The Inferno Canto XXII Review Guide

Summary

            The envoy of Dante, Virgil, and the ten demons continue on their path through the Eighth Circle and Fifth Pouch. Dante tell of how the sinners arch their backs in the water, like dolphins, to warn others of the dangers of oncoming demons. Dante desperately searches the surface of the pitch for a soul that he can talk with. Virgil finally finds a soul for Dante and he asks the soul to identify itself. The soul only replies that he is from Navarre and that he accepted bribes when working for King Thibault. Thus the sinners in this level are known as the Barterers. The tusked demon, Ciriatto, ends the conversation by tearing the soul apart. The soul is believed to have the name Ciampolo. Virgil then ask if any people “of Latin land” lay under the pitch. Ciampolo promised to bring seven Italians back with him if the demons would lay off while he brought the souls up from the pitch. The demon Cagnazzo voices that the soul is up to no good and will not return. The soul dives down under the pitch and never returns. This angers the demons who try to dive down to catch him, but the pitch is too aweful. Meanwhile, Dante and Virgil decide to make a quick escape.

Sin/Sinners

The sinners in the Fifth Pouch of the Eighth Circle of Hell are the Barterers or Grafters. Those who exploited public office with corruption and bribery, aka “sticky fingers”

Punishment/Contrapasso

They must boil in pitch and be tortured by winged devils. The symbolism is that they had sticky fingers in life, and now they must be sticky all over from the pitch. They took bribes and manipulated and tormented other during their lives, so the demons manipulate and torment them.

Characters

Graffiacan, Ciriatto, Libicocco, Draghinazzo, Cagnazzo, Alichino- demon envoy given to Dante and Virgil by Malacoda, led by Cagnazzo.

Ciampolo- born in Navarre, France. Served under King Thibault, where he accepted bribes. Ciampolo is the soul that Dante and Virgil talk to and tricks the demons by escaping their torture.

King Thibault- Thibault I, King of Navarre. Died on June 8^th, 1233. Helped aid the Crusades but oppressed the rights and privileges of the Church.

Friar Gomita- intrusted by Nino de’ Visconti with the government of Gallura, Sardinia. Took a bribe from his master’s enemies and let them escape.

Questions

1. Dante often alludes to many animals in this canto. In what ways are the Barterers compared to animals? Why are they compared to animals?

2. Why are the devils fooled so easily? Are they too subject to torture and punishment?

3. What is significant about Ciampolo’s trickery?