Inferno: Canto 6 Summary & Analysis

Dante comes to and finds himself in the third circle of hell, where rain never stops falling, mixed with sleet, snow, and hail. The horrid three-headed dog Cerberus continually mauls and bites the souls in this part of hell. The souls cry out and try to avoid the terrifying creature, but in vain.

When Cerberus sees Dante and Virgil coming, Virgil scoops up several handfuls of dirt and throws some in each of the creature's mouths. This subdues Cerberus, allowing Dante and Virgil to pass by the suffering souls lying on the ground. One soul sits up and speaks to them, claiming that Dante knows him. Dante does not recognize the soul, who identifies himself as Ciacco, a citizen of Florence (where Dante is from). Ciacco says that he suffered from the sin of gluttony, as did all those in this circle of hell. Dante pities Ciacco and asks if he knows what will become of their city, Florence.

Ciacco foretells violence and turmoil for Florence between its different political factions, spurred on by Avarice, Envy, and Pride. Dante further asks Ciacco about various famous men of Florence who have died and Ciacco tells him that they are deeper in hell. Dante will see them when he ventures further below. Before falling back to the ground, Ciacco asks Dante to remember his name when he returns to earth.

Virgil tells Dante that when the final judgment comes, these souls will be reunited with their earthly bodies. Dante asks if their pain will then be greater or lesser and Virgil explains that, since Judgment Day leads to the perfection of all things, their suffering, too, will be perfected. That is to say, their pains will be even worse. Virgil and Dante descend to the next circle of hell.