Circle Four: The Greedy

Hoarders and wasters get the same punishment: they have to slam weights against each other, then do it again forever. Of course, this is Hell, so "do it again forever" is implied. This is kind of a lame punishment, but excessive hoarding or wasting is kind of a lame sin. Medieval Christians thought and viewed the sin as most offensive to the spirit of love; Dante goes even further in blaming avarice for ethical and political corruption in his society. Dante accordingly shows no mercy unlike his attitude toward Francesca and Ciacco.