Howdy Valthakai,

As Hazbin Hotel continues to edge us with two episodes a week, I thought it would be fun to dive into the worldbuilding of Hell, which seems to slam together the Ars Goetia and general (unregulated) headcanons to form the musical clusterfuck we know and love.

I wanted to compare each ring with other interpretations of Hell’s geography, notably Dante’s Inferno, as well as discuss their notable inhabitants and their avatars: the Seven Deadly Sins.

Let’s get started!

Description

A blend between a western frontier and a volcanic Hellscape (pun intended).

Notable Species

Imps and imp-hybrid species

Analysis and Inspirational Basis

Wrath sits as the agricultural center of Hell and directly below the ring of Pride, with farmsteads spreading across the sulfurous landscape. Its inhabitants are typically imps, which has lent to a social connotation with the demonic species being rough around the edges. Ironically, the imps we are introduced to are shockingly polite, barring any requisite murder contracts or kidnappings. The folk here are what you expect of rural living: mild-mannered, competent, and largely misunderstood by their counterparts in Hell’s various cities. Like all denizens of Hell, they can be deadly, but so long as you’re nice to their momma and don’t try to kidnap their boss’s inappropriate work relationship, you’re good.

Now, as everyone knows, I’m a massive fan of Dante’s Inferno, so imagine my surprise when the ring of Wrath is the polar opposite of the world’s first hell fanfiction!

According to our katabatic poet, the ring of Wrath is covered by the winding river Styx, in which the violently wrathful endlessly fight, while the passively wrathful rest sullenly beneath the waters. While the Hell we have been watching instead connects the sin of wrath with magma flows, I think that fits nicely with the ideas surrounding the Styx itself.

In Greek Mythology, the Styx is the river of hatred, and nothing drives that concept home so much as a whole lot of fire. I find it a bit surface-level, but lava rivers are always a nice aesthetic.

Interestingly, the Styx serves an additional function in mythology: oath-making. Even deities are incapable of breaking promises when sworn upon the Styx, and face consequences worse than death for doing so.

While we have no confirmation that the lava flows are truly the Styx (from a mythological standpoint, they’re much more similar to descriptions of the Phlegethon), this connection between pacts and the underworld could explain why Satan, the avatar of Wrath, is the arbiter of demonic law and leader of the Deadly Sins in Lucifer’s absence. Like the rest of his ring, he seems to be working through his issues, keeping a therapist-like companion to help him with his outbursts, though he is a staunch elitist and supporter of Hell’s hierarchy. Simultaneously, he is merciful towards those who aren’t guilty in his court, saving his wrath for the condemned… regardless of the fairness of his trial.

Of all the sins, wrath serves the most clear purpose in maintaining Hell’s society, as mercy to the cruel is cruelty to the merciful. Interestingly, Hell has a clear legal system, at least for the nobility, as lesser species don’t draw much concern from the Goetia or Sins.

Finally, I think the rural lifestyle we see in Wrath is a unique way to characterize the positive aspects of the sin, juxtaposed with Hell’s societal perception of the native populace. We know imps can be efficient, deadly, and wrathful when they’re fucked with. Still, for the most part, they manage their farms—highly intensive labor that is a good outlet for aggression—and provide an essential provision for the rest of society. Wrath can be a bad thing, but when channeled in defense of one’s home or to root out stubborn weeds, it’s a normal part of life.

Description

A tropical forest, typified by the presence of hexagonal shapes among the inorganic structures and the sky.

Notable species

Hellhounds

Analysis and Inspirational Basis

Within the Hellaverse, the ring of Gluttony appears to be the closest thing to a resort. Overseen by Beelzebub, it is a party hub for those able to traverse the rings, and its ruler is welcoming, energetic, and angrily opposed to gluttony for the sake of destruction.

Now, whether my interpretations give the writers of this show too much credit, only you can tell me. But the Gluttony ring paints an interesting picture of the hellborn populace. Beelzebub herself is competitive but a gracious loser, constantly indulging herself while still showing concern for people at their limits. Ironically, she presents as one of the least gluttonous people in the show, fully in control of her faculties, and even apologizes to weaker demons when she oversteps.

Further driving home this bizarre execution of the concept are the bee motif in Beelzebub’s design, as well as the hive-like buildings and hexagonal patterns. Sure, the idea of honey as a sign of indulgence absolutely makes sense, but bees are the furthest thing from gluttonous. They’re basically biomachinery designed to sacrifice themselves for their hive and spend every waking moment collecting food to ensure their family’s survival.

That ain’t gluttony, but, in Beelzebub’s case, she takes the honey production a step further with her branded Beelzejuice, a kind of mead. One could argue that coopting a motif of hard-working insects to produce an intoxicant and getting absolutely fucked off of it does work to her theme.

In comparison to Inferno, the two Gluttonies could not be more different. Dante’s version is a cesspool of individuals blindly and endlessly wallowing in mud as Cerberus claws at them. The metaphor is clear: overindulgence destroys the self and one’s capacity for empathy; meanwhile, the realm of our Kesha-oid counterpart is a safe space to indulge pseudo-responsibly. The only real link I see between the two is the presence of hellhounds, an allusion to Cerberus, which also makes sense given the territorial behavior of dogs and their love of treats.

Like Wrath, the Gluttony ring showcases a healthier side to the sin, with Beelzebub ensuring that those at their limits are being taken care of. While most of us associate excess with… well, excess, the same way we associate wrath with extreme violence, the hellborn prove that there are healthy outlets for sins, and the desire for them in the first place isn’t inherently evil.

Description

Polluted, industrial, and modern landscape

Notable species

Variable, as the apparent epicenter of the criminal underworld (why there is a criminal underworld in Hell, I have no idea), practically every species of hellborn makes an appearance here.

Analysis and Inspirational Basis

Look, sometimes it’s okay for a fictional piece to be entirely on the nose. Like, it’s not a crime… except in this case because of the whole crime syndicate.

Greed is exactly what you would expect from a modern interpretation of the concept: a highly industrialized region full of pollutants, with small, clean living areas pockmarking it. If you want to get kidnapped, go to Greed… there’s literally a city there called Ransom.

This ring entwines the two sides of consumerism and hoarding, being the center of major business operations run by Mammon, the manifestation of Greed, as well as the home base of at least one mafia organization. Greed has the least redeeming qualities of the other rings seen so far, which tracks given what it represents.

Everyone is entirely self-involved, only allying with others so long as it brings benefit to themselves, with the end of these partnerships most often resulting in murder.

Within the Divine Comedy, Greed rests as the fourth circle, wherein those guilty of this sin perpetually roll great bags of coins against each other in a Sisyphean joust. These sinners include both hoarders and extravagant spenders, their greed bringing them into perpetual conflict as all they are capable of seeing is other competitors for the wealth they crave. No better do we see this than in the Hellaverse’s representation of Mammon himself. The Deadly Sin is a jester, one whose products are mass-produced, poor-quality jokes. More importantly, his true identity is lost beneath the layers of jingling fabric that cover his body.

Just as the sinners in the Comedy roll their heaving weights, individuality lost beneath their meaningless hoard, so too is Mammon’s true visage a mystery. Of all the Deadly Sins, he is the least tolerable, because the only thing worse than Pride, Wrath, Envy, Gluttony, Sloth, or Lust is some asshole trying to rip you off.

Interestingly, Greed, as the sin, the place, and its personification, is a tolerated irritance to most people in Hell. Practically everyone makes use of its products and services, whether it’s a theme park, a sex doll, or an assassin. Unlike the previous examples, where the residents of each sin or its avatars show almost-healthy outlets in their respective regions, Greed’s redeeming quality is only demonstrated through its visitors. Guests seek to find nostalgic childhood joy on thrill rides, or improve familial connections with their asshole, crime-lord father. To clarify, these guests do showcase Greed in defense of their found family or children, because clinging to and defending those you love is greedy and correct.

The true measure of a sin is normal human behavior taken the the extreme, when desire turns possessive, or success turns to hoarding.

The only ring not currently showcased in either Hazbin Hotel or Helluva Boss, as such, we’re going to make some assumptions regarding its physical appearance, inhabitants, and some theories regarding Leviathan, its avatar.

Description

Through some intense research (Wikipedia page), we have confirmation that the Envy ring will have a purple sky. I expect the landscape to be semi-aquatic, given the fish-like appearance of Leviathan. If you’ll note the pearl necklace she wears, I’m going to hazard that structures within Envy will continue that motif, decorated in coral, pearls, glittering gemstones, and exhibiting a binary look similar to its avatar.

Notable Inhabitants

While we have yet to actually see the ring, I would assume the possessor hellborn likely come from here, given their aquatic traits and their abilities. It takes a whole lot of envy to want to pilot someone from the inside, in my opinion.

Additionally, think we’ll see more hellborn with bicephalic features… or I hope, since it’s one of my favorite design characteristics.

Analysis and Inspirational Basis

Now, we have only one confirmed resident of Envy: Leviathan herself. In biblical mythology, Leviathan is a demonic whale present for the end of days, whose flesh will be served to the righteous after the final battle between good and evil.

Honestly, it’ll probably have fantastic marbling.

But in the Hellaverse, the individual we see… isn’t one. Leviathan is bicephalic, with each head displaying a slightly different personality. The more human-like face appears kind and friendly, in contrast to her eel-like counterpart. Of course, we mainly saw this in their interaction with Mammon, who, to use the technical term, is a twat.

Additionally, it makes sense that these two personalities would appear side-by-side, as envy can manifest as admiration for an individual or a burning dislike of them.

Envy doesn’t have a particular parallel in the hell of Dante’s Inferno, but the envious are purged of their sin in Purgatory. Upon the mountain, their eyes are sewn shut, and they are led in an endless procession, leaning on one another in mimicry of the brotherhood they were supposed to experience in life. One can see that leaning concept in Leviathan’s appearance, but whether it was purposeful, who can say?

At the end of the day, we simply don’t know how Envy and its inhabitants will operate within Hell’s society. Still, we have seen a social media app called Envee, meaning this ring will likely form the basis of their media and internet infrastructure. Though we’re in the dark about whether or not the Vees are making use of this existing system, or had to develop their own due to the insular nature of the Pride ring.

Description

A vibrant pink landscape, famous for its medical facilities, rehab centers, and floating islands.

Notable Inhabitants

Baphomets— goatlike demons that make up the majority of healthcare workers in this ring.

Analysis and Inspirational Basis

If Gluttony was a party-goer’s haven, Sloth is where you end up when you call out for work the next day. While not a major setting in either storyline so far, this ring operates as the center for Hell’s medical services, providing veterinary care, detox centers, and even pharmaceuticals.

Its avatar, Belphegor, is… exactly what you would expect. A sheep-like demon that naps during inappropriate times, such as during Stolas’ trial.

The ring of Sloth bears zero resemblance to the Divine Comedy, where perpetrators of this sin are forced to run along the fourth terrace of Purgatory for eternity. But the Hellaverse continues to perpetuate the concept of sin as a virtue.

Sure, laziness is bad, but self-care requires a measure of rest, whether that is in antidepressants, vaccinations, or rehab. Belphegor is known to have a minor disdain for Beelzebub because she tends to hoard the former’s narcotics as opposed to sharing them.

The solution to exhaustion is rest, and when you’re a non-royal hellborn, there are a lot of things to be stressed about; it makes sense for a ring to provide necessary comforts.

Description

A metropolis full of clubs, bars, sex shops, and sex-on-site venues

Notable Inhabitants

Lust is likely the main tourist destination in Hell, with all species of hellborn making frequent trips. Succubi originate from this ring.

Analysis and Inspirational Basis

Ah, but what is love but lust unrealized?

Lust is the most well-fleshed out (pun intended) ring besides Pride itself, featuring numerous venues our main characters have made use of. Whether it’s sex shops, a fancy dining spot, or a sex-toy production factory, Lust is fairly straightforward in terms of the services it provides.

Like just about everything else in Hell, taboo isn’t really an issue, and people can find whatever it is they’re looking for within this ring. As a reminder, sinners are incapable of traversing the other rings, so the truly heinous don’t make it down here.

Interestingly, this ring shows the closest parallels to how the sin of lust is depicted in Dante’s Inferno, with almost constant rain in most scenes. Within hell, lust is considered a lesser sin; its perpetrators are blown (not in a good way) back and forth in an endless storm. Just as lust blows about aimlessly, so will the souls burdened by it suffer.

Its ruler, Asmodeus, is a fiery demon host with a disdain for sappy romance until it was revealed that he had fallen in love with the imp Fizzarolli. His appearance references The Lesser Key of Solomon, which formed the basis of his rooster-like features… though the cock pun is almost certainly a factor.

Just like the previous incarnations of sin, Asmodeus rules over lust while still maintaining a distinct personality, going so far as to fall madly in love and proudly declaring it despite initially scoffing at the idea.

There are claims that Asmodeus is the weakest of the Deadly Sins, but I wish to point out that sex is always at the top of the market, more so than any other domain his fellows rule over. Frankly, Asmodeus’ reputation matters little, as there is nothing anyone can do to oust his place in the hierarchy (to our knowledge), nor will there be anything that will prevent tourism to his ring.

The succubi are another interesting feature, as they are perhaps the most adept demonic species at infiltrating the mortal world. Why they seduce, we have no idea, but it tracks with the idea that lust is the easiest sin to tempt people toward.

Description

A city characterized by living eyes studding its infrastructure, general violence, and the presence of human souls.

Notable Inhabitants

Sinners

Analysis and Inspirational Basis

Last but certainly not least, we have the ring of Pride, unique among its peers in that it hosts an entire species of demon trapped within this region: sinners.

All human souls condemned to Hell reside in this ring and are completely incapable of visiting the other levels we have covered. Honestly, I love this detail of worldbuilding because, while I’m never entirely sure if this is actual inspiration or dumb luck in the writing department, it puts an interesting spin on several biblical concepts.

I’m not too worried about Lilith with her whole absentee-mother shtick she's got going on, though, of course, her pride is what led her to Lucifer and Hell in the first place. Instead, I wanted to focus on a really unique interpretation of Eve and original sin.

After all, why would Pride be responsible for all of humanity when plenty of the sinners we see showcase heinous acts of the other sins we have covered?

While most biblical interpretations hold that Eve ate a fruit (most commonly an apple, though a pomegranate has also been suggested), some theological scholars argue that she harvested wheat and baked bread. Eve’s sin wasn’t inherently in disobeying her creator, but it was the act of creation without G-d that was the issue.

It was the Pride one must have to believe they could create, and have you tried bread? Original sin aside, it slaps. 10/10.

Humanity is viewed as an extension of G-d’s creation, and their acts of creation are among the most prideful endeavors we witness in both biblical mythology and human history. Just as Lucifer fought against G-d and was condemned to Hell, so too is humanity condemned for its constant, prideful struggle against Him.

Now, I’m waxing far too poetic here, so let’s focus on the Hellaverse stuff. In the hierarchy, sinners are noticeably more powerful than the hellborn (minus their royalty), meaning their confinement to Pride is a way of keeping the rest of Hell safe from an absolute hive of power-mad assholes.

Thus, each ring serves a purpose:

Wrath: agricultural production, legal infrastructure

Sloth: pharmaceuticals and healthcare

Envy: media hub (assumed)

Greed: manufacturing

Lust: sexual services/venues

Gluttony: nightlife, club services/venues

Pride: containment

There has been a flurry of discussion regarding… let’s say issues in the Hellaverse worldbuilding, but I’ve noticed a particular group points out that they’re curious why the Pride ring doesn’t just… do better. With the exterminations no longer a concern, why doesn’t everyone focus on building up their city?

And to that I say: welcome to fucking Hell!

Like… genuinely, that is the whole point. Charlie Morningstar, for all her flaws and naivete as a hellborn princess, genuinely wants to improve sinners’ lives. The struggle comes from the fact that Pride is inundated with truly awful people. Individuals who do not face consequences for violence, lying, destruction of property, etc., so long as they are powerful enough to maintain their own safety. Overlords own people for fucksake, obviously they’re not to be trusted with city planning and therapy services.

Pride is exactly what happens when everyone worships themselves, and only those who break from that concept show any measurable progress in the hotel and beyond.

Of course, I would be a fool if I didn’t mention Lucifer, another individual who people are outraged about regarding his apparent nerfing.

Now, has he been hyped up to be ultimately useless, absolutely, but that tracks with his presentation in Dante’s Inferno! When Dante enters the center of Hell, he finds Lucifer trapped in the frozen waters of Cocytus, wings billowing uselessly and buffeting nearby sinners.

Hell was always meant to be a punishment for Lucifer and humanity; his being an unwilling and ineffective warden, however frustrating that may be to viewers, tracks with what Hell is supposed to be.

I am a huge fan of this show, and I stand by my belief that it is a theater’s kids’ wet dream.

Is it perfect?

Absolutely fucking not.

There are a thousand issues, and will likely be a thousand more by the time this season is over.

But I have always loved seeing how others interpret eternal punishment, because the concept of eternity is beyond mortal understanding.

Even when sharing a story about Hell, about individuals who are condemned as irredeemable by practically every society on the planet, we still want to see sinners have hope.

Because ultimately, that is all we can do.

Hope that our faults and our sins do not destroy us.

Plus, the music is a bop.