Who is punished in the third circle for gluttony?

In the third circle of Dante's Inferno, the punishment is specifically designed for the gluttonous. This circle serves to embody the consequences of excessive indulgence in food and drink. The souls of the gluttonous are depicted as lying in a slushy mixture of rain and hail, representing the consequences of their overindulgence. They are also tormented by Cerberus, the three-headed dog, who tears at them and symbolizes the unrestrained appetites that led them to their downfall.

This focus on the gluttonous specifically contrasts with those in other circles. For example, the greedy, while close in concept, are punished in a different context related to avarice. The wrathful and the slothful are associated with different sins entirely, demonstrating how each circle corresponds directly to a particular vice and its associated punishments. This illustrates Dante's method of categorizing sins and showcasing the specific nature of each transgression through vivid imagery and allegory. Thus, the correct identification of the souls of the gluttonous aligns precisely with their unique punishment in the narrative.