Inferno Canto III: The Opportunists

Souls in the Vestibule of Hell, neither good nor evil, concerned only with themselves, taking no sides in the Angel Rebellion; eternally running in circles, pursued by stinging insects.

The punishment in Hell is directly related to the sin committed; a reflection of the nature of the souls' actions.

The punishment for the Opportunists; a continuous running in circles.

Charon, the ferryman of the dead, initially refuses to ferry Dante across the Acheron; but is forced by Virgil.

Dante experiences extreme terror during the crossing of the Acheron, losing consciousness before reaching the other side.

The initial area in Hell where souls are categorized based on their lack of significant virtue or vice.

Souls in the Vestibule of Hell who were neither good nor evil, only concerned with themselves and didn't take sides in the Angel Rebellion.

They are perpetually running in circles, pursued by stinging insects that cause blood and matter to attract maggots.

Dante's idea that the punishment in Hell reflects the sins committed, a symbolic representation of the soul's actions.

Their endless running in circles symbolizes their pursuit of an elusive and ever-changing advantage, always grasping for something that's just out of reach.

The Opportunists are immersed in darkness, reflecting their lack of clear moral direction and their pursuit of questionable advantages.

The Opportunists are pursued by their own guilt, causing an eternal chase through their moral filth.

The first river of Hell that separates the world of the living from the underworld.

Souls who have just died and are waiting at the river Acheron to be ferried to their specific punishment.

The ferryman of the dead, tasked with transporting souls across the River Acheron to their punishments.

Virgil, Dante's guide, forces Charon to comply by invoking divine authority and reminding him of his duty.

Dante wakes up after crossing the Acheron, now fully immersed in the realm of Hell, ready to confront deeper levels of punishment.

Three lines at the gate of Hell: 'I AM THE WAY INTO THE CITY OF WOE. I AM THE WAY TO A FORSAKEN PEOPLE. I AM THE WAY INTO ETERNAL SORROW.'

The 'City of Woe' refers to Hell itself, a place filled with immense suffering and despair.

The 'Forsaken People' are the souls condemned to Hell, abandoned by God and left to suffer eternally.

The inscription's final line, 'Eternal Sorrow,' highlights the unending nature of suffering in Hell.