Malebranche

The Malebranche, whose name means "Evil Claws," are a troop of twelve demons who guard the fifth bolgia of the eighth circle (Malebolge) in Dante's Inferno. They are the grotesque wardens of the barrators—corrupt public officials—who are punished by being submerged in a lake of boiling pitch. The Malebranche are not merely a random mob of devils; they are organized into a parody of a military squad, with a commander (Malacoda) and a decurion (Barbariccia), and they are given individual names that suggest their vicious and often comic natures: Alichino, Calcabrina, Cagnazzo, Libicocco, Draghignazzo, Ciriatto, Graffiacane, Farfarello, Rubicante, and Scarmiglione. Their role in the narrative is to both terrorize the damned and, through their own chaotic behavior, to provide a darkly comic interlude that ultimately demonstrates the limits of demonic power when confronted with divine will.

Identity and Organization

The Malebranche are introduced in Canto XXI when a black devil appears on the crag carrying a sinner from Lucca, an "elder of Saint Zita," whom he hurls down into the pitch. This devil addresses the others as "Malebranche" and commands them to plunge the sinner beneath the surface. The troop is then formally mustered by their leader, Malacoda, who names ten of them to escort Virgil and Dante to the next intact bridge: Alichino, Calcabrina, Cagnazzo, Barbariccia (as guide), Libicocco, Draghignazzo, Ciriatto, Graffiacane, Farfarello, and Rubicante. A twelfth, Scarmiglione, is also mentioned. The demons are armed with grappling hooks and rakes, and they use these to torment the sinners, preventing them from surfacing from the pitch. Their behavior is a brutal parody of military discipline: they gnash their teeth, make obscene signals with their tongues and rumps, and are described as a "savage company"—fit for the church with saints, but in the tavern with gluttons.

Role in the Fifth Bolgia

The Malebranche's primary function is to enforce the contrapasso of the barrators. The sinners are immersed in boiling pitch, which symbolizes the sticky, secretive nature of their corrupt deals. The demons patrol the banks and, when a sinner dares to show his back above the surface, they hook him with their gaffs and force him back under. In one extended episode, the demon Graffiacane hooks a sinner from Navarre by his pitch-smeared hair and draws him up like an otter. This sinner, Ciampolo, is then interrogated by Virgil, but the demons—Ciriatto, Libicocco, Draghignazzo—grow impatient and begin to tear at him with their tusks and hooks, forcing Barbariccia to restrain them. The Malebranche are thus both agents of divine justice and embodiments of chaotic, undisciplined cruelty, which ultimately undermines their own authority.

The Deception of Malacoda and the Escape

Malacoda, the commander, initially appears to be a figure of authority. When Virgil confronts him, Malacoda is humbled by the mention of divine will and orders his demons not to strike the travelers. He then provides Virgil with false information, claiming that the sixth arch of the bridge is broken and that they must follow a different path along the rock, escorted by ten of his demons. This deception is a deliberate act of malice, as Malacoda knows the bridge is intact. The escort quickly degenerates into farce: the demons, led by Barbariccia, make a trumpet of his rump as a signal, and they soon fall into a quarrel among themselves. When the Navarrese sinner tricks them and dives back into the pitch, two of the demons, Calcabrina and Alichino, fight each other and fall into the boiling pitch themselves, becoming stuck. The Malebranche are thus left in disarray, their power neutralized by their own rage and stupidity. Virgil and Dante escape by sliding down into the next bolgia, where the hypocrites are punished.

Thematic Significance

The Malebranche episode serves multiple thematic purposes. First, it illustrates the principle of contrapasso in a comic mode: the barrators, who abused their public trust for private gain, are now submerged in a medium that conceals their true nature, just as their corruption was hidden. Second, the demons themselves are a parody of corrupt officialdom—they are violent, deceitful, and ultimately incompetent. Their leader Malacoda lies to Virgil, and the troop's internal squabbling leads to their own downfall. This undermines any notion of demonic dignity or power, reinforcing the idea that evil is ultimately self-defeating. Finally, the episode provides a moment of dark humor and relief within the otherwise grim journey through Hell, while also demonstrating Virgil's wisdom and Dante's growing courage. The Malebranche are a memorable example of Dante's ability to blend the horrific with the absurd, creating a vision of Hell that is both terrifying and morally instructive.