Dante and Virgil’s encounter with the Grafters begins in the Seventh Circle of Hell, The Violent, where they are transported down into the Eight Circle of Hell, on the back of the mythological monster, Geryon. Geryon has the face of man, the body of a beast, and the tail of scorpion.
The inhabitants of this circle include the Malebranche, devils assigned to torment the souls of this circle, the Grafters. The Grafters were corrupt politicians who were numerous within the ruling families of Dante’s time. The Grafters punishment was to spend eternity in a river of boiling tar, policed by the Malebranche.
Dante and Virgil have a terrifying encounter with the Malebranche while visiting the Grafters. They are able to escape, only to descend deeper into Hell.
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