I am attaching a picture to this post of the thieves by English poet William Blake (also known for his engravings and art). Is it an accurate depiction? Would you change anything about it? Does it enhance your understanding of this circle, or not? Explain!
I think it is an accurate picture. The snakes symbolize the sneaky and tricky things the theives did and how they were always slittering around people. The sinners are also being binded by the snakes in this picture so they are restricted from committing the sin again. If i could change somehtingf about this picture i would make the expressions of the sinners more clear and defined so readers can understand the pain and visualize the sinners consequences. This would have more impact on readers. It does give me a better understanding of the circle because it puts the circle into perspective and allows me to visualize the sinners symbolic retribution and punishment for their crime
ReplyDeleteI do think that this picture is accurate. The souls constantly transforming from human to reptile doesn't allow the souls to keep their identity. In life they took things that weren't theirs to take and now their form is being taken from them. They no longer know what is theirs and what is not. This picture accurately shows the cycle between human form and reptile form. If I could change something about this picture, I would try and show how it is a painful process. I would maybe try to have upset or angry expressions on the faces of the sinners. However, I feel as though this picture does give an accurate representation of the punishment and I do think that it has created a better understanding of this punishment and the symbolic retribution is clear, reptiles are sneaky and sly and the shape shifting matches the sin.
ReplyDeleteI think that the picture above designed by William Blake accurately represents the thieves and their punishments based from Dante's The Inferno. The thieves are placed in circle 8 (bolgia 7) for their sneakiness and slyness. Since that is how they treated people when they were living, thats how their own souls are being treated. This is relevant to the reptiles because the chapter explains how reptiles wrap around them and tie their hands behind their backs. Also, the reptiles are symbolism for sneakiness. Snakes and other similar reptiles are very secretive and sneaky. They steal things from other animals, just as the thieves stole from other people. The reptiles are wrapped around the souls of those who were put there. Everything that was described in the book is described visually in the picture by William Blake
ReplyDeleteAlso, in the chapter, the souls are supposedly transformed back and forth from humans to snakes or reptiles. This drawing doesn't show that which leaves out some of the punishment and importance of this chapter and the thieves. This detail is important because the transformation shows their lying and changing actions which they displayed when they stole. Other than that i think that this picture did a good job explaining part of circle 8 visually and it helped me understand and enhance the chapter.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is an accurate picture to show what the souls in this bolgia were going through. It accurately shows the souls coming up and reforming from ashes and being surrounded by snakes. Also, there are two sinners in the picture who are sort of attached to one another. This is like taking each other's forms. This picture helps me to better understand and visualize what it was like for the sinners in this bolgia. If I were to change anything in this picture, I would put more snakes and make it more clear that the snakes are binding the sinners, especially their hands. In this picture, the snakes are just kind of crawling around. I also agree with what everyone else has said about showing a more clear facial expression. This would reflect the pain each sinner has to go through. However, I like that you can't really see their expression because it shows their constantly changing form.
ReplyDeleteI think that this picture is an accurate representation of the punishment that the thieves went through in hell. In life the thieves stole things that didnt belong to them from other people so in hell their form was constantly being taken from them. When their form was changed the people suffered a lot of pain which made their punishment one of the worst ones seen in hell. The snakes in bolgia are there to bind the thieves hands together since they used their hands to commit their sins in their life. This picture does help me to better understand the punishment that the thieves went through because it allows me to see how the people changed form. I agree with what Max said about the people not showing emotion and there not being enough snakes in this picture because you cant tell that the people are feeling pain when they are changing form and there arent enough snakes their to bind the people. This picture makes the punishment look less harsh then it actually is.
ReplyDeleteThe picture is an accurate visual to explain the punishment for the theives in circle eight. The souls are constantly changing form and there are snakes that wrap their arms. The symbolism is that the souls can't use their hands because they sinned by using their hands to steal. I wouldn't change anything of the picture, besides giving the souls more emotion (what max said). This picture was really able to help me understand what it was like for the thieves.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is an accurate picture. It doesn't look like the souls are in any pain. When I pictured this punishment I pictured people being strangled and tortured by snakes. The picture looks too peaceful to me. Also, this picture doesn't clearly show how the people were eternally transforming from human form to reptile form.
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty this isn't really an accurate depiction of the theives punishment though it accurately depicts the bondage they are in and the snakes that surround them. To make this picture clearer the artist should have drawn reptiles biting the people in the jugular, making them burt into flame. He could have also drawn someone appearing to be in the middle of a human to reptile transformation. Like them being half human and half reptile. The last thing the author could have done is shown the agony in the people's faces. This didn't really help me with an understanding of this bolgia because it was lacking key parts of the souls' punishments.
ReplyDeleteBut it is a pretty cool picture, I like it, I like it, A LOT.
ReplyDeleteIn my oppinion this depiction of the punishment of the theives in circle 8 of hell is able to give readers only a small part of the actual pain that the sinners are feeling. Like some people posted eirlier, I do not believe that it is showing all the pain and anguish that the sinners are actually feeling with the stolid looks and emotions of there faces and body. Also it does not show the different types of punishement such as the transformations and the combustion than reincarnate phase of the punishment. To summarize my oppinion, I conclude that if I were to see this picture with only the bear minimal information I would probably think that it was portaying theives just lieing with the snakes just as if they were one because of the way they snuck around in life and think that was there only punishement.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that this picture is an accurate representation of the thieves as we do not see any of the transformations occuring, and the faces on these shouls lacks the emotions of pain and dorrow we were supposed to see from being eternally tormented by biting snakes/souls. It does however give a gist of the punishment, but should go into more detail.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the late entry. I think this picture is an accurate representation of the thieves. Reason being is that it show the snakes already inhabiting the circle and it show the thieves. The picture also show the thieves moving in snake-like contortions showing that they are as sneaky, cunning, conniving, and secretive as a snake. The one thing I would change about this picture is to add a transformation from a human to a snake. This picture does enhance my understanding about this Canto because it show the main base of the punishment and basically shows their sin to a certain degree.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the picture above is accurate. While some things are represented well, there are some aspects missing. The snakes in the picture are representing the sneaky and "reptilian" view of thievery. However, in Dante's Inferno, the souls in circle 8, bolgia 7 have their hands bound behind their backs forever. On the left side of the picture, a girl is leaning back with her hands on the ground. Also, when I imagined this bolgia, I thought that the thieves would have been in more pain. In the picture it looks as if the souls are lounging with some snakes. Also, in the book, there are people being turned to ashes by other reptiles. This is not depicted in the picture.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that this is an accurate picture of the the thieves in Hell. Because the thieves were so reptile-like in life, being sneaky and slimy, they are punished by all things reptiles. Many of them will make a painful transformation into a lizard or snake during their stay in Hell, while others will be attacked and pierced in the jugular by these creatures. The thieves look at though they are in pain, and it shows the guilt that these people carry with them throughout their time in Hell, for all eternity. Although this does show some of the souls in this bolgia, the picture is missing a lot of other punishments. This picture does not show the snakes attacking the sinners, but mearly laying on top of them. Also this picture does not show the sinners transforming into the reptiles, a necessary part of many of their punishments. To sum, this picture shows the gist of the bolgia but does not show in grave detail each punishment and setting that follows.
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