# Canto XVIII: The Eighth Circle: Malebolge explained — The Divine Comedy

> Chapter companion for The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.

## What happens

Dante and Virgil enter the Eighth Circle of Hell, Malebolge, a stone region of ten concentric ditches. In the first bolgia, they see seducers and panders being whipped by horned demons. Dante recognizes Venedico Caccianimico, a Bolognese pander, and Virgil points out Jason, who deceived Hypsipyle and Medea. In the second bolgia, they encounter flatterers submerged in human filth, including Alessio Interminelli of Lucca and the harlot Thaïs.

## Themes in this chapter

### Divine Justice

The contrapasso in Malebolge punishes seducers and flatterers with fitting torments: whipping for panders, filth for flatterers.

### Political Corruption and Civic Strife

Venedico Caccianimico's mention of Bologna's avaricious heart reflects civic corruption.

## Character check-ins

### Dante Alighieri

The pilgrim observes the sinners in Malebolge, recognizing Venedico Caccianimico and Alessio Interminelli.

### Virgil

Dante's guide, who leads him through the bolgias and identifies Jason and Thaïs.

### Venedico Caccianimico

A Bolognese pander in the first bolgia, who admits to procuring Ghisola for the Marquis.

### Jason

The mythological hero condemned in the first bolgia for deceiving Hypsipyle and Medea.

### Alessio Interminelli

A flatterer from Lucca, covered in filth in the second bolgia.

### Thaïs

The harlot flatterer in the second bolgia, scratching herself with filthy nails.

## Key lines

> I was the one who the fair Ghisola Induced to grant the wishes of the Marquis, Howe’er the shameless story may be told.

Venedico confesses he persuaded Ghisola to yield to the Marquis's desires, regardless of the scandalous tale.

_Venedico admits his sin of pandering._

> Thaïs the harlot is it, who replied Unto her paramour, when he said, ‘Have I Great gratitude from thee?’⁠—‘Nay, marvellous’

Virgil identifies Thaïs, who flattered her lover by saying his gratitude was 'marvelous'.

_Thaïs exemplifies the sin of flattery._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_divine_comedy_se/chapters/canto-xviii
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