The Divine ComedyCanto XXIII CHARACTERS:

Whitney Browning

Dante – an epic poet that is put in Inferno and tries to find his way out.

Virgil – a famous epic poet that was told to guide Dante through the Hell and Purgatory.

Malebranches - ten demons in the 4th pouche of the 8th circle of Hell that acted like they were going to help guide Virgil and Dante. (deceptive)

Hypocrites – found in the 5th pouche, dressed in heavy (glittery) cloaks, and they walk very slowly. (as punishment)

Botticelli’s Chart Of Dante's Hell

The demons in the 4th pouche (of the 8th circle of Hell) can’t reach the Dante when they are in the 5th pouche of Hell

Virgil and Dante are coming from the 4th pouche headed to the 5th pouche when the deceptive malebranches send two of their kind to guide them.

Virgil and Dante leave the two demons tangled in a boiling glue-like pond (the punishments and scenery gets worse as we move down).

Dante is very scared that the malebranches will be angry and catch up to them.

The malebranches are not allowed to leave the 4th pouche and look sown on them.

Discussion with the Hypocrites:

There are two main hypocrites in this area that are friars from Bologna and their names are Catalano and Loderingo.

These two friars ask Dante where he is from and he answers them by saying he came from an area near Arnos (a river in Italy).

Dante then asks them why they cry and they explain they heavy cloaks.

The crucified Hypocrite

This crucified man was a site that even surprised Virgil.

Virgil had been here before, but that was before Christ’s death.

This man was being punished for counseling the Pharisees, and he let Christ be crucified to please many others.

Virgil grows angry with the Malebranches

When Dante and Virgil asked the two friars where to go, the friars told them that the bridge was out to the next circle of Hell.

They told them they can climb a rocky ridge to the next circle.

This is when Virgil found out the malebranches lied to him.

On they went to finish their journey through the Inferno.