Cantos 21-23

Canto 22 lines 117-123
Timing exactly when,
Feet firm against the ground, the Navarrese
Suddenly leaped and instantly broke free
Out of their custody. Each demon, at this,
Felt stung by his misdoing-especially he
Who caused the blunder. So crying out, "You're caught!"
He flew away in pursuit, but futiley

This passage shows an example of where a sinner has power over the guards who keep them. They don't always have as much control over things/souls as they seem to. This passage and the next show the imperfections of the demons and their limitations. They're also obviously not the smartest or fastest of creatures either. Is it only on rare occasions that they get taken advantage of or do they normally have control over things? Is having to deal with all the trouble-making souls another form of punishment for the demons?


Canto 23 lines 46-52
Hurtling along with me upon his breast
Not like his mere companion, but like his child.
Just as his feet hit bottom, on the crest
Above us they appeared-but now they held
Nothing to fear, for that high Providence
That made them keepers of the fifth ditch willed
That they should have no power to leave its bounds.

The first two lines are interesting because Dante is described as a child and Virgil as a mother (mentioned earlier in the passage). Why specifically is Dante mentioned as a child and Virgil as a mother? Is Dante supposed to come off as extremely vulnerable and possibly innocent, like a child is? The fact that Virgil is described as a parent figure (specifically a mother, as mentioned earlier) seems quite purposeful. The relationship between the two was always presented as Virgil being the greater, more intellectual one and Dante being his follower. This description makes the relationship much more personal. Virgil appears very protective over Dante. Why does he care so much? The last line in this passage is also very important. These demons are presented as powerful inforcers of the rules/laws, but in this passage they are anything but. Their powers are limited and are kept in line by greater beings/powers. The demons are stuck there just like all the other souls.