In Dante’s Canto V, Paolo is the seducer. He is the brother
of Gianciotto, who was deformed but was from a powerful family. Paolo was sent
to settle the nuptial contract of Francesca and Gianciotto, but instead, he
fell in love with her. While they were reading the story of Lancelot and Guinevere, Paolo kissed Francesca first,
therefore, he was the seducer.
