Inferno, Canto 34 with Dr. Brian Williams 

I’m so grateful to Baylor for this thought-provoking series. And I’m grateful to Dr. Williams for his enlightened commentary-like his depiction of heavenly citizens, he “is one of the coolest people you’ve never met, but always wanted to!”

Such a superb wrapping up of the Inferno! This has been such a good journey. I'm so grateful for the expertise of all the professors and am looking forward to journeying on!

I love his GKC reference, one of my favorites.

Dr. Williams, I loved every second of your presentation. Having taught "Inferno" to high school students for most of my 40-year career, I completely understand your choice to walk your students to the local frozen custard shop. Your comprehensive view of the numerological symbolism in Dante's Comedy was a fitting aspect to the conclusion of these videos on Inferno, reflecting and looking forward at the same time. As others have commented, I would love to be a student in one of your classes: your enthusiasm is supremely engagin.

Too absolutely brilliant, moving, humorous and challenging. Thank you, Prof. Williams.

Canto 34: The final canto of the Inferno begins with a parody of a 14th century hymn sung during the Good Friday liturgy, when the cross of Christ was processed into the church. It continues with a parody of the Eucharistic meal, itself. In the distance, Dante sees what he believes to be a windmill; it is actually Satan with his six bat-leathered wings creating cold winds, refrigerating all Cocytus. The frozen lake they transverse contains the bodies of sinners in a multiplicity of silent, grotesque positions. The travelers cannot converse with any of the residents of this region, Judecca, named for the most noted of historical traitors, Judas Iscariot. They approach the gigantic form of Satan, imprisoned, below his waist, in a sheet of ice. His three heads, colored with a red, black or bilious hue, have jaws which tear everlastingly upon the bodies of Judas, and of Brutus and Cassias, the betrayers of Julius Caesar. Satan’s food does not satisfy his hunger, anymore than did the garbage fed to Cerberus or the organs consumed by other sinners they had met in Hell. A terrified Dante clings to Virgil’s back as the guide slowly descends along Satan’s hairy body. Halfway through their course, when the gravity of the underworld shifts, Virgil flips his position so that the two of them make their way upwards until they reach another cavern, where they behold Satan’s legs thrusting through the membrane of the hole he made when he fell headlong from heaven. Having encountered the sins of mankind and the torments brought upon their shades in Hell, because of their own choices in the world, Dante is now prepared to continue his climb towards the forgiveness to be experienced in Purgatory and the illumination to be found with Beatrice there and in Paradise. Immediately ahead of the pilgrims is the bright light of a birth-canal which beckons them towards the first of the stars to be seen at the conclusion of the Inferno, the Purgatorio and the Paradiso.

Wonderful commentary to end our journey through the inferno. Thank you! Now upward and onward!

Okay, Dr. Williams. After that marvelous synopsis of the frozen center of hell and the hint you gave of what is coming on Mount Purgatory, I think you've convinced those of us still reading that we'd better not stop here. Thank you for sharing with us your love of the Divine Comedy and your love of great literature with the frequent references to other works you've read that shed light on the themes Dante discusses here. Those references make me want to read those other works, too. I kept thinking it must be a lot of fun to take a course with you. After all, isn't that what most of us want in a teacher? Someone who knows lots of stuff but at the same time makes us want to know more of what he or she speaks of. That's one way to create scholars or intellectuals or just simply very good students. Thank you for your participation in these experienced reader videos. I've learned much from what you've said.

I will listen to this again and again. Beautiful!!!!!

Indeed, both an excellent summary of the Inferno and a homily to end the liturgical year. Next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, a time of waiting. We will also begin our journey through Purgatory, a place of waiting. The "timing" of the 100 Days of Dante has been well ordered! I have been posting my own summary of each canto here. For completeness I plan on adding a separate comment for that purpose. If two comments from the same writer turn out to be unacceptable, I look forward to when we read together, again. See you in Purgatory!

Light, music, dance, conversation.. sounds like hell to me

Very, very fine: you touched on just about everything a reader could wish. (However, please remember that it was Weston, not Ransom who ripped frogs wantonly in Paralandra!)

Dr. Williams, Thank you for a fascinating learning experience. I enjoyed your presentation so much that I viewed it three times and took notes to dwell upon. I will no doubt view it again after I read the references that you sited. I award you the symbolic star with which Dante ended the journey through Hell. I hope to see more lectures like yours as I climb the hill of Purgatory, in my real life, as well as my imagination.

Thank you for the Topeka Kansas reference. My husband grew up in Topeka and my in-laws introduced us to G’s Frozen Custard.

what a jam-packed closure!!! Dr. Brian Williams presentation is *chef kiss. "and yes, Dante like everyone in the ancient and medieval world knew that the world is round" made me laugh. I was contemplating Inferno and hell, and it got me quite gloomy. This lecture pulled me out of the icy water and shoved me up to the surface and feel the warm light again. Thank you!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you--I so enjoyed this insightful commentary.

A perfect conclusion to an incredible series. Looking forward to Purgatorio!

Wow... I found myself hanging on every word! Thank you for this excellent commentary. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the journey - "further up and further in!"

Thank you for this delicious insight I just enjoyed with morning honduran coffee in Tegucigalpa

Wow! Stunningly illuminating - Well done Professor Williams. Thank you.

Wonderful ending to the trek through inferno. Thanks to all 33 who contributed their time and, most importantly, their valuable insights that are helping us so much understanding Dante.

Dr. Brian Williams your walk through was absolutely soul stirring. Still reeling and absorbing your insights and reflective thoughts. No words ..just wonder and delighted to climb the mountain of Purgatory. The journey has been challenging and transforming. Not easy and not meant to be. Thank you

Dr. williams charming and upbeat presentation is just what the doctor ordered. Just great.

So so wonderful!!! I love your teaching !!! I so wish I could take a class where I could understand it more thoroughly. This was excellent! It almost sounded like you meant Ransom was ripping up the frogs so brutally, but I know it was the antichrist, Weston, Lucifer's temple in Perelandra. I always listen over and over to these teachings to try to really understand so many deep concepts. Chesterton's quote is one of my absolute favorites! This was so good!!!Thank you with all my heart!!!

First, my thanks to Baylor University for creating this wonderful series and making it available online. And thanks to all of the wonderful commentators who added so much insight and enjoyment to reading Inferno. A special thank you to Dr. Brian Williams for his enthusiastic, humorous, and brilliant comments. Clearly the best was saved for last.

Fabulous, thank you.

Fantastic commentary!

Wow, excellent!

Thank you Dr Williams this was an instructive lecture. And thanks to all the series lecturers who have contributed.

What Dr Williams said reminded me of what another historian said about the Nazis - the banality of evil.

I almost never comment. I chose to in this casé because I am truly thankful for this video. It is amazing! Thank you Baylor!

Thanks a lot, dr. Williams, for your great and enthousiastic lecture about Canto 34. You gave a fantastic overview of the journey thus far. Very educational, with humour and passion! I love it!

Great summary and commentary! I loved the “and…yes, everyone in the ancient and medieval world knew that the world was round”. If Dante came to visit us today, we should introduce him to a group of flat-earthers…

This has been a wonderful experience. Thank you to all for the wonderful presentation.

This. Was. Fantastic. I learned so much. I also was disappointed, thinking it was going to be more vivid and dramatic with this canto. Now I completely understand why it was written as it was. Amazing. It makes me really see how an author can use creative writing to really work on people; our emotions and thinking. Incredible.

An energetic exciting and interesting presentation. Thanks Brian.

Very Very Well Done. Excellent discussion.

Very inspiring and easy to follow presentation. Provided much food for thought! Thank you.

I would love to attend your classes, Dr. Williams.

So good, thank you! I have enjoyed working my way through Inferno and these videos have been incredibly helpful. Great job! One tiny correction: You referenced Ransom killing frogs all night in Perelandra, but that is actually Weston (or "the Unman"), not Ransom.

Whoop, Whoop! The big D. Glad he suffers forever. On to Purgatory. Then Paradise. ❤️❤️

A really great talk - one of the best of the series! Great delivery with an analysis overview of the the entire book to set the perspective. I didn't understand the writings about the descent of the devil and the creation of Mt Purgatorio until I heard this talk. Looking back at the text, I see that I would have missed this entirely had it not been explained to me. I'm also interested in the artwork in the background behind Dr Williams - does it have a name, can it be found anywhere to buy?

Frozen custard, lol! I guess you can buy frozen custard in the shops in America? Here in the UK, we've never heard of it. Frozen yoghurt, we have, and fresh custard, of course. So I'm going to have to freeze some fresh custard now and see what it's like...

“He is not Dis” well actually…