Commentary Inf VIII 52-60

Are the protagonist's words ([Inf VIII 52-54]) representative of righteous indignation on his part or of an uncontrolled (and sinful) anger? Against those who argue that Virgil's strong words against Filippo are excessive (see C.Inf.VIII.40-45), the reader now hears, each voice allotted a tercet for its opinion, the caustic words of the protagonist, then of Virgil (vv. 55-57), and now of the poet (vv. 58-60). They unanimously condemn this 'fiorentino spirito bizzarro' (v. 62).