In Canto VI, Dante finds himself in The Third Circle of Hell, home of the gluttonous. The Third Circle of Hell punishes those who have been gluttonous on earth. Those living in The Third Circle of Hell spend their time under a perpetual state of rain. However, the rain is neither clear or cleansing. It is thick, dark and full of dirt. Those in The Third Circle of Hell constantly spend their time trying to stay dry and rid themselves of the much that covers their bodies. The following quote describes The Third Circle of Hell: “I am in the third circle,in the round of rain/ eternal, cursed, cold and falling heavy,/ unchanging beat, unchanging quality” (VI.7-9)
In The Third Circle of Hell, we meet Ciaccoo and Cerberus. They have both committed the sin of gluttony in their lifetimes. Cerberus is a three-headed monster that guides the entrance to the third circle. He is described as “a ruthless and fantastic beast,/with all three throats howls out his dog-like sounds” (VI.13-14) and a swollen belly. Virgil throws dirt at him which he feverishly devours. Cerberus’ three mouths that chomp on the grotesquely on the dirt demonstrates the gluttony that he practiced on earth.
We later meet Ciacco who explains “You citizens gave me the name of Ciacco;/and for my sin of gluttony I am damned,/as you can see, for the rain that beats me weak” (VI.52-54) Ciacco was a respected man that hailed from Florence, same as Dante. Dante is not all too interested in hearing Ciacco’s story as it upsets him. Perhaps his desire not to hear Ciacco’s story could be attributed to their similar origins hitting too close to home for Dante.
The nature of the punishment of gluttony in Hell is juxtaposed with the action of gluttony on earth. He who practices gluttony on earth can never be appeased, regardless of the amount of material possessions that he owns. A glutton is selfish, greedy and constantly wanting for ‘more’. Gluttonous people typically live out lives of warmth, luxury and fleeting feelings of happiness when they obtain the possessions. This is the exact opposite of lifestyle that those punished for gluttony experience in hell. The Third Circle of Hell is cold, barren and full of muck. Those that are gluttonous do not share their excess of possessions with others – particularly those in need. They hoard their desired possessions (food, material possessions etc,.), while others suffer in a state of need. Perhaps the punishment of the gluttonous is what it is, in order to demonstrate how the other half suffered while they lived a life of excess.
