Dante and Virgil are near the seventh circle, Dante’s attention is concentrated on the sound of water falling into the next circle of Hell. However, Dante and Virgil are stopped by three figures. These figures are aware that Dante is a Florentine because of his clothing. Virgil tells Dante to show these figures politeness and Dante listens to them, as with Ciacco and Farinata. The figures surround Dante, asking Dante who he is. An important reoccurrence (as seen in previous canto’s) happens again when the figures ask Dante to remember them and to speak about them when Dante returns to the world. Dante states, “For I am of your city; and with fondness, I’ve always told and heard the others tell of both your actions and your honored names. I leave the gall and go for the sweet apples that I was promised by my truthful guide; but first I must descend into the center” (canto 16, lines 58-63).  These three Florentines are eager to talk to someone from their own homeland. These figures in the afterlife (as well as Dante) feel a notable attachment to Florence, which is their home on earth. The meeting between Dante and Guido Guerra, Tegghiaio Aldobrandi, and Jacopo Rusticucci demonstrate the horrible and devastating infernal punishment they persistently endure, however these dignified individuals inspire Dante because of their high values they demonstrated when they were alive. However, these Florentines, are not able to see the present of Florence, and like Dante are greatly concerned with the status of their homeland (Florence). Dante is concerned because, those who rule Florence, are the same people that exiled him. The three noble Florentine’s praise Dante for his skilled speech and this shows that Dante is growing over the course of his journey, learning from Virgil. Furthermore, Jacopo wants Dante to seek immortality through fame and wants Dante to live on in fame when he dies. Dante however doesn’t want this for himself but instead he seeks to reach a truer form of immortality which is salvation in heaven. Dante in this canto represents conservative values because he idealizes the past, which was the Florence he knew and misunderstands and rejects the social and economic changes happening in Florence. So, for Dante there is no probability of redemption in the future, enclosed in condemnation of the present and, therefore he continues to recall Florence’s past.

The theme of language is developed throughout this canto, the language of truth and falsity—the distinction between false words and truthful words. Dante describes Virgil as his “truthful guide.” Then, Dante, cries out while explaining the state of Florence and states “Newcomers to the city and quick gains have brought excess and arrogance…” (Canto 16, lines 73-37). The three Florentines listen to the truth and believe it: “the three looked at each other when they heard my answer as men will stare when they have heard the truth” (Canto 16, lines 76-78). Dante also believes that there is a type of truth which seems like a lie, this is proven when he states, “Faced with that truth which seems a lie, a man should always close his lips as long as he can—
to tell it shames him, even though he’s blameless; but here I can’t be still; and by the lines of this my Comedy, reader, I swear—and may my verse find favor for long years” (Canto 16, lines 124-129). Dante admits that is own work referring to the Comedy, is a piece of literature in which he feels the need tell his story even though it seems fictional. In this way, Dante feels his work holds literal and true beliefs, even though it may seem to be fiction. Because Dante is close to entering the circles devoted to fraud, therefore there is a distinction occurring.