Lucifer

Lucifer, also called Dis and Satan, is the fallen angel and emperor of the infernal realm, imprisoned at the very center of Hell in the frozen lake of Cocytus. He is the ultimate source of all evil and the final, terrifying figure Dante and Virgil encounter before they climb out of the abyss.

Identity and Appearance

Lucifer was once the most beautiful of all angels, but his rebellion against God transformed him into a monstrous, three-faced giant. He is described as a "creature who once had the beauteous semblance" but is now foul beyond measure. His three faces are a grotesque parody of the Trinity: the front face is vermilion, the right-hand face is a pale yellow-white, and the left is black, like those who come from where the Nile falls. Under each face, two enormous bat-like wings emerge, which are featherless and constantly beat, generating three freezing winds that keep Cocytus entirely frozen. He weeps from all six eyes, and his tears mix with bloody drivel that trickles down his three chins. His size is immense: his arms are larger than any giant, and his whole body is proportionally vast.

Position and Punishment

Lucifer is fixed in the ice of Cocytus, the ninth and final circle of Hell, which is reserved for traitors. He is buried up to his mid-breast in the frozen lake. His punishment is to be the instrument of divine justice, eternally chewing on the three greatest traitors in human history. In his front mouth, he crunches Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ, with his head inside and his legs kicking outside. In the other two mouths, he chews Brutus and Cassius, who betrayed Julius Caesar. The punishment is a perfect contrapasso: the arch-traitor against God is himself tormented by the traitors he inspired, and his own body is the prison of the worst sinners.

Role in the Journey

Dante and Virgil reach Lucifer after descending through all nine circles of Hell. Virgil points him out, saying, "Behold Dis, and behold the place where thou with fortitude must arm thyself." Dante is so terrified that he says he did not die nor remain alive. Virgil then carries Dante on his back, climbing down Lucifer's shaggy sides and through the center of the earth. At the exact center of gravity, Virgil turns himself around, and they begin to climb upward, leaving Hell behind. Lucifer remains fixed in the ice, upside down from their new perspective, as they emerge to see the stars again.

Thematic Significance

Lucifer represents the absolute negation of God's love and order. His three faces mock the Trinity, his wings produce cold instead of warmth, and his tears are bloody. He is the embodiment of pride, the original sin that led to his fall from heaven. His punishment is to be the frozen heart of Hell, a place of eternal stasis and isolation, in stark contrast to the dynamic, loving motion of Paradise. He is the ultimate warning against rebellion against God and the final obstacle that Dante must overcome to begin his ascent to salvation.