About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Monday, August 31, 2015

H is for HELL

One of my students had to read Dante's "Inferno" a couple of years ago, so I thought I should read it, too.  The old style is a bit difficult at first, but I had a copy that explained practically every line.  If you haven't had the pleasure, Dante Alighieri describes Hell as having nine circles (levels), each of which describes various types of sins.  As Dante sinks deeper into the circles of Hell, the descriptions of the circles' conditions become worse and worse.  The 9 circles of Hell represent the sins of (in order of level of evil) Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Anger, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery.   I can't insert an image from the poem because all are just too gruesome, but this illustrates the inscription that Dante sees as he approaches the entrance to Hell.
From Wikipedia:  In the very centre of Hell, condemned for committing the ultimate sin (personal treachery against God), is Satan. Satan is described as a giant, terrifying beast with three faces, one red, one black, and one a pale yellow:
he had three faces: one in front bloodred;
and then another two that, just above
the midpoint of each shoulder, joined the first;
and at the crown, all three were reattached;
the right looked somewhat yellow, somewhat white;
the left in its appearance was like those
who come from where the Nile, descending, flows.[61]
Satan is waist deep in ice, weeping tears from his six eyes, and beating his six wings as if trying to escape, although the icy wind that emanates only further ensures his imprisonment (as well as that of the others in the ring).  With Satan are Brutus and Cassius who assassinated Julius Caesar and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.

This poem is an allegory (writers use abstracts to represent meanings through actions, imagery, characters, events to create a moral, spiritual or political meaning) but when one reads Dante's "Inferno", one comes away with a sensation of horror to think that anyone could be plunged into a specific circle of Hell to an eternity of some sort of torture or brutality.  Do you believe in Hell?  Do you believe Hell is a possibility?  I was brought up with the belief in Heaven and Hell, but as an adult, I do wonder.

Which brings me to a very well-known phrase:  "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."  I have recently quoted this a couple of times when people have asked me how I am doing after the breakup of my marriage.  To be honest, I've had a hard time dealing with the anger towards my ex considering the lies, deceit, abuse and other things he threw at me.  According to the meaning behind the phrase, although Hell is considered to be the most horrid place to be in, it cannot compete with the terror of a woman when she is scorned, spurned, or shunned. 

Considering Dante's depiction of Hell, would I wish him any part of those nine circles? Absolutely not.  However, I do believe he will, in some way, pay for the Hell he created. 
In the meantime, I happen to be hobbling along much better these days.  The ankle is healed as well as it ever will be, my blood pressure is normal, and I'm harbouring a yen for school to start again.

Thanks to the most honourable Lady Denise Nesbitt (creator of ABC Wednesday) and to the most humble Sir Roger, our handsome administrator.  Don't forget to give silent thanks also to the harmonious and helpful group of bloggers who take the time to hop over to visit your contributions. Have a happy week, everyone!  This smiling face is what makes ME happy these days!

18 comments:

Reader Wil said...

Interesting post about hell, facts I didn't know.. I was a victim of greed , gluttony and fraud. I wrote about this last year or the year before( time flies)
I hope you can deal with the sadness you feel about the bad attitude.of your ex.

Thanks. for your kind comment, and I wisbh you a great and happy week.
Wil, ABCW Team

Trubes said...

Interesting piece Leslie and I find it rather amusing that I chose to write about HADES and the Gates of Hell !
We really do seem to have a psychological link somewhere....Oooh spooky!
I am so sorry you've had such a bad time of late but don't worry you'll soon bounce back,
(not too much bouncing mind, with you track record!)

You've got darling Tegan to keep you smiling too,
She smiles all the time, just so adorable.

And all your faithful followers, and friends, on ABCW, Face Book and Blogger;
We are all HERE to surround you with love and friendship.

Love and Best wishes,
From,
Di,
ABCW team,

Unknown said...

Wow Leslie, very informative things i did not know... even though i've studied theologie for a while some years ago ;-)

I rarely think about that place... also i wish nobody to go there.... and i try my very best to do good so i can prevent ending down there too ;-)

Melody (abc-w-team)

Ann said...

Sometimes bad things happen to good people Leslie, we won't know why until we can ask Jesus face to face. Praying you heal and can move on-the ex will pay for his deceit.
ann

photowannabe said...

What an interesting choice of words .
It seems you have been through your own private Hell. I don't wish that on anyone or that any should end up there at the end of their lives.
I'm so glad you are feeling better and have that precious Tegan to keep you going.
Thank you for your vulnerability.

Roger Owen Green said...

Hmm. I have a blogpost in about a month, but one piece is that I think that the idea that most of the world would go to hell because the people hadn't accepted (or even heard about) Jesus Christ was too much to bear when I was 18. Or now.

Photo Cache said...

A healed happy you is a good thing. See you next week. Oh tomorrow for Signs.

My ABC WEDNESDAY

Berowne said...

That picture of a dog; was that Cerberus - the dog that guards the gates of Hell?

Nonnie said...

Oh, I am so sorry to hear about the demise of your marriage. Having a couple of men in our family like you described your ex, I feel much sympathy. I hope that you have support to help you.

Hildred said...

Dante was quite infernal in his imagination when he described Hell...can't say that I picture it that way, - but then I also don't picture heaven as having pearly gates and streets of gold!!! I have high hopes that time will bring you more happiness, Leslie!!!

Gattina said...

I think I have read Dante's hell ages ago ! He had a lot of imagination ! When I was a child I thought the devil would cook the sinners in a copper pot !

Gattina
ABC Wednesday team
http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com/

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Dear Leslie , I feel for you and of course I know exactly what you are going through. I am up and down at the moment , it is horrid. He is avoiding me like the plague . BUT he wants it all sorted asap .. Thinking of you . Take Care Anne xx

Anonymous said...

Happy to hear about your ankle and the less hobbling. Sorry to hear about the fury that is being hurled at you. Hope things settle down and you can heal and come up smelling like roses!

Lmkazmierczak said...

Interesting that Dante pictured Satan as such an ugly being...I had always pictured him as most beautiful, alluring - a great imitator of the best of God's creations. Sounds like you have a good handle on your situation...wishing you all the peace and joy that the Holy Spirit can bestow upon you.

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

You asked, "Do you believe in hell?" I do believe in hell, but I believe we create it ourselves through our bad deeds towards others. I believe that Jesus was the atonement for the sins of all those whom believe in him, and accept Him as their Lord. I believe in grace, even if true repentance comes before our last minute of life. I found 3 passages in the Bible that I feel allude to this point:

Romans 14:11 - It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

Phillipians 2:10-11 - at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 5:13 - Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

Therefore, there I feel that there may be some limbo or perhaps a purgatory for those that do not accept God's grace before death, but eventually everyone will repent and accept the Lord as our Creator, Savior and Redeemer.

Anyway, this is my humble opinion.

Joy said...

Isn't it interesting that the imagination to portray hell seems to be easier and more prevalent than to imagine heaven, maybe there are more of us down there, or as the saying goes you'll meet more people you know, LOL. Glad to hear your ankle is on the mend.

Gigi Ann said...

I've never read this book, and really know I never will. But your post was interesting just the same.

Ira said...

I have not read Dante's version but came to know about it while I was reading 'Inferno' by Dan Brown where he sort of takes us through the world with those very gates though not literally.

As for hell, well my dear I do not know how mush deep I am in sins but one thing is for sure that people who create a hell for others on earth certainly book their place there.

Stay Blessed always :)