Through the lower parts of Hell, Dante is often fearful and constantly turns to Virgil for protection or for comfort. In addition to Dante's fear of the sinners in these lower circles, the Giants serve as another terror that Dante the Pilgrim must encounter and overcome. But he is reassured by Virgil. However, on some occasions, Dante becomes afraid when Virgil, himself, shows signs of confusion and weakness. Dante has to rely on Virgil, who symbolizes human reason and wisdom, to deliver him from Hell, and when his guide shows signs of failure or weakness, Dante the Pilgrim then becomes irritated and fearful. When Virgil is deceived by Malacoda, Dante the Pilgrim becomes confused about Virgil's qualities. But the reader should know that Dante the Poet causes this confusion, so as to illustrate the limitations and fallibility of pure reason.
Finally, when Dante reaches the ninth circle, Virgil upbraids Dante for pausing and weeping at these suffering shades. This is consistent with the hardening of Dante the Pilgrim's character in these later circles. There is no time for pure emotion at this point, the end of their journey is near; time is growing short, and Virgil must move Dante the Pilgrim along, even if this means that Virgil must take a harsher approach with Dante the Pilgrim. The reader must remember that Dante the Pilgrim is still utterly human and that his emotions change with each new encounter with a sinner, and Dante the Poet is forcing Dante the Pilgrim to realize that his pity does not change the fate of these sinners.
This change is complete when Dante the Pilgrim meets Bocca in the third round of Circle IX and accidentally kicks Bocca's head. He tries to get the shade to identify himself, but the shade refuses. Dante the Pilgrim then uncharacteristically pulls a tuff of hair out of Bocca's head, and his violence incurs no reproach because the ordinary forms of behavior are inapplicable here, among the completely depraved sinners where no punishment is enough for their horrible crimes.
