Commentary Inf XXXI 28-33

Virgil, as gently and reassuringly as he can, prepares Dante to behold the giants. As the guardians of this zone of Hell, as the most proximate servants of Satan, as it were, the giants are seen to represent the sin of pride. That is how Pietro di Dante (DDP Pietro1.Inf.XXXI.31) saw them centuries ago: 'Gigantes figurative pro superbis accipiuntur' (The giants are to be figuratively understood as those who are prideful). And that is how John Scott sees them today (Scot.1985.1, p. 29).