The following is a guest article donated and written by Ally.

In order to understand Nero's symbolism, it is necessary to remember that Devil May Cry is based loosely upon the Divine Comedy. The video game is not a complete reflection of the Divine Comedy, word for word, but it simply uses bits and pieces of characters and stories. When there is a connection, it will most likely not have the same, literally meaning.

In Devil May Cry 4, Nero is a dooppleganger of Dante in appearance, yet he also shares many characteristics of Vergil. In essensce, Nero seems to be split in half - similar to Dante and Vergil, who are half demon, half human. Nero wears a blue overcoat with red clothing underneath. The blue is a representation of Vergil, who is considered more demonic than Dante while the red symbolizes Dante, who is a demon hunter. Dante's main goal is to find the demon, who killed his human mother and killed the humanity of his brother. While Vergil is obsessed with power, Dante is the more "human half" of the two in terms of goals and personality. In Nero's clothing, the blue is the outer apperance while the red is the inner lining. The blue has seeped through the red and allegorically, the demonic side is his outer appearance while the human pieces remain hidden underneath.

In Canto XXX, Dante and Virgil travel through the 8th level of Hell. In the 8th level, they discover the faslifiers who consist of thieves as well as thieves of identity; they are also known as dopplegangers. When Dante listens to their suffering, one falsifier in particular catches his eye. He is Master Adam, a falsifier of currency. He altered the outer appeance of something. In comparison, Nero is basically an outer alteration of Vergil and Dante. Because Master Adam was a falsifier, he was burned at the stake and in Hell, his body is nothing but a muddled corpse, yet he still has the use of one arm. While ranting about other falsifiers, Master Adam offends another sinner nearby. In anger, Master Adam lashes out at the sinner - hitting him in the face: "Although I cannot move my limbs because they are too heavy, I still have an arm that's free to serve that need."

Like Master Adam, Nero cannot move one arm, but is free to use the other. Nero's demonic possession could be considered "emotionally heavy." His body and mind are weighed down by the demon that is possessing his body, yet Nero is able to move one arm with great ease. When Master Adam was alive, he could also move one arm with great speed and in Hell, he still can. Nero's demonic side craves power like Vergil. and with power comes corruption - one of the major faults depicted in the Divine Comedy.

After being hit by Master Adam, the sinner replies: "I am here for just one crime - but you've committed more than any demon!". The quotation is a contradiction to the thoughts of Kyrie, who is displayed as the epitome of purity. She believes Nero to be the opposite: "I don't know anyone else who is as human as you are." Nero may show a more human side, but it may be completely different to what he'll become. Dante seems to want something back from Nero. Could it be something that restrains the demon from completely possessing him? Who knows...

In conclusion, Dante Alighieri often uses two components as symbolism to represent one being. "Neither two nor one" can apply directly to Nero's character. Nero is neither Dante or Vergil, yet he is not a "whole" being either. Nero's character is muddled to represent a combination of more than one representation and because of his possession, he is more than what he seems.

Random Thought: From her clothing to her singing, Kyrie shows many characteristics of someone holy. "Ne che de pregato" is a phrase in the trailer's song. It may relate to her desperation to save Nero from his demon possession.

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