# Canto XXI: The Fifth Bolgia – The Malebranche and the Barrators explained — The Divine Comedy

> Chapter companion for The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.

## What happens

Dante and Virgil descend into the Fifth Bolgia of Malebolge, where corrupt politicians (barrators) are submerged in boiling pitch. A demon arrives carrying a sinner from Lucca and hurls him into the pitch. The devils, called Malebranche, threaten Virgil, but he invokes divine will to secure safe passage. Malacoda, their leader, warns that the sixth arch is broken and offers an escort of ten demons to guide them to the next intact bridge. Dante is fearful of the devils' threatening gestures, but Virgil reassures him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Divine Justice

The boiling pitch and demonic torment of barrators illustrate the contrapasso for political corruption.

### Political Corruption and Civic Strife

The sin of barratry (selling public offices) is explicitly punished, with a Luccan official cast into the pitch.

## Character check-ins

### Dante Alighieri

The pilgrim, fearful of the Malebranche devils, hides behind a rock and later presses close to Virgil for protection.

### Virgil

Dante's guide, who confronts the Malebranche, invokes divine will, and negotiates safe passage with Malacoda.

### Ciacco

Not directly present; the chapter focuses on barrators, not gluttons.

## Key lines

> As in the Arsenal of the Venetians Boils in the winter the tenacious pitch To smear their unsound vessels o’er again... Thus, not by fire, but by the art divine, Was boiling down below there a dense pitch

Just as the Venetian shipyard boils pitch in winter to caulk ships, so divine art boils a thick pitch in this ditch, without fire.

_The simile emphasizes the industrial scale and divine origin of the punishment._

> All there are barrators, except Bonturo; No into Yes for money there is changed.

Everyone in Lucca is a corrupt official except Bonturo Dati; they turn 'no' into 'yes' for money.

_Sarcastic remark highlighting the pervasive corruption in Lucca._

> Here the Santo Volto has no place! Here swims one otherwise than in the Serchio;

This is not the place for the Holy Face of Lucca; you swim differently here than in the Serchio River.

_The devils mock the sinner, referencing Lucca's relic and river._

> Yesterday, five hours later than this hour, One thousand and two hundred sixty-six Years were complete, that here the way was broken.

The sixth arch collapsed 1,266 years ago, yesterday at the fifth hour after dawn.

_Malacoda gives a precise but deceptive timeline, referencing the earthquake at Christ's crucifixion._

> And he had made a trumpet of his rump.

Barbariccia farted as a signal to the other devils.

_Grotesque and comic detail showing the devils' vulgarity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_divine_comedy_se/chapters/canto-xxi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_divine_comedy_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_divine_comedy_se/chapters