Examples Of Contrapasso In Dante's Inferno

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In Dante’s Inferno, Contrapasso is a rule that states that punishment will be equal to the crime that the sinner committed. A circle of hell that demonstrates this idea well is the third circle, where the gluttonous wish they were deaf because of Cerebus’ howl. This is a fitting punishment because being deaf is not something they could control, just like their sin, they “were not able to control themselves” as they gorged themselves in alcohol and/or food (Dante 21). The guard, Cerebus, is also a sinner of “incontinence” which is why he guards and howls in the ears of the sinners (Dante 21). This punishment is definitely fitting for those “who put their desires ahead of reason”, now not even reason can help their desires (Dante 21).
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