Grief and Greed Canto IV illustrates the conflict between Dante the poet’s natural inclination to sympathize with the gluttonous Ciacco and his urge to gouge him for more information about the future of his home, Florence. The poet’s first response to Ciacco’s explanation of how he ended up in the third circle of hell is that “[Ciacco’s] grievous state / weighs down on [him], it makes [him] want to weep” (IV, 58-59). This initial reaction of empathy gives way after one line as the poet says, “tell me, what will happen, if you know, / to the citizens of [Florence]?” (IV, 60-61). This abrupt change in the conversation leads to a long string of questions as if the poet has forgotten about Ciacco’s circumstances entirely. The Canto begins with a transition from the second circle of hell to the third, which is full of the gluttons. Once the setting is clear, the poet begins to describe the details of the third circle. He begins with a detailed description of Cerberus, the ruthless three-headed beast that occupies the ring of gluttons (IV. 12-19). Once he passes by Cerberus, the poet begins to face the punishment that plagues the gluttons for eternity. The poet describes the suffering as he “walk[s] across [the] marsh of shades beaten / down by the heavy rain, [their] feet pressing / on their emptiness that looked like human form” (IV, 34-37). The further the poet marches into Hell, the better he is able to empathize with the sinners of each circle. Ciacco discovers Dante just as he is beginning to feel for the sinners. Ciacco calls out to Dante in the midst of his journey through the third circle saying “O you there being led through this inferno,[…] try to remember who I am”(IV, 40-41). Recognizing a fellow citizen of Florence, the poet is hit with two contrasting emotions at the same time. Having experienced the political chaos of Florence, “so filled with envy / its cup already overflows the brim” (IV,49-50), as well as the madness of hell, the poet’s first reaction is to feel
