Francesca da Polenta

“Have pity on our perverse ill...” — Francesca da Polenta

Francesca da Polenta was one of the Damned which Dante must punish or absolve for "Forbidden Love" and "The Damned" achievement/trophy. She was encountered in the circle of Lust, acting as the circle's host.

Description

"She fell in love with Paolo, the younger brother of her old and deformed husband. When the husband discovered the adultery, he had the lovers killed."

Background

Francesca da Polenta or Francesca da Rimini (1255-1285) was the daughter of an Italian nobleman, Guido I da Polenta, lord of the city of Ravenna. da Polenta was at war with the Malatesta family and Guido Ricco over control of the city. To finally establish peace and preserve his power in Ravenna, the lord arranged for his beautiful daughter Francesca to marry the powerful, but ugly and handicapped Giovanni Malatesta.

According to legend, Francesca was to marry Giovanni by proxy (in a proxy marriage, someone would stand in for Giovanni at the wedding, but the marriage would be legally binding). In this instance Giovanni's handsome younger brother, Paolo Malatesta, was chosen to stand in for him as groom. Paolo was himself married to a countess and later became the leader of Florence by the blessing of the Pope. Unaware that this was to be a proxy marriage, upon seeing the handsome young nobleman Francesca fell in love instantly and was delighted at the thought of "marrying" him. Paolo himself also fell in love at first sight, but out of duty went through with the proxy marriage. It was not until the day after the wedding, when Francesca met her real husband, that she realized what happened and was bitterly disappointed.

Still, due to their mutual attraction Francesca and Paolo began an affair behind the backs of their spouses. This liaison lasted for 10 years until 1285, when Giovanni came home one day and caught the two lovers together in bed. Enraged at their betrayal, Giovanni slew both Paolo and Francesca where they laid.

Dante's Inferno

Francesca acted as the host of the Circle of Lust and was the first of the Damned that Dante encountered here. She spoke about her infidelity with Paolo and her justification for doing so. Like all of the Damned souls, Dante had the option of absolving or punishing her, though absolving her will go toward earning an Achievement. To actually earn it, however, Dante must then find Paolo who was separated from her, located on a ledge of the Carnal Tower, stuck inside the Lust Storm. He too spoke about their relationship and attempted to defend their actions.

Quotes

"Love brought us both to one death!"

"The Ninth Circle awaits him who quenched my life!"

"I was seduced by the story of Lancelot and Guinevere."

"We are alone, dear Paolo. No one suspects us."

"He kissed my mouth, all trembling..."

"My longing for Paolo will never abandon me..."

"So many sweet thoughts... so great is my desire for him."

"Father, please do not give me away!"

"If we are discovered, this is surely our death!"

"But I cannot help myself."

"I can almost feel him..."

"Our souls will be forever intertwined!"

*Grabbed by Dante* "Living creature, he gracious and benign..."

*Grabbed by Dante* "Have pity on our perverse ill..."

*Grabbed by Dante* "No! I refuse Giovanni, father!"

"Father-" *Slain by Dante*

(Subtitles read "Father, no I love him!")

*Absolved by Dante* "Oh, perfect redemption..."

Trivia

• In The Inferno, Dante beholds the shades of both Francesca de Polenta and her lover Paolo together in the second circle of Hell. When Dante wishes to question them, they are temporarily permitted to leave the storm of lust driving them around the circle. Francesca goes on to tell Dante her tragic tale of lust, and reveals her murderous husband is in a lower circle for killing them. She and Paolo are some of the few souls in Hell Dante feels compassion for; Dante is so saddened by their fate that he faints, bringing an end to the canto.
• If the player does not absolve her, the "Forbidden Love" Achievement will be locked out. If the player finds and absolves both her and Paolo, the "Forbidden Love" Achievement will be earned.
• It is possible that Paolo and Francesca are deliberately separated in the game as an additional punishment for the sin of Lust.
• According to Dante's composition, initially true to their respective spouses Paolo and Francesca were inspired to consummate their lust after reading about the adulterous affair between Queen Guinevere (wife of King Arthur of Camelot) and the knight Sir Lancelot. Lancelot himself is mentioned in the game as a warrior Lucifer had once employed to try to free him from Hell.