Francesca and Paolo

Within Dante's Inferno Francesca and Paolo appear in Canto V. This canto stands out amongst other verses as both and example of Dante's writing, characterization and also for demonstrating the deep allegory surrounding the work and the nature of sin. Francesca Da Rimini was the daughter of Guido Vecchio da Polenta, lord of Ravenna, and Paolo Malatesta, the third son of Malatesta da Verrucchio, lord of Rimini . Around 1275 the aristocratic Francesca was married for political …

…souls, and his reaction to them will change (cf. XIX) but the extent of his failure in canto V to recognize sin and treat it with proper disdain is symbolized here by his abject failure, unconscious on the floor of Hell. Perhaps we should blame the Pilgrim for being taken in by Francesca; dozens of critics, unaware of the wiles of sin have also been seduced by her charm and the grace of her speech.