Hoarding
Dante and Virgil arrive at circle 3.5 of hell, where the gluttonous are sent. The specific gluttons sent here are hoarders, people who in their lives have hoarded all their belongings and had houses stacked to the ceilings with useless waste. Hoarding is a form of gluttony, in that it is a habitual greed. Because they refused to clean and detach themselves from their trash, they are now forced to clean the offices of hell, as Beelzebub, the demon of gluttony, continuously stacks the rooms with more papers and used or broken office supplies. The flow of trash never ends, meaning the gluttons are sentenced to endlessly clean for all eternity, not stopping if their hands bleed or form blisters. The floors are lined with glue, making it a sticky environment, in which it is very unpleasant to walk. Unlike their houses, which were complete filth, they must keep these offices spotless so Beelzebub can project more litter at them when they’re finished.
*the rhyme is throughout the whole poem
As I set foot into this strange new realm,
I was puzzled. It felt as if I had left hell,
for other than the heat, it appeared as a normal room.
Everything seemed fine and well,
until I saw the hoarders meeting their doom.
How ironic was the fate in which they fell.
Holding nothing but a broom and plastic bags unfurled,
having gluttonously hoarding every item they acquired
in their life, they must sweep the offices of the underworld.
Since any ticket, tissue, or toy for which they were fiends
they passionately refused to detach from,
their homes remained cluttered and never were cleaned.
Beelzebub now commands them to sweep and dust all his scum.
Mercilessly, he’d continue to let it pile.
A man would have to clean as blood flowed from his blistered thumb.
Papers lined with sticky glue, I stepped through the bile
came face to face with a worker himself. He said
to me, “It keeps coming, it never ends,” with a creepy, forced smile.
For over a brand new wreck I had to tread.
When he cleaned up his mess, it automatically appeared.
Above Beelzebub’s throne I read,
“Atone all ye gluttons who enter, for the lives in which austerity ye feared.”
Most of them mainly had papers and documents to sweep,
but the worst of them all was sentenced to clean the demon’s beard.
“Guide,” I said, “how will we scale this trash heap?”
He said, “don’t fret, for we must just sift through.
We can do it, it is not that deep.”
Beelzebub threw more litter at us; the pile grew.
But we crafted a tunnel,
and from this level of hell we withdrew.
Kiril Manchevski, Period 2
Sunday, December 18, 2011
The Greedy
We then entered the sixth level of hell
where i saw those who exercised greed
and in their misery forever they will dwell.
From this torment they will never be freed.
Unwillingly they will approach the lord of the dead,
being frozen upon arrival, facing their sinister deed.
While gazing at the souls waiting for punishment I spotted a head,
Bernie Maddoff, the leader of the line and surely the worst
my guide told me "with the devil he will lay in bed."
The sinners suffer and in pain are immersed.
The greedy gag and puke mucus, blood, and coins,
Unable to relieve themselves and forever cursed.
Condemned here for not following what God enjoins.
And now, a whole new group fell into my sight
As with Maddoff this new group, the NBA, rejoins.
Not satisfied with millions, now lost all its might,
greed paved these sinners' way to eternal pain,
their once sunny days, now transformed into infinite night.
These victims frozen upon Hades, receive a horrid rain
consisting of coins and wallets directed at them with force
and their silent suffering and muffled screams all in vain.
Hades shoves money down their throats with no remorse
until they are filled to the point of explosion;
the remains of their bodies is Cerberus' main course.
All this punishment due to their moral fibers' erosion
Cerberus' meal is then digested back to perfect form.
The cycle restarts, continuously punishing their acts of extortion.
And then my guide said, "Now they wish they could reform.
We've seen who belongs here, lets move to the next level of hell."
I'm tired of witnessing this violent storm that will never be transformed.
We have been here too long and I feel trapped as if in a cell
Let us leave Hades and Cerberus to their jobs
and continue down these circles of hell what we will see no one can foretell.
Greed is defined as an intense and selfish desire for something such as wealth, power or food. This sin is more prominent today and it is located in level six of hell. Many people undermine the severity of this sin; however, it is the root of many other immoral actions. For example, the results of greed often times lead to more serious sins suck as murder, fraud, and embezzlement. Although it isn't in the last level of hell it is a terrible sin looked down upon by God. As a result, this sin's fitting punishment must be excruciating. The people who have committed this sin must confront Hades despite their will and once they come upon his reach they are frozen on the spot (not in ice) . Hails of coins and the wallets of those the sinner has stripped are directed with force towards the frozen target. The sinners are constantly gagging and throwing up blood , mucus, and dollar bills but cant even reach up with their own hands to comfort or clean themselves. Amid all of this suffering, Hades is roughly shoving money , rotten food , and spikes down the throat of the sinner while the sinner is simultaneously gagging and throwing up. This process continues until the sinner blows up from being stuffed with money, rotten food , and spikes. The remains are fed to Cerberus who digest them into a perfect body once again to repeat the suffering. This punishment fits the crime because while these sinners were alive they could never get enough of materialistic items, often disregarding the suffering of others. In hell, they excessively get everything they wanted while they were alive. However, this cycle will never stop, similarly to the way the sinners never controlled their greed even though it caused excruciating pain and suffering to the people affected by their actions.
Jonathan Garrido, Period 2
where i saw those who exercised greed
and in their misery forever they will dwell.
From this torment they will never be freed.
Unwillingly they will approach the lord of the dead,
being frozen upon arrival, facing their sinister deed.
While gazing at the souls waiting for punishment I spotted a head,
Bernie Maddoff, the leader of the line and surely the worst
my guide told me "with the devil he will lay in bed."
The sinners suffer and in pain are immersed.
The greedy gag and puke mucus, blood, and coins,
Unable to relieve themselves and forever cursed.
Condemned here for not following what God enjoins.
And now, a whole new group fell into my sight
As with Maddoff this new group, the NBA, rejoins.
Not satisfied with millions, now lost all its might,
greed paved these sinners' way to eternal pain,
their once sunny days, now transformed into infinite night.
These victims frozen upon Hades, receive a horrid rain
consisting of coins and wallets directed at them with force
and their silent suffering and muffled screams all in vain.
Hades shoves money down their throats with no remorse
until they are filled to the point of explosion;
the remains of their bodies is Cerberus' main course.
All this punishment due to their moral fibers' erosion
Cerberus' meal is then digested back to perfect form.
The cycle restarts, continuously punishing their acts of extortion.
And then my guide said, "Now they wish they could reform.
We've seen who belongs here, lets move to the next level of hell."
I'm tired of witnessing this violent storm that will never be transformed.
We have been here too long and I feel trapped as if in a cell
Let us leave Hades and Cerberus to their jobs
and continue down these circles of hell what we will see no one can foretell.
Greed is defined as an intense and selfish desire for something such as wealth, power or food. This sin is more prominent today and it is located in level six of hell. Many people undermine the severity of this sin; however, it is the root of many other immoral actions. For example, the results of greed often times lead to more serious sins suck as murder, fraud, and embezzlement. Although it isn't in the last level of hell it is a terrible sin looked down upon by God. As a result, this sin's fitting punishment must be excruciating. The people who have committed this sin must confront Hades despite their will and once they come upon his reach they are frozen on the spot (not in ice) . Hails of coins and the wallets of those the sinner has stripped are directed with force towards the frozen target. The sinners are constantly gagging and throwing up blood , mucus, and dollar bills but cant even reach up with their own hands to comfort or clean themselves. Amid all of this suffering, Hades is roughly shoving money , rotten food , and spikes down the throat of the sinner while the sinner is simultaneously gagging and throwing up. This process continues until the sinner blows up from being stuffed with money, rotten food , and spikes. The remains are fed to Cerberus who digest them into a perfect body once again to repeat the suffering. This punishment fits the crime because while these sinners were alive they could never get enough of materialistic items, often disregarding the suffering of others. In hell, they excessively get everything they wanted while they were alive. However, this cycle will never stop, similarly to the way the sinners never controlled their greed even though it caused excruciating pain and suffering to the people affected by their actions.
Jonathan Garrido, Period 2
The Leechers
As Dante and Virgil continue towards the River Styx through the fourth circle of the avaricious and prodigal, they come across a repulsive display. Within a pool of swampy mud, are several people. The pit is full of leeches and parasites that feed on the sinners. These people are the leeches of society. They freeload and want everything provided for them. Although able in body to work, they refuse to and lead a selfish life. In their greed, they feed off of the hard work of others while not putting in any effort of their own. These people are separated from the main area of the fourth circle because they aren't hoarding or squandering their own wealth, but the wealth of others. Their greed manifests in their parasitic lives, so their punishment corresponds. Because they chose to sit around in life, they are to wallow in the muddy pit, trapped. As they leeched upon others, leeches and parasites now feast on and violate their bodies while they drown in the pool.
*Terza Rima is used throughout.
As we moved toward the bank,
Across a peculiar pit we came,
A sight so foul and mean.
I can say without shame,
My stomach churned at the scene.
For in my place, you would feel the same.
It was a pool of slimy creatures unclean
And men that writhed in filth and mud.
"What is this that we have seen?"
My guide replied, "These parasites feast on the blood
Of the ones who feasted upon the work of others.
Eternally they are defiled in this malodorous flood."
One stood out among these grimy prisoners.
Though most were buried in the sludge deep,
His arms flailed unlike his submerged brothers.
I called out, "Your situation makes my heart weep.
Tell me, why have you fallen to this punishment?"
Gurgling, the man tried to answer, his breath hard to keep.
"Into wealth I was born, you see. Something I now resent.
My bread, accustomed to having all provided,
I didn't work for; but alas it is too late to repent."
Soon after, his energy subsided
And the wretched pool of parasites consumed him
It was high time to leave, I decided.
"Master I have seen enough of this fate so grim.
Let us continue to the fifth across the River Styx.
No longer do I wish to witness this vile swim."
Looking away, upon the river I fixed my optics.
To escape this nightmarish dimension
I should not let one place transfix.
Chris Coronado, Period 2
The Sex Abusers
As we made our way through the level of the violent (a)
We traveled down into the level of the most careless souls (b)
The sinners who are nothing but sick (c)
Walking into a world of sinners in which dignity they stole (b)
We approached a room and all we heard was "click" (c)
All the sinners sat there in front of a television as a whole (b)
Virgil and I sat down with them and that is when we met Nick (c)
An abuser of the angelic child Grace (d)
Virgil walked up to the screen and it was his time she picked (c)
The screen portrayed the image of the innocent child's face (d)
Abused and slaughtered by this sick man (e)
The sinners were reminded and now saw their loved ones in that place (d)
It was no longer Grace but his daughter Jan (e)
She replaced the victim and Nick had to watch him rape his baby (f)
The tormented sinner screamed "how can I be that man" (e)
All he could see is his young daughter screaming "Help! Save me! (f)
Cringing and trying to close his eyes (g)
They were held open and he could not avoid to see (f)
Nick was in torment as he saw his little miracle die (g)
He killed her with no hesitation (h)
He was sick and all he could do at the end was cry (g)
Grace was gone due to his self gratification (h)
The pleasure of sex was greater then life (i)
She lost her chance to be apart of an older generation (h)
Her life was gone and Nick didn't think twice (i)
These sinners are the sickest of them all (j)
They deserved to pay a torturing price (i)
We seen what we needed and began on our way (j)
It was no longer the time to pity the abuser (k)
Because in the end the victim never had a say (j)
These are the Sex Abusers. Throughout their existence they mutilated and took what was not theirs. They hurt and took the dignity away innocent people. Sex is a gift from God saved for marriage and meant to produce. Instead, these sinners stole their gift and fulfilled their hearts with harm and fear. Here in the 7.5 level they sit and watch the pain they encountered among victims. However, their victims turn into a loved one of theirs to acknowledge the feelings of the victim's hopeless loved ones.
Chasara Morales, Period 2
We traveled down into the level of the most careless souls (b)
The sinners who are nothing but sick (c)
Walking into a world of sinners in which dignity they stole (b)
We approached a room and all we heard was "click" (c)
All the sinners sat there in front of a television as a whole (b)
Virgil and I sat down with them and that is when we met Nick (c)
An abuser of the angelic child Grace (d)
Virgil walked up to the screen and it was his time she picked (c)
The screen portrayed the image of the innocent child's face (d)
Abused and slaughtered by this sick man (e)
The sinners were reminded and now saw their loved ones in that place (d)
It was no longer Grace but his daughter Jan (e)
She replaced the victim and Nick had to watch him rape his baby (f)
The tormented sinner screamed "how can I be that man" (e)
All he could see is his young daughter screaming "Help! Save me! (f)
Cringing and trying to close his eyes (g)
They were held open and he could not avoid to see (f)
Nick was in torment as he saw his little miracle die (g)
He killed her with no hesitation (h)
He was sick and all he could do at the end was cry (g)
Grace was gone due to his self gratification (h)
The pleasure of sex was greater then life (i)
She lost her chance to be apart of an older generation (h)
Her life was gone and Nick didn't think twice (i)
These sinners are the sickest of them all (j)
They deserved to pay a torturing price (i)
We seen what we needed and began on our way (j)
It was no longer the time to pity the abuser (k)
Because in the end the victim never had a say (j)
These are the Sex Abusers. Throughout their existence they mutilated and took what was not theirs. They hurt and took the dignity away innocent people. Sex is a gift from God saved for marriage and meant to produce. Instead, these sinners stole their gift and fulfilled their hearts with harm and fear. Here in the 7.5 level they sit and watch the pain they encountered among victims. However, their victims turn into a loved one of theirs to acknowledge the feelings of the victim's hopeless loved ones.
Chasara Morales, Period 2
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Annoying People
During a student’s journey from one class to the next (A)
He would most likely encounter various thoughtless peers. (B)
In no rush, they would always find time to send another electronic text. (A)
Complaints and pleas wouldn’t faze them, simply fall on deaf ears. (B)
Some would walk too slow, some too fast, (C)
Others thought intersections were places to gather during the school year. (B)
The considerate ones would have to stop in their tracks, obviously aghast, (C)
When it came time to dodge those who made split second u-turns in the hall. (D)
“Oh, did you forget your textbook in your locker that I just passed?”(C)
“Please, don’t turn around on a dime and crash into me, a six-foot-one wall,” (D)
“Just go around, they won’t mind if you’re late to chemistry concepts class.”(E)
Lacking common sense, these Paladins must have thought they were at the mall, (D)
For they would meet up in large circles to discuss something huge, to me, an impasse.(E)
“Really? You finally passed the driver’s test after five tries? Great! Celebrate over there!”(F)
Their vital conversations would cause others to get caught in traffic jams en masse. (E)
The world did in fact end in 2012, and most of us entered Heaven, greeted by St. Claire, (F)
Except of course for the hallway bandits of every kind, who caused good people trouble. (G)
Known collectively as Annoying People, their souls plummeted to Hell in despair. (F)
The first subdivision, the Hallway Lovers, was damned to a realm full of rubble.(G)
They chose to make-out after every bell, often blocking a walker’s path, (H)
They must now watch “Gigli”, the worst romantic comedy ever, in bubbles.(G)
Never to catch a break, they are doomed to watch it for eternity, what fury Hell hath.(H)
Next, those who walked too slow or scurried too fast, or whose movement confusing,(I)
Became seals in an endless ocean, doomed to evade demon great white sharks, with wrath
That forced them to pick a speed and direction and stick to it, no more problem choosing.(I)
In the final round, the Intersection Talkers, the worst of them all, (J)
Were damned to storm Normandy Beach for all time, just the landing, no refusing. (I)
The rest of the Annoying People, like the U-turners, had to take the SAT til they would fall,
Why? Because Dis thought it would be funny. (K)
Such a curse is anything but small. (J)
My contrapasso is highly satirical in the punishments given out, however the subject is real. The level in which the sinners collectively known as "Annoying People" fall under is 8.5; in other words, they just missed the worst level of Hell. Each subdivision of the "Annoying People" was placed in a different round of Level 8.5. For example, the Hallway Lovers were sent to Round 1 of Level 8.5 while the Intersection Talkers were sent to Round 4 of Level 8.5. The whole concept was based around my experiences in PC when walking through the halls after a class ends and I have to reach my next one, usually very far away. I encounter many inconveniences such as these so I thought it would be perfect to make satirical punishments for their "crimes".
John Velazquez, Period 7
He would most likely encounter various thoughtless peers. (B)
In no rush, they would always find time to send another electronic text. (A)
Complaints and pleas wouldn’t faze them, simply fall on deaf ears. (B)
Some would walk too slow, some too fast, (C)
Others thought intersections were places to gather during the school year. (B)
The considerate ones would have to stop in their tracks, obviously aghast, (C)
When it came time to dodge those who made split second u-turns in the hall. (D)
“Oh, did you forget your textbook in your locker that I just passed?”(C)
“Please, don’t turn around on a dime and crash into me, a six-foot-one wall,” (D)
“Just go around, they won’t mind if you’re late to chemistry concepts class.”(E)
Lacking common sense, these Paladins must have thought they were at the mall, (D)
For they would meet up in large circles to discuss something huge, to me, an impasse.(E)
“Really? You finally passed the driver’s test after five tries? Great! Celebrate over there!”(F)
Their vital conversations would cause others to get caught in traffic jams en masse. (E)
The world did in fact end in 2012, and most of us entered Heaven, greeted by St. Claire, (F)
Except of course for the hallway bandits of every kind, who caused good people trouble. (G)
Known collectively as Annoying People, their souls plummeted to Hell in despair. (F)
The first subdivision, the Hallway Lovers, was damned to a realm full of rubble.(G)
They chose to make-out after every bell, often blocking a walker’s path, (H)
They must now watch “Gigli”, the worst romantic comedy ever, in bubbles.(G)
Never to catch a break, they are doomed to watch it for eternity, what fury Hell hath.(H)
Next, those who walked too slow or scurried too fast, or whose movement confusing,(I)
Became seals in an endless ocean, doomed to evade demon great white sharks, with wrath
That forced them to pick a speed and direction and stick to it, no more problem choosing.(I)
In the final round, the Intersection Talkers, the worst of them all, (J)
Were damned to storm Normandy Beach for all time, just the landing, no refusing. (I)
The rest of the Annoying People, like the U-turners, had to take the SAT til they would fall,
Why? Because Dis thought it would be funny. (K)
Such a curse is anything but small. (J)
My contrapasso is highly satirical in the punishments given out, however the subject is real. The level in which the sinners collectively known as "Annoying People" fall under is 8.5; in other words, they just missed the worst level of Hell. Each subdivision of the "Annoying People" was placed in a different round of Level 8.5. For example, the Hallway Lovers were sent to Round 1 of Level 8.5 while the Intersection Talkers were sent to Round 4 of Level 8.5. The whole concept was based around my experiences in PC when walking through the halls after a class ends and I have to reach my next one, usually very far away. I encounter many inconveniences such as these so I thought it would be perfect to make satirical punishments for their "crimes".
John Velazquez, Period 7
Alcoholics
The ones that passed out at parties (aka The Alcoholics)
Level 4.5 (A new level)
We casually propelled into the cave
Deep into an unknown space.
I hear screams rising from the grave.
At first, I could not find any trace
Of sinners in this ring,
Who rejected God and went against His grace.
The sinner's screams sing
Violent songs for the rest of eternity
Yelling and craving a drink.
I looked into the pit and saw bloody bodies looking up at me.
Clawing at the dirt above,
Wanting to be free.
Drink is what they only love,
So drink is what consumed their lives.
They forgot all about God and the Dove.
In their lives, they beat their wives.
The greedy people were never satisfied.
So, from the sky fell giant knives.
I stood there frozen and horrified,
But Virgil cast a spell
And sent the knives to the other side.
The knives attacked the sinners in their cell
And tore their flesh into cuts so small.
Then gloomy clouds descended from upper hell.
It started raining rubbing alcohol.
Each prisoner experienced the ache
But Virgil and I felt nothing at all.
I decided to leave, because this was a mistake
but, the sinners had to stay submerged
in what was now a lake.
Explanatory Paragraph.
My original canto is in level 4.5 which is in upper hell. This level houses the alcoholics, or the unreasonable drinkers. These are the people that passed out at parties because of too much alcohol. This level of hell is in between the greedy/wasteful and the wrathful. Alcoholics are usually greedy about alcohol. When they start drinking, it is harder for them to stop. All of their money is wasted on alcohol. Alcoholics can also be connected to wrath. When they are drunk, they do some dangerous things: hurting people, breaking things and acting angry to everyone. The punishment for their sin is that first they are hurt with flying knives, beer bottles and broken glass. Then it starts raining rubbing alcohol. It is absorbed into their skin, causing them to scream in pain. The sinners are all in a giant grave/pit. When the alcohol fills up the grave, they all drown in it just as they drowned themselves in drinking too much alcohol when they were on earth. They are left in there until the alcohol evaporates. Then, the process starts again.
Maxsym Khrapko, Period 7
Level 4.5 (A new level)
We casually propelled into the cave
Deep into an unknown space.
I hear screams rising from the grave.
At first, I could not find any trace
Of sinners in this ring,
Who rejected God and went against His grace.
The sinner's screams sing
Violent songs for the rest of eternity
Yelling and craving a drink.
I looked into the pit and saw bloody bodies looking up at me.
Clawing at the dirt above,
Wanting to be free.
Drink is what they only love,
So drink is what consumed their lives.
They forgot all about God and the Dove.
In their lives, they beat their wives.
The greedy people were never satisfied.
So, from the sky fell giant knives.
I stood there frozen and horrified,
But Virgil cast a spell
And sent the knives to the other side.
The knives attacked the sinners in their cell
And tore their flesh into cuts so small.
Then gloomy clouds descended from upper hell.
It started raining rubbing alcohol.
Each prisoner experienced the ache
But Virgil and I felt nothing at all.
I decided to leave, because this was a mistake
but, the sinners had to stay submerged
in what was now a lake.
Explanatory Paragraph.
My original canto is in level 4.5 which is in upper hell. This level houses the alcoholics, or the unreasonable drinkers. These are the people that passed out at parties because of too much alcohol. This level of hell is in between the greedy/wasteful and the wrathful. Alcoholics are usually greedy about alcohol. When they start drinking, it is harder for them to stop. All of their money is wasted on alcohol. Alcoholics can also be connected to wrath. When they are drunk, they do some dangerous things: hurting people, breaking things and acting angry to everyone. The punishment for their sin is that first they are hurt with flying knives, beer bottles and broken glass. Then it starts raining rubbing alcohol. It is absorbed into their skin, causing them to scream in pain. The sinners are all in a giant grave/pit. When the alcohol fills up the grave, they all drown in it just as they drowned themselves in drinking too much alcohol when they were on earth. They are left in there until the alcohol evaporates. Then, the process starts again.
Maxsym Khrapko, Period 7
The Obsessive
The Obsessive
A As I descend from the Third Circle
B Off towards the side my guide notices a trail
C filled with shadows chasing after objects aglow
B From afar I can hear the echoes of the spirits wail
C The reason for this sound grief is one I did not know
B My curiosity made me focus on the horrid burning flesh ail
C Virgil then speaks of their sins that cause them woe
D As we walk he says: “The souls here are full of obsession and greed
C unknowingly making themselves their own foe
D Nor do they know that their memory of all except the obsession recedes
E Forced to chase after the main object they solely desire.”
D In a moment I watch his words come true and see a shadow bleed
E While he chases his craving through the path of thorn and fire
F He was able to grasp his desire then let out a piercing cry
E Watching as the thing he held most dearly had a reward that was dire
F Blazes as soon as it was touched the object shows the holder deny
G His hand was engulfed in flames and through his fingers the ashes slowly slip
F The obsessive item then reappears in reach for the sinner to try
G Again I see the downfall of desire causes himself to be whipped
H For he can never get out of the cycle of his blind obsession
G The spirit still bleeds and fades away as he is being physically stripped
H I have seen enough and had my answer of what happens with overly possession
I As we walked through the trail of obsession the same spirit is seen thrice
H Continuously trying to achieve what he can never have; repossession
I Filled with thoughts that are only mentally self enticed
J The shadows chase after a never ending dream that becomes a horrid vision
I Eternally facing the agonizing vice
J As we finally emerge from the Third and a half Circle I made a decision
K Never will I stray from the path that is lit bright
J In the afterlife there are only two choices that are pre-made and the journey to them involves collision
Explanatory Paragraph
The new level of Hell that my Canto would appear in is Three and a half, in between the Third and Fourth Circle. I chose Three and a half because the sin of obsession has characteristics of both Gluttony and Avarice. The sin of obsession is in between the two because it is the half way point that melds parts of being greedy and self-indulgence from the two Circles together to form Circle Three and a half. The nature of the contrapasso reflects how what they desire in life is meaningless if it is solely an obsession over a certain object. The punishment is that the people are forever chasing after their main obsession from their living life through a path full of flames and thorns. Every time they grasp the object they desire within their reach it will be set on fire, burn them, and the object disintegrates into ash. The object will then reappear again in their reach and they will never be able to escape the cycle of chasing after their obsession. The sinner is never allowed to rest which shows how the obsession has taken over their life in Hell as it did in their past human life. The path of flames and thorns represent all of the people involved in their past life that the sinner has pushed aside or hurt because of their obsession. They can never remember anything in their life except the memories of their main obsession.
Samantha Cajilig, Period 7
A As I descend from the Third Circle
B Off towards the side my guide notices a trail
C filled with shadows chasing after objects aglow
B From afar I can hear the echoes of the spirits wail
C The reason for this sound grief is one I did not know
B My curiosity made me focus on the horrid burning flesh ail
C Virgil then speaks of their sins that cause them woe
D As we walk he says: “The souls here are full of obsession and greed
C unknowingly making themselves their own foe
D Nor do they know that their memory of all except the obsession recedes
E Forced to chase after the main object they solely desire.”
D In a moment I watch his words come true and see a shadow bleed
E While he chases his craving through the path of thorn and fire
F He was able to grasp his desire then let out a piercing cry
E Watching as the thing he held most dearly had a reward that was dire
F Blazes as soon as it was touched the object shows the holder deny
G His hand was engulfed in flames and through his fingers the ashes slowly slip
F The obsessive item then reappears in reach for the sinner to try
G Again I see the downfall of desire causes himself to be whipped
H For he can never get out of the cycle of his blind obsession
G The spirit still bleeds and fades away as he is being physically stripped
H I have seen enough and had my answer of what happens with overly possession
I As we walked through the trail of obsession the same spirit is seen thrice
H Continuously trying to achieve what he can never have; repossession
I Filled with thoughts that are only mentally self enticed
J The shadows chase after a never ending dream that becomes a horrid vision
I Eternally facing the agonizing vice
J As we finally emerge from the Third and a half Circle I made a decision
K Never will I stray from the path that is lit bright
J In the afterlife there are only two choices that are pre-made and the journey to them involves collision
Explanatory Paragraph
The new level of Hell that my Canto would appear in is Three and a half, in between the Third and Fourth Circle. I chose Three and a half because the sin of obsession has characteristics of both Gluttony and Avarice. The sin of obsession is in between the two because it is the half way point that melds parts of being greedy and self-indulgence from the two Circles together to form Circle Three and a half. The nature of the contrapasso reflects how what they desire in life is meaningless if it is solely an obsession over a certain object. The punishment is that the people are forever chasing after their main obsession from their living life through a path full of flames and thorns. Every time they grasp the object they desire within their reach it will be set on fire, burn them, and the object disintegrates into ash. The object will then reappear again in their reach and they will never be able to escape the cycle of chasing after their obsession. The sinner is never allowed to rest which shows how the obsession has taken over their life in Hell as it did in their past human life. The path of flames and thorns represent all of the people involved in their past life that the sinner has pushed aside or hurt because of their obsession. They can never remember anything in their life except the memories of their main obsession.
Samantha Cajilig, Period 7
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