08. The Seventh Circle The Violent

In this lecture, we will examine two different examples of violence: suicide and sodomy. According to Dantes classifications, violence, the seventh circle of hell, is subdivided according to its object. Violence can be directed to others, to self, or to God. According to Dantes scheme, sodomy belongs with violence against God, because it is a sin against nature, the offspring of God. In the wood of the suicides, in Canto 13, we encounter Pier delle Vigne, who was chief of staff to the Emperor Frederick II and killed himself when he fell from favor. Dante must learn from Pier, because in his exile he will experience a similar fall from favor. In Inferno 15, Dante meets his old teacher, Brunetto Latini, who praises Dante as his star pupil. Brunetto encourages Dante to seek earthly fame, and in that advice one sees by analogy the nature of sodomymaking something barren that ought to be fruitful.