreading
lies. The fifth
Bolgia is for
the grafters
which means
they sold and
accepted
bribes.
Senator of
Luca,
Bonturo, an
unidentified
Navarese,
Friar Gomita,
and Michael
Zanche are
in this level
for selling
political
favors, which
is against the

reptiles which
turns them
into reptiles.
They can
only return to
human form
if they eat a
soul in
human form.
When human
their hands
are tied
behind their
backs. In the
eighth Bolgia
the souls
have to move
constantly in
an
enveloping
flame. In the
ninth Bolgia
the souls
have walk in
an endless
circle as a
demon hacks
them apart.
In the tenth
Bolgia it's
separated
into
subsections.
The first is
plagued with
disease. The
second have
to run for
eternity being
chased by
Furies. The
third is also
plagued with
illness but
also
insatiable
thirst. The

life made in
secret so in
death their
souls are
hidden in the
pitch. For the
sixth Bolgia
the
symbolism is
that in life
they were
weighed
down by their
lies so in
death they
were lead
robes.
Caiaphas is
trodden on to
emphasis the
magnitude of
the worlds
hypocrisy
and the pain
he brought to
Jesus. The
symbolism
for the
seventh
Bolgias
punishment
is that in life
they were
secretive and
as snakes
represent
that that is
the form they
are in some
of the time.
Since their
greed caused
the
disappearanc
e of others
property their
souls are

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

De Born. The
tenth Bolgia
contains the
falsifiers,
which has
subsections
for the
Alchemists
such as
Griffolino
dArezzo and
Capocchio,
Evil
Impersonator
s such as
Gianni
Schicchi and
Myrrha,
Counterfeits
such as
Master Adam
and False
Witnesses
such as
Potiphars
wife and
Sinon the
Greek.

will of
Dantes God.
The sixth
Bolgia is for
hypocrites
and their sin
is mocking
others of the
things they
themselves
do.
Caiaphas
advised
those who
crucified
Christ and
the jovial
Friars were
self seeking
as they only
loosely
followed the
rules of their
religion. The
seventh
Bolgia is for
the thieves.
Their sin is
taking from
those who
actually
earned their
living and
therefore
rightfully
deserve what
they have.
Vanni Fucci,
Agnello,
Cianfa,
Buoso,
Francesco,
and Puccio
Sciancato
were all
thieves. The
eighth Bolgia

fourth is
punished
with disease
and plague.

ever shifting
and
disappearing.
The
symbolism
for the eighth
Bolgia is that
their hidden
like their
deeds in life
and the fire
envelops
them as it
represents
their guilty
conscience.
The ninth
Bolgias
symbolism is
seen as in
life they
separated
that which
must remain
whole in
death their
bodies are
hacked apart.
The tenth
Bolgias
symbolism is
seen in four
subsections.
The first
being that
since they
spread filth in
life in death
they are
plagued by it
and illness.
The second
is that in life
they never
stopped
seizing
opportunities

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

is for the evil

counselors
whose sin
was to lead
people astray
using what
God had
given them
just to help
themselves.
Ulysses and
Diomed
helped build
the Trojan
Horse.
Count Guido
da
Montefeltro is
here because
he had
Boniface VIII
tell the
Colonna
family he
would give
the amnesty
even though
he never
intended to.
The ninth
Bolgia has
those who
separated
what God
intended to
stay together
such as
families or
countries like
Mahomet,
Ali, Fra
Dolcino, Pier
Da Medicina,
Malatestino
da Rimini,
the Tribune
Curio, Mosca

so in death
their souls
are seized by
Furies. The
third, and
fourth are
the same as
the first.

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

Dei Lamberti,
Geri del
Bello, and
Bertrand de
Born did.
The tenth
Bolgia is split
into
subsections.
The first is for
the
alchemists
their sin
being
spreading
lies and
tampering
with Gods
creations.
Griffolino
dArezzo and
Capocchio
because they
practiced
alchemy, or
according to
Dante they
said they did.
The second
is for the evil
impersonator
s and their
sin is identity
theft. Gianni
Schicchs sin
was
pretending to
be dead to
alter his will
and Myrrhas
sin was
pretending to
be someone
else in order
to sleep with
her father.
The third is

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

for
counterfeiters
whose sin
was stealing
and
tampering
with money.
Master Adam
was a
counterfeiter
and because
of this the
Italian
economy
crashed. The
fourth is for
the false
witnesses
their sin
being that
their lies hurt
others. Sinon
is here
because he
helped bring
the Trojan
Horse into
Troy.
9

Level nine is
for those
committed
compound
fraud and
betrayal. The
first area is
the
Malebolge
and contains
the giants
who betrayed
Zeus in the
war of the
giants and
gods. Also it
contains
Nimrod, who

The overall
sin is that the
souls in this
level
committed
compound
fraud.The
Giants and
Titans were
greedy and
they betrayed
the Greek
Gods.
Nimrod,
Ephialtes,
Briareus,
Tityos,
Typhon, and

The sin is the

leopard of
fraud and
treachery
because the
souls in this
level all
willingly
betrayed
someone.

The Giants
except for
Antaeus are
chained for
eternity.
Those in the
real level are
all trapped in
ice. In Caina
their trapped
up to their
necks, which
can still
move. In
Antenora
their trapped
past their
necks and

The
symbolism of
the Giants
punishment
is that their
greed acted
as a chain in
life so in
death they
are wrapped
in actual
chains. The
ice is
symbolic of
the absence
of love and
warmth
especially

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

built the
Tower of
Babel. The
specific
giants are
Ephialtes,
Briareus,
Tityos,
Typhon, and
Antaeus.
The first
round is
Caina,
named for
Cain,those in
this level are
there for
betraying kin.
It contains
Alessandro,
Napoleone
Degli Alberti
and
Camicon.
The next
round is
Antenora, it
contains
those who
betrayed
their country,
specifically
Bocca Degli
Abbati, Count
Ugolino, and
Archbishop
Ruggieri.
Next is
Ptolomea
and contains
those who
betrayed
their guests
and the rules
of being a
host, like
Friar Alberigo

Antaeus are
in this level
because they
had angry
temperament
s. The souls
in Caina
betrayed
their kin such
as
Alessandro,
Giovanni
Malatesta,
Napoleone
Degli Alberti,
and
Camicion
who killed
their kin.
Those in
Antenora
betrayed
their country
such as
Bocca Degli
Abbiti, Count
Ugolino,
Buoso da
Duera,
Beccheria,
Gianni de
Soldanier,
Tebaldello,
Archbishop
Ruggieri, and
Camicion de
Pazzi did.
Ptolemea is
for those who
betrayed
their guests
or hosts like
Friar Alberigo
and Branca
DOria who
murdered
their guests.

their eyes are

shut close by
frozen tears.
In Ptolomea
their up to
half their
faces in ice,
their eyes are
frozen shut
by tears, and
their sins are
so horrible
their souls go
to hell while
they're alive
and a demon
inhabits their
body in the
real world.
Those in
Judecca are
completely in
the ice and
cant move
except for
Satan who
can beat his
wings. Judas,
Brutus and
Cassius are
frozen inside
of Satans
mouth.

Gods
warmth that
these souls
denied
themselves
in life. Its
dark because
their souls no
longer have
any light left.

Grace Kasemeier
P. 2

and Branca
DOria.
Lastly is
Judecca, and
it contains
those who
betrayed
their masters,
specifically
Satan at the
center, Judas
Iscariot,
Cassius, and
Brutus.

Those in
Judecca
betrayed
their masters,
Satan
betrayed
God. Brutus,
Judas
Iscariot, and
Cassius are
the ultimate
betrayers.