Allusions Cantos 13-15

Canto 13
"If you remove a little branch from any one of these pieces of foliage around us, the thoughts you have will also be broken off" (pg. 129). There is a contrast here between Hell and a parable that Jesus spoke in John 15. In the parable, he speaks of how he is the true vine and the only way to become a part of the true vine is to be grafted in by the husbandman. The contrast that we see in this allusion serves to emphasize the evil in Hell. Where becoming a part of the vine is something of purity, breaking off pieces of the bushes leads to forgetfulness and that could cause a soul to get lost.
Canto 14
"There where, repented guilt removed, souls gather to cleanse themselves" (pg. 147). There are many places in the Bible where one of God's servants instructs a sinner to go wash themselves and be clean. After they are made clean, the miracle happens. It is amazing the amount of hope that the author seems to be finding, especially considering his situation. Every chance he gets, he finds a way to fit in more souls getting saved from eternal suffering.
Canto 15
"One recognized me, and took me by the hem" (pg. 151). This line alludes to the time when Jesus was passing through a huge crowd of people and there was a woman who had a sickness in her blood. She believed that if she could just get close enough to touch Jesus' clothes, then she would be healed. The comparison that Dante makes between his character and Jesus suggests that he is a savior travelling through the ranks of the dead to bring life to condemned souls. Dante's travel through the stages of Hell is similar to Jesus' journey to earth and the sacrifice of his life to save everyone from their sins.