Dante Cantos 16-19

Canto 16
Line 17--"linked their bodies in a wheel"
I interpreted this as being a comment due to the fact that the people in this section of hell. The people are connected by their gayness. The chapions are ancient wrestlers which reinforces the idea that wrestling is gay, this could be a comment by Dante that writing is better than sports.

Canto 17
Line 49--"Each had a purse hung round his neck"
Dante used the purses as a label to put more people who he hates into hell. The family emblems each represent a family of Padua. Padua is a city state that is probably an opponent of florence. For this, dante condemns the inhabitants to hell.

Canto 18
In this section of the 8th circle of hell Dante finds the soul of Venidico Caccianemico who he labels as a pimp by putting him in this circle of hell. The punishment in this level is quite ironic because the pimps are beaten by the demons and controled much like they had controled and sold women.

Canto 19
line 48--"boniface, are you already there"
This goes with the theme of the atrocities of the church. Pope Boniface III is labeled as destined for the deep rings of hell because he was expected there. Boniface had a personal part in banishing Dante and therefor he is a very special enemy in Dantes eyes.