Canto 22

Canto 22

Summary:

As continuation of Canto 21, Canto 22 begins in the eigth circle and fifth ditch with the grafters. These are the sinners from Canto 21 who are constantly being plunged into the boiling waters that are guarded by the winged demons who have pitchforks and prongs. Virgil and Dante finally get to hear the story of one of the sinners past, the Ciampolo of Navarre (also known as Giampolo). He explains that he used to serve for the King Thibault in Navarre. He also explains that he was sent there because he accepted bribes. Ciampolo then outsmarts the demon by telling him he will get more sinners for him to punish that had just arrived. This was obviously a trick and Ciampolo is able to escape which then gets very upset.

Sin and Sinners:

The sinners continue to be the grafters, which are people who find illegal ways to get wealth and power. In other words, they use money to get political positions. They are a lot like corrupt politicians because of their actions in order to get things.

Punishment:

The grafters are thrown into the bolgia, which are filled with dark, boiling, tar-like waters. They are continuously tricked to go to the surface in which a demon uses the hook to continuously push them back down in the pit. The demons use pitchforks and prongs to throw them into the water. The demons also claw open at some of the sinners.

Link to Contrapasso:

       The bolgia is filled with a dark, boiling, tar-like substance where the sinners are sent to find ways to be sneaky in order to reach the surface. The demons, very much like the sinners, are not very trustworthy and find ways to twist their secret deals for their advantage. It is these black devils that make fun of the sinners and their sin. The sticky pitch is representative of their sticky fingers.

Characters:

o  Malacoda : Also known as evil-tail and is the leader of the Malebranche.

o  Malebranche : Also known as evil claws. They are the demons who guard the bolgias in the Eighth circle.

o  Ciampolo of Navarre : Also known as Ciampolo and is a grafter. All that is known about him is that he was born in Navarre, his dad was a wastrel, and he worked for King Thibault II.

Important quote:

“Born in Navarre’s domain,
My mother placed me in a lord’s retinue:
For she had borne me to a losel vile,
A spendthrift of his substance and himself.
The good King Thibault after that I served:
To peculating here my thoughts were turn’d,
Whereof I give account in this dire heat.”