Halo 3: ODST Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: Little did you know, you all just played through an epic poem, hah!
  • Subject: Little did you know, you all just played through an epic poem, hah!
Subject: Little did you know, you all just played through an epic poem, hah!
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  • Elder Legendary Member

I don't believe in magic, but I DO believe in bones.

First off, I'd like to say thank you to Bungie for making an incredible game yet again! And I'd also like to say that Dante's Divine Comedy is one of my favorite pieces of classic literature. More of this in time.

As a note, I am neither for or against any religion mentioned in this post, it is purely from the standpoint of literature. I am discussing a novel, not religion.

----SPOILER WARNING-----

If you haven't beaten the game yet, what are you doing cruising the forums? Go play!

So there was this little novel written a while ago, by this one guy named Dante. It was a political satire, meant to make examples of current members of society and the Church at the time, but it's main influence is that of the views of Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. And what does all this have to do with ODST, I can hear you all asking. Well, more than you think.

I haven't analyzed the entire game for references, this is mostly just dealing with the Rookie's story.

----

The Rookie has crash landed into a building, has been knocked unconscious, and has awoken later to find himself alone in the city. The city is now quite literally Hell on Earth. But the Rookie is not truly alone. He has a guide through this hell, the SuperIntendent.

Through the audio logs in the campaign, we come to find that the name of the SI is actually VERGIL. And you may have noticed that audio logs are all labeled "# Circle," all the way up to 9. Interesting.

In the Divine Comedy, specifically the Inferno, Dante is guided through Hell by the Roman poet, Virgil. Hell consists of nine circles, each more horrible and punishing than the last. The circles of Hell spiral down into the Earth, to it's very core.

After you find out the fate of your squad, the Rookie heads underground to locate DARE. You find yourself on the 8th level of VERGIL's data center. You need to locate Dare, who is on the 9th level. Fancy that. After much fighting, you find yourself on the 9th level, which happens to be almost completely frozen...

The 9th circle of Hell, in the Inferno, is actually cold. Ice cold. The punishment here is for that of Treason. The higher the crime, the more encased in ice you shall be. The very center of the 9th circle is where Satan himself resides, encased in ice up to his waist, beating his wings, whose gusts of air cause the 9th circle to be encased in ice. Satan himself has three faces, and each is chewing on the three (at the time) greatest betrayers. Their punishment for betraying their lords and benefactors is to be eternally gnawed on by Satan himself.

The Rookie and DARE finally reach VERGIL's core, and there they find the source of this whole fiasco. The rogue Engineer. He has chosen to betray his benefactors, his lords, the entire whole of the Covenant itself. And they are literally coming to chew him to pieces.

----

There you have it folks. My analysis, and hypothesis, and all other sorts of -sis. I've only played through campaign once, but there may be even further references to the Divine Comedy. There are 9 levels of purgatory before one reaches Paradise(Heaven). If someone could confirm how many sections of freeway there are in the final level, we may have our answer. The escape at the end of the game could very well be the escape from Purgatory.

If anyone else has more references to levels of Hell, or to any of the other campaign character's stories, please let me know, I'd be interested to see how far they have taken this. For further reference, hit up Wikipedia, it's pretty extensive. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_comedy

Thanks so much to whoever stuck around and dealt with my massive post. Happy Haloing to you all.

tl;dr: Go read a book =P


-----ADDITIONAL FINDINGS-----

Posted by: Overlord Jebus
Maybe each of the 9 circles of audio logs each represent their circle?

I can already think of gluttony and lust off the top of my head.


Thanks for bringing this up, we need to just double check to make sure that each "Circle" of audio logs corresponds to the sin of that particular circle of Hell, which I already know it does.

---

Posted by: Brent G
Posted by: Danves
Posted by: Brent G
OP, you mentioned that Satan has 3 heads that chew on the 3 greatest betrayers? And that the brutes were coming to "chew" on Vergil?

How appropriate that there were 3 of them knocking on his door.


Kickass! How sure are you? I've only played the campaign through once.


I'm pretty much 100% sure. There's two at the doorway trying taunting Vergil, and a Chieftain behind them.


Yet another connection, possibly. If anyone can confirm this for sure, that would be amazing. The pieces seem to be falling into place =)

[Edited on 09.29.2009 1:26 AM PDT]

  • 09.28.2009 11:25 PM PDT
Subject: Little did you know, you all just played through a classic novel, hah!

I am going to lube your butt hole with nacho cheese and -blam!- you with a crowbar.

I played a book?

GET IT OFF ME!!!

  • 09.28.2009 11:29 PM PDT

Nice work.

  • 09.28.2009 11:29 PM PDT
Subject: Little did you know, you all just played through an epic poem, hah!
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  • Elder Legendary Member

I don't believe in magic, but I DO believe in bones.

Due to character constraints on the first post, and my lack of anticipating this thread would be this big, I'm hijacking my old posts to post more information related to the Dante's Divine Comedy connection.

-----ADDITIONAL FINDINGS-----

A million thanks to NinjaTheory for researching each circle of Hell and relating it to the audio logs!

Posted by: NinjaTheory
This is a direct comparison of each 'circle' subplot to the circle of hell of the same number. There is NO cross referencing between circles in this. Meaning nothing from circle 3 of the audio files is related to circle 2 of hell, or anything of that nature.

OJ turned me on to this

analyzing the logs now. let it be known i don't know the specific poem, so i'm only analyzing the basic correlations between the circles and the logs

Circle 1 (Limbo)

Here reside the unbaptized and the virtuous pagans, who, though not sinful, did not accept Christ. They are not punished in an active sense, but rather grieve only their separation from God, without hope of reconciliation.

Everyone around Sadie felt safe on earth until the Covenant came. As if they were virtuous and thought they'd get into heaven (and remain safe).

When the Covenant did show up, the citizens of New Mombasa found themselves in hell, with Sadie even saying as much. Most of them are just clambering to figure out whats going on.

Circle 2 (Lust)

Those overcome by lust are punished in this circle. They are the first ones to be truly punished in Hell. These souls are blown about to and fro by a violent storm, without hope of rest.

The first covenant casualties in the story are in the first few seconds of this circle. The subplot concerning Kinsler wanting to basically -blam!- Sadie also exists in this circle. Despite the fact the world is ending, he's overcome by lust.

Circle 3 (Gluttony)

Cerberus guards the gluttons, forced to lie in a vile slush made by freezing rain, black snow, and hail. This symbolizes the garbage that the gluttons made of their lives on earth, slavering over food. Dante converses with a Florentine contemporary identified as Ciacco ("Hog" - probably a nickname) regarding strife in Florence and the fate of prominent Florentines

This circle contains Jonas, a very large butcher focussed very much on the consumption of food. (oddly enough, Joe JONAS has an album called 'HOG Wild for Blues, btw) He's both attempting to repent by giving some out for free, while also suffering, as due to his size he is unable to properly escape the hellish city. Also Sadie suggests using an Oliphant (Garbage Truck) to transport Jonas.

Circle 4 (Avarice)

Those whose attitude toward material goods deviated from the desired mean are punished in this circle. They include the avaricious or miserly, who hoarded possessions, and the prodigal, who squandered them.

This subplot takes place outside of a Casino where people go to squander there money and where an old lady is attempting to hoard cash at the expense of her own life. She then gets crushed due to her own greed.

Circle 5 (Wrath and Sloth)

In the swamp-like water of the river Styx, the wrathful fight each other on the surface, and the sullen or slothful lie gurgling beneath the water. Phlegyas reluctantly transports Dante and Virgil across the Styx in his skiff. On the way they are accosted by Filippo Argenti, a Black Guelph from a prominent family (Cantos VII and VIII). All the wrathful throw themselves against Argenti, who is torn apart.
The lower parts of hell are contained within the walls of the city of Dis, which is itself surrounded by the Stygian marsh. Punished within Dis are active (rather than passive) sins. The walls of Dis are guarded by fallen angels. Virgil is unable to convince them to let Dante and him enter, and the Furies and Medusa threaten Dante. An angel sent from Heaven secures entry for the poets


This subplot involves crossing the bridge (the River Styx) when Kinsler (corrupt cop/fallen angel) attempts to halt their passage. When our protagonists are unable to convince him to let them go, an Olifant appears disabling the 'fallen angel' and granting them passage.

Circle 6 (Heresy)

Heretics are trapped in flaming tombs, symbols of their doubting a life after death

This is the first we hear of the engineers doubting the Covenants plan. The engineers are even encased in 'tombs of fire' being the explosive harnesses. This is also where Tom turns against the two protagonists.

Circle 7 (Violence)

housing the violent against people and property, who are immersed in Phlegethon, a river of boiling blood, to a level commensurate with their sins. The Centaurs, commanded by Chiron, patrol the ring, firing arrows into those trying to escape.

This subplot contains a man performing great acts of violence against others. Specifically Jim who was 'violent' towards the shooters property in using his half-and-half. It end with the shooter being killed by the SWAT team.

Circle 8 (Fraud)

The fraudulent-those guilty of deliberate, knowing evil-are located in a circle named Malebolge ("Evil Pockets"), divided into ten bolgie, or ditches of stone, with bridges spanning the ditches

This subplot contains many aspects of fraud and the other things shown in the Bolgies. First off the women pretends there is a gun being pointed at her so she can turn the SI back on. Next, there is the PSA man giving out lies to spread hope. Followed by Branley doing the same after just talking about it, liek the Hypocrites in Bolgie 6. Then Kinsler, the corrupt politician (bolgie 5).

Circle 9 (Treason)

Traitors, distinguished from the "merely" fraudulent in that their acts involve betraying one in a special relationship to the betrayer, are frozen in a lake of ice known as Cocytus. Each group of traitors is encased in ice to a different depth, ranging from only the neck and through to complete immersion.

In this subplot we hear of the data center being flooded with argon and frozen. The engineer that betrayed its party is in the data center. This subplot also shows Kinsler and his men betraying the people they were sworn to protect.

I don't have the last 2 audio files, so I can't comment on how they relate to the final circle. Maybe I'll get them, or maybe someone else will fill that in for me.


[Edited on 09.29.2009 1:37 PM PDT]

  • 09.28.2009 11:30 PM PDT
Subject: Little did you know, you all just played through a classic novel, hah!
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** USMC **

About me:
I'm 20. I use to play Halo alot but never do really anymore. I'm a offline player since I have dial up. I do play online on rare events when I don't have to go to work, school, etc.

Cool. Damn Bungie is clever = )

  • 09.28.2009 11:32 PM PDT
Subject: Little did you know, you all just played through an epic poem, hah!
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Contribute to 10,000,000,000 covie kills!

Tsk Tsk Bungie...

Clever bastards...

[Edited on 09.29.2009 8:29 PM PDT]

  • 09.28.2009 11:33 PM PDT
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  • Elder Legendary Member

I don't believe in magic, but I DO believe in bones.

Posted by: SPARTAN 307
Satans three heads gnawing on each other reminds me of trying to bite your own ear. Just, awkward. But good reference, especially the 9 circles of hell. Explains the labeling of the Audio Logs.


The faces are chewing on betrayers, not themselves. The three are Brutus and Cassius, who were involved in the assassination of Julius Caesar, and Judas Iscariot, for obvious reasons.

  • 09.28.2009 11:36 PM PDT

That's awesome. I've just been looking for the number 42, some mice, or a pan galactic gargle blaster so I can reference my favorite book to ODST.

  • 09.28.2009 11:36 PM PDT

Intriguing..

  • 09.28.2009 11:38 PM PDT

I though a few things were familiar. I mean, I am familiar that he was guided by a poet named Virgil.

lol, Bungie's Awesome.

[Edited on 09.28.2009 11:41 PM PDT]

  • 09.28.2009 11:41 PM PDT
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Damn good find. Quite amazing how Bungie subtlely pulled it off.

  • 09.28.2009 11:44 PM PDT

i knew it was too good to be true...

  • 09.28.2009 11:45 PM PDT

You call that cheez whiz?!?

Holy crap dude I am in awe of your skills. I never would have gotten this on my own but it all fits.

  • 09.28.2009 11:45 PM PDT

Were it so easy.

Wow, this looks to be the real deal! But Vergil the engineer isn't a rogue engineer, the others weren't evil, they covenant just forced them to be bad.

Also, I don't think Bungie was unoriginal though, becauase while they may have had some clues about referncing to Dante's 9 levels of hell, they came up with the story of what happened to the ODST squad and stuff.

This is the opposite of what Halo 3 conveys though, John 117, or John 11:7 is biblical, then there is the ark of the covenant, and of course the flood that wipes out all things. Then there is the number 7, 7 meaning God.

Bungie isn't just full of 30 year old game designers (and Marty) making any game, they are real smart and crafty.

  • 09.28.2009 11:47 PM PDT
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  • Elder Legendary Member

I don't believe in magic, but I DO believe in bones.

Posted by: Comm4nd3r Four
Holy crap dude I am in awe of your skills. I never would have gotten this on my own but it all fits.


I had actually speculated that Vergil would be your quide, a-la Dante's Inferno, right after the "Prepare to Drop" video was released. Never thought it'd be this extensive though, made me happy. =)

  • 09.28.2009 11:47 PM PDT

Nice research. It just goes to show you that literature is much more relevant than people think.

  • 09.28.2009 11:47 PM PDT

Maybe each of the 9 circles of audio logs each represent their circle?

I can already think of gluttony and lust off the top of my head.

  • 09.28.2009 11:49 PM PDT

You call that cheez whiz?!?

lol i'm still just amazed at this.

  • 09.28.2009 11:49 PM PDT

you know... bungie probably didnt even intend it to be this way its probably a random happening that you just found to match up with the game... for some reason each halo game has to have some religious crap evolving around it... then again... i did hear mickey (in kizingo blvd.) when i got a head shot on a grunt "praise jah! jah is short for jehovah, jehovah = jehovahs witnesses... oh god this game is fricken religious... D=

  • 09.28.2009 11:50 PM PDT
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  • Elder Legendary Member

I don't believe in magic, but I DO believe in bones.

Posted by: Overlord Jebus
Maybe each of the 9 circles of audio logs each represent their circle?

I can already think of gluttony and lust off the top of my head.


Oh man! Nice find, I'd totally forgot to look for that in the logs =D

I hadn't had a nice place to hide and listen to them without getting shot, so that totally slipped past me. Nice work =)

  • 09.28.2009 11:50 PM PDT

"Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind." - Albert Einstien

Posted by: SPARTAN 307
Satans three heads gnawing on each other reminds me of trying to bite your own ear. Just, awkward. But good reference, especially the 9 circles of hell. Explains the labeling of the Audio Logs.

Especially Gluttony.

  • 09.28.2009 11:51 PM PDT

I always wondered why they were labelled 'circle'

Now we know.

I'll listen to them all then write something up later, or you can OP, I don't mind :P

  • 09.28.2009 11:53 PM PDT
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  • Elder Legendary Member

I don't believe in magic, but I DO believe in bones.

Posted by: Overlord Jebus
I always wondered why they were labelled 'circle'

Now we know.

I'll listen to them all then write something up later, or you can OP, I don't mind :P


I need to get to bed in a little while, so you can if you want. Kind of mad I hadn't written this essay up earlier. =P

  • 09.28.2009 11:55 PM PDT

Were it so easy.

Also, the nickname "hell jumpers" and the drop pods the ODSTs come down with could be a symbol of them being like angels coming down and fighting the forces of hell itself. Very biblical if you think about it.

[Edited on 09.29.2009 12:04 AM PDT]

  • 09.29.2009 12:00 AM PDT