A Place of Ice (...And Fire?)

A Place of Ice (...And Fire?)

     When picturing hell, the first image that comes to mind is a fiery, scorching place of eternal torment. A place of pure agony. However, in Dante’s Inferno, the final circle of hell is ice cold. The phrase “when hell freezes over” is common;y heard, but what if hell was already frozen? In Dante’s Inferno, the ninth circle of hell is frozen instead of raging with heat like the rest of hell.
    Throughout the book, Virgil, our beloved poet, guides Dante through the agonizing journey through hell. They travel level after level, all fiery and scorching, full of eternal pain. Dante describes hell as “full of the cruelest punishments and pain”(Inf. 19.111) and “a sanctuary of pain”(Inf. 5. 16), which paints a grim picture. This is not a place you would want to dwell in. However, in the ninth circle, the description changes. Dante uses phrases like “terrible cold” (Inf. 32.23) and “so thick an ice veil” (Inf. 32.25) to paint hell as a frozen wasteland.
     As the dynamic duo reach the heart of hell, the inhabitants are completely imprisoned in ice. Dante describes the shades as being “all covered up in ice” (Inf. 34. 10), and this brings forth an image of desolation and utter despair. To be encased in ice is to be wholly wretched. Warmth is one of the main components of life, and while these shades are obviously not physically living, their spirits continue to dwell. No semblance of true life, living or dead, can be found in them. They are shells of what they could be. Even in the fiery torment of the circles above, the sinner’s physical bodies were visible as opposed to the shadow bodies of those in the ninth circle.
     We meet Satan in this circle and the constant flapping of his wings keep the atmosphere frigid. Dante says “and from his flapping raised three gales that swept / Cocytus, and reduced it all to ice.” (Inf. 34.51-52); Satan’s wings are gargantuan. In order to be able to move a river, and turn it to ice, there has to be an immense source of power, and Satan is the source. Baffled, Dante asks his guide why this occurs, but Virgil doesn’t deign to respond. He tells Dante that he will see in due time, leaving the mystery alive. They keep on walking. Later, Dante reveals that if Lucifer were to cease beating his wings, escape would be possible.
     One question still remains: Why is this circle of hell frozen as opposed to flaming?
     No definitive answer can be concluded, but there is a plausible reason. The farther down Dante and Virgil descend into hell, the farther away they become from God. The Father is the ultimate source of light and radiant heat, and the closer we get to Him, the “warmer” we become. Because the sinful refused to accept Jesus and the Father, their warmth vanishes. Satan, being the opposite of the Almighty, radiates ice and darkness.
     Because of the sinner’s wicked acts committed during their lives, they have cut themselves off from any sense of humanity and, ultimately, from Christ. The absence of their humanity, which was given to them by the Creator, creates a desolate, frozen wasteland forever encrusted in ice.
     Biblically, hell is described as a place of extreme heat and torment. Revelation 21:8 says “they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”, which introduces the idea of a fiery, sulfurous (rotten) location. Jesus also calls hell a place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in Matthew 13:50. However, is the biblical description literal or merely figurative like Dante’s description? Of course, we can never truly know what God meant when he inspired men to write these words and descriptions, but we can come to a simple conclusion: hell is torture.
     Dante’s description of hell seems to be focused more on the emotional and spiritual implications of their earthly sins and the punishments that coincide with those sins. Dante chooses to focus on the why and how behind the sins versus the physical ramifications after death. The Bible describes hell in terms of physical punishment and torture.
     Whether the torture is in the form of blazing fire as described in the Bible, or as a frozen wasteland as described in Inferno, hell is a place of pure and unforgiving torment. No soul ever wishes to experience the agony of hell, but, ultimately, actions speak louder than words where hell is concerned.

The Consolation of Introversion

I look around the room, and I freeze. So many people staring back at me. I can’t do this. I can’t speak; I’ll be ridiculed. I don’t have anything good to say anyway so it wouldn’t matter.

 

“Try to get out of your comfort zone and engage in the conversation.” Dr. Jacobs comments on my questions.

   “How can I?” I think to myself. “It makes me so uncomfortable and I feel inadequate.”

Suddenly, I see a figure in my peripheral vision. She has her hair in a bun, wide rimmed glasses and a slouchy sweater on.

   “Who are you?” I ask, terrified.

   “I’m Lady Introversion!” she says in an overly enthusiastic voice.

   “Funny, I thought you would have a quiet, soft voice.”

   “Well, aren’t you full of judgment,” she says.

I roll my eyes. “What are you doing here?”

   “I’m here to remind you why you are enough. Introversion is not some horrific monster. Just because you are scared to speak up doesn’t mean you are inadequate.”

I don’t know what to say.

   “Well, I have class in 30 minutes, so I guess you can tag along.”

   “Perfect!”

Again, that voice. I cringe.

Sitting in the spinny chair, my mind races.

   “Don’t give on to those thoughts. They’ll only bring you down.”

I sigh.

   “You’re introspective. That’s not a bad thing.”

   “But--”

   “You know yourself. That’s good. But don’t get caught up in who you think you are. Comfort zones are meant to be broken.”

   “Thanks,” I say, slightly annoyed.

Class starts, and the first question is posed. I say nothing.

   “Okay, next one I’ll answer.” I think to myself.

The next question comes, and I say nothing. Question after question is asked, and again I stay silent.

   “My question is: Why does he say this? What does it mean?”

   “Oh! I know the answer!” I think, elated.

   “Well…..”

The question gets answered, but I still have time to speak up.

   “Well, I think…”

I get cut off because I speak too softly. I give up.

   “Don’t be afraid to speak up!” she says softly.

That means nothing.



Class ends, and I head to work. I go to the back and get my register. Back up at the front, I encounter my first customer.

   “Hi! How are you? Do you have a membership with us?” I ask routinely.

   “I do! My phone number is….”

   “Alright. You can insert your card now.”

The transaction is almost over and I have to ask about the magazines. I loathe asking customers to try the 2 month trial of magazines. It makes me feel schmoozy. I look to my right and my coworker is selling it. He’s super engaging and energetic. But I can see the look on the customer’s face; they are not having it. He may be selling the magazines, but he’s going a bit too far. He needs to let it drop and let the customer leave.

   “See, you know when to stop talking and let the situation pass.” Lady Introversion says. “You don’t cross that delicate line between appropriate and inappropriate. You know when to stop talking.”

   I smile. “You’re right. I don’t make customers obligated to sign up for something they don’t want.”

   “Exactly! Your introversion lets you know when to back off and give space.”

The customer exits the store. I no longer feel bad about asking for magazines. I ask them what I’m supposed to and still engage with the program, but I don’t oversell. I'm not overkilling.



   “Hey, can I talk to you?”

I look over my shoulder and see my friend in the doorway.

   “Of course you can! What’s going on?”

   “Well, I want to go to transfer schools, but my parents won’t let me. But this school has my dream major, music production, and it’s the best in the country. This is my dream. Should I go ahead and apply, knowing I might get accepted or resign myself and stay here. I already gave up this dream when I decided to follow my parent's wishes, but I regret it. I’m terribly unhappy. What should I do?”

   “I know you don’t want to disappoint your parents, and that’s very respectful and courteous, but you have to think of yourself too. Will you regret the decision to go to a school you don’t love and major in something you can’t see yourself getting a job you love in the future? Think about that. I know it’s hard knowing you’re going to let someone down and make them angry, but it’s okay to follow your heart. The Lord put those ideas and feelings there for a reason.”

   “You’re right.” she sighs deeply, tears brimming in her eyes. “It’s just hard. I don’t want to hurt anybody.”

   “I know. But you have to decide. Do you want to finally do something that makes you happy and transfer, or do you want to stay and make your parents happy?” I look towards her, understanding written all over my heart.

   “I definitely have much to think about. Thank you for listening. You always listen, judgment-free, and give great advice.”

   “You’re welcome. You can always talk to me. About anything.”

I give her a reassuring hug. She leaves.

   “See! Introversion isn’t some horrible monster. You listen without interruption and people look to you for advice and as a shoulder to lean on. Not everyone can do what you can.” she says, leaning against the doorframe.

   “Thanks for making me feel better about being introverted. I needed that.” 

   “You’re welcome.”