Dante’s Canto V was about the second circle, the circle of
lust. This is where the true punishments of Hell begin. Souls in this circle
are punished for the sins of lust, incontinence, weakness of will and
self-indulgence. The lesson in Canto V is that people who indulge in adultery
and those who failed to listen to their conscience are severely punished yet Dante
felt pity and sympathy towards them because committing adultery is not
deliberately chosen, which is why lust is placed on the least hateful of the
sins.
