Malebranche

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The Malebranche form the demonic choir that guards the fifth bolgia of Hell, reserved for the punishment of barrators. The term, attested in Canto XXI at verse 37 in the apostrophe «O Malebranche» addressed by the devil Malacoda, is a collective name «deliberately modeled on Malebolge» and «already characterizes the devils of the bolgia», alluding «to the hooks with which they seize the sinners, and to their clawed hands». The definition thus connects to the traditional iconography of the devil, whose «pointed shoulders are also part of popular iconography». Their name recurs also in Canto XXII, where it is said «let the Malebranche stand off a bit», confirming the use of the name as a generic appellation for the group. The Malebranche, despite being demonic creatures, are presented as figures «popular, basically good-natured, certainly not tragic», and to their decuria belong individual devils with proper names — Alichino, Calcabrina, Scarmiglione, Graffiacane, Farfarello and others — brought on stage in the episode of Ciampòlo.