Angelique Wellington
"OLIVIA: So you're supposed to be a demon from hell.
DUKE: Yep, born and raised on Dante's fourth."
I selected this scene because it serves as a pivotal moment in establishing Duke’s presence as a supernatural being within Hell Weeks. His interaction with Olivia, where he reveals his demonic origins and displays his horns, provides a crucial opportunity to explore how his visual and physical traits reinforce his mythological nature. From a dramaturgical perspective, this moment allows for deeper analysis of how Duke’s design—his posture, gestures, and even costume details—can reflect the themes of Dante’s Fourth Circle. By focusing on this scene, I can better understand how to enhance his characterization in a way that aligns with the play’s world-building, ensuring that his presence feels both immersive and thematically grounded.
Research Question
How do the individuals or characters from Dante’s Fourth Circle of Hell visually manifest, and in what ways does the Duke embody these traits as a demon emerging from that domain within the context of Hell Weeks?
This inquiry stems from a desire to enrich Duke's character by investigating how his visual attributes can amplify his identity as a mythological being.
By delving into the condemned souls depicted in Dante’s Fourth Circle—where individuals who hoarded or wasted wealth endure perpetual torment—Duke’s demonic characteristics can be crafted to embody the themes of excess, imbalance, and burden inherent in this realm. This can be achieved through physical features such as his horns, stance, or attire, as well as through symbolic elements like icy hues (symbolizing his capacity to freeze others) or chains (illustrating the oppressive nature of greed). A thorough understanding of these influences can enhance his presence within the play. Aligning his visual identity with the motifs found in Dante’s Inferno not only reinforces his supernatural authority but also adds complexity to his character, rendering him more engaging and immersive. By analyzing the imagery and symbolism linked to Dante’s Fourth Circle, the dramaturg can work in tandem with designers, directors, and actors to shape Duke’s appearance, movements, and dialogue in ways that underscore his mythological roots. Furthermore, this approach fosters a more profound connection between the play’s supernatural aspects and its thematic foundations, ensuring that Duke’s presence resonates authentically and powerfully within the narrative’s framework.
Central Purpose
In this research report, I present my findings based on key elements from a specific scene in the play Hell Weeks. My analysis is supported by references such as  History Lists  and  ThoughtCo, along with supplementary visual references. This research is significant as it provides a deeper understanding of the mythological and fictional elements that shape characters like Duke. By examining how individuals condemned to Dante’s Fourth Circle of Hell are portrayed and how their traits can be integrated into Duke’s design, this analysis enhances his role as a supernatural figure. Additionally, it contributes to the broader thematic development of the play, ensuring that its depiction of the underworld is both cohesive and compelling.
Main Concept
The main concept (A collection of concepts, perceptions, and theories—whether visual or not—derived from the narrative of the play as interpreted by the director, serves as a foundational artistic reference in the collaborative creative process) my research explores is the visual and thematic representation of Duke as a supernatural figure rooted in Dante’s Inferno, specifically the Fourth Circle of Hell. This connects to Hell Weeks by deepening the mythological foundation of Duke’s character, ensuring that his presence as a demonic advisor is both compelling and thematically coherent within the play’s supernatural framework. Through
research on Dante’s depiction of the Fourth Circle—where the greedy are condemned to an eternal struggle—Duke’s design can be refined to reflect aspects of this realm, such as its symbolic weight, punishment, and visual motifs. My analysis is supported by references such as HistoryLists, ThoughtCo, and Digital Dante, along with supplementary visual references. This research illuminates the play by providing insight into how mythology and literature can shape character development, ensuring that Duke’s portrayal is both immersive and meaningful within the world of Hell Weeks.
Central findings
One key discovery is that Dante’s Fourth Circle of Hell represents not just financial greed, but an obsessive accumulation of resources with no meaningful outcome. The sinners, described as those who “squandered and hoarded” (Inferno 7.30-40), are trapped in a cycle of endless labor, mirroring the way academic pressure in Hell Weeks forces students to overwork without true fulfillment. Duke, as a demonic advisor, enforces this cycle, ensuring that Olivia is burdened by expectations that strip away her autonomy, much like the damned in Dante’s vision.
Another central finding is that the punishment of the Fourth Circle is rooted in futility, where the condemned push heavy weights without progress. This imagery aligns with Olivia’s struggle, as her academic suffering is portrayed as an unending task with little reward. Dante’s sinners “clash together, then turn around and repeat forever” (Inferno 7.27-30), reflecting how Duke manipulates Olivia into believing she must endure relentless studying or face destruction, reinforcing an unattainable standard that mirrors the eternal struggle of the damned.
A final discovery is that Duke embodies the traits of the Fourth Circle demons by acting as an enforcer of a system designed to punish excess. Dante’s Plutus, the demon of wealth, exclaims “Pape Satan, Pape Satan, Aleppe!” (Inferno7.1), a cryptic chant signaling the chaotic, controlling nature of greed-driven punishment. Similarly, Duke’s authoritative control over Olivia’s fate mirrors how demonic figures in Inferno enforce the suffering of those trapped in their respective circles. His role in Hell Weeks is not just to torment but to uphold a system where students are pushed to their limits, making him a modern manifestation of Dante’s punishing overseers.