Dante's Inferno Circle 8 Punishment

Some people may argue that, the punishments in circle 4 and ditch 10 of circle 8 don’t fit the crime because, hoarding/spending only effect the one individual and that the punishment of constant pain/torture is too extreme for just trying to turn metals into gold. When Virgil first came upon spenders and hoarders he declared, “O unenlightened creatures, how deep-the ignorance that hampers you!” (VII. 70-71). As Virgil is pitying the sinners he is pointing out how their own problems affect themselves. Also, the moment Dante entered the 10th ditch of circle 8 he exclaimed, “I felt the force of strange laments, like arrows whose shafts are barbed with pity; and at this I had to place my hands across my ears.” (XXIX. 43-45). Even to Dante the punishments were to such an unnecessary extent he had to shield himself from it.

For example, sinners in the 4th circle of Hell according to Virgil, their, “Ill giving and ill keeping have robbed both of the fair world and set them to this” (VII. 58-60). By hoarding and by spending the sinners have taken away from the world, they have ether kept too much that others could befit from. Or on the flip side of the coin, have spent too much to not be able to provide for others in their life. Additionally, Dante is Announcing to the punished sinners, “do not let your vile and filthy torment make you afraid to let me know your names.” (XXIX. 107-108). Dante calls out the sinner’s sins, as a man of the Church, Dante the pilgrim and Dante as the poet despises what they have done, after all what they did was a direct offense against