hBjcDQfnMguRXVnjTNgM Jousting With Greedy Plutus: INFERNO, Canto VII, Lines 1 - 35 - Walking With Dante

Episode 33

Jousting With Greedy Plutus: INFERNO, Canto VII, Lines 1 - 35

Published on: 17th January, 2021

We descend a level of hell and 'come to the "il gran nemico," the great enemy: Plutus.

But why is he so great if he makes babbles nonsense and is easily vanquished? And by Virgil? Who also suddenly has a better grip on Christian theology.

INFERNO, Canto VI, begins with lots of fractures! Is our poet in over his head?

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as our pilgrim, Dante, and his guide encounter this blustery figure and get an overview of a bunch of guys who are pushing rocks.

Consider a one-time donation or a small monthly stipend to keep this work afloat, using this PayPal link right here.

Here are the segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:29] My English translation of INFERNO, Canto VII, lines 1 - 35. If you'd like to read along, find a deeper study guide, or drop a comment to continue the conversation with me about this passage, please find its entry on my website, markscarbrough.com.

[04:27] The guardian of the next (fourth) level: Plutus. Or maybe it's Pluto. Or both. Whichever, he speaks nonsense. And he clucks like a chicken. Or maybe is a wolf. Or both. In any event, Virgil mentions vendetta, setting in motion a major thematic of COMEDY.

[14:10] The first simile of this canto--masts and sails falling apart--and some thoughts on the patterning of references as a basic notion of narrative structure.

[19:58] Thoughts about neologisms (words the poet makes up). Also, thoughts on how every edition of THE COMEDY does it disservice by starting out with a map before the text. And finally, thoughts about the redefinition of sin into two poles: hoarding and wasting.

Mentioned in this episode:

A brief introduction to the walk ahead

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode
Show artwork for Walking With Dante

About the Podcast

Walking With Dante
A passage-by-passage stroll through Dante’s DIVINE COMEDY with Mark Scarbrough
Ever wanted to read Dante's Divine Comedy? Come along with us! We're not lost in the scholarly weeds. (Mostly.) We're strolling through the greatest work (to date) of Western literature. Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as I take on this masterpiece passage by passage. I'll give you my rough English translation, show you some of the interpretive knots in the lines, let you in on the 700 years of commentary, and connect Dante's work to our modern world. The pilgrim comes awake in a dark wood, then walks across the known universe. New episodes every Sunday and Wednesday.
Support This Show

About your host

Profile picture for Mark Scarbrough

Mark Scarbrough

Former lit professor, current cookbook writer, creator of two podcasts, writer of thirty-five (and counting) cookbooks, author of one memoir (coming soon!), married to a chef (my cookbook co-writer, Bruce Weinstein), and with him, the owner of two collies, all in a very rural spot in New England. My life's full and I'm up for more challenges!