The Divine Comedy · Character
Count Ugolino
Traitor frozen in Cocytus, who gnaws on Archbishop Ruggieri's skull.
minor
Also known as Ugolino, Count Ugolino della Gherardesca
First appearance: Canto XXXII
Count Ugolino's tie to Sordello is one of the pressures that moves The Divine Comedy—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.
Seen in the final scene, frozen in one hole with Archbishop Ruggieri, gnawing on his skull in eternal hatred.
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With Sordello (social): Count Ugolino and Sordello are both souls in Purgatory, with Ugolino representing tragic suffering. In Canto XXXII: Seen in the final scene, frozen in one hole with Archbishop Ruggieri, gnawing…
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The fuller portrait of Count Ugolino sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Count Ugolino in Canto XXXIICharacter Web
30 connectionsA slice of how Count Ugolino sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Sinners and Historical Figures
- Heavenly Guides and Saints
+25 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this canto, the dramatic climax occurs when Dante, having been emboldened to ask Virgil to teach him the na…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Sordello
social · ambivalent
Count Ugolino and Sordello are both souls in Purgatory, with Ugolino representing tragic… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Count Ugolino in Canto XXXIIIn the story
Count Ugolino appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Count Ugolino unlock in the free preview.
See Count Ugolino in Canto XXXII