The film Dante’s Inferno criticizes
contemporary America, while staying true to the poem’s messages. The film
highlights the overindulgence the go on in the inferno, including food and sex.
The film is able to make scenes in the inferno realistic and relatable.
To begin with, the inferno is
resembled to look like a city. There is a ferryboat that leads souls into the
city of hell. There are policemen that control the area. There is organization
and order, which is also very similar to a city. When they enter the third
circle of hell there is a Quiznos and a McDonald’s. The sinners are sent here
for gluttony and are forced to eat anything in their path. This is an insult at
America and the obesity problem the country has with indulging in food. The
sixth circle of hell also resembles a city, in fact in is called the City of
Dis. There is a real estate agent who offers to show Dante the sites. This is
similar to the poem. The City of Dis is a walled city for the lower levels of
hell. There are moats, high towers, gates and watch guards. Relating the poem
and film to a city makes the inferno seem more realistic and organized.
The “city” is run by the devil,
Lucifer. In order to keep a city
running, a ruler is needed. In our cities it is a mayor or a president. In the
film the ruler is the only full human. The rest of the characters are shadow
puppets. This shows the importance and rule the character has. He is found in
the bottom of the ninth circle where it is extremely cold. Lucifer resembles the
ultimate power. His wings control the temperature of the inferno. He is also
punishing the worst sinners. Dante describes him as “His similarities make him
resemble the god of the inferno. Although his purpose is not necessarily for
the good, he is the supreme ruler. In the poem Dante describes him as “the
emperor on the despondent kingdom” (Canto XXXIV, line 28).
In the film, the second circle of
hell is for the sin of lust. Those who are sent to this level are forced to
constantly having sex. Dante is confused by the punishment because he thinks
it’s rewarding. This reflects contemporary America and the idealization of sex.
Our society fanaticizes sex and sees it as a good thing. He fails to realize
the sinners will never feel the pleasure of sex again. This is a very different
idea than the poem, which separates lovers and by winds of a violent storm. In
the poem Dante pities the sinners, instead of praising them. It reads, “because
of pity-I fainted, as if I had met my death.” (Canto V, 141). It is interesting
to see how the addition of sex changes Dante’s perspective. I believe if the
sinners were having sex in the poem, Dante’s reaction would have been more
dramatic and appalled. Sex was more serious and private than it is in contemporary
society. Dante’s original thoughts have
been able to incorporate modern themes and relate to today’s world.
It is interesting you comment that the film is set in modern day America in order for the audience to have a better understanding of Dante’s Inferno. It makes sense, there are references to people in the film who carry certain connotations with them. Likewise, there are references to people in the poem who must have carried certain connotations with them in their day, but as of now those connotations are largely lost on the average reader. Originally I thought the filmmakers put the setting in Modern Day America because it was the logical thing to do. When Dante wrote his poem he set it in his present time, therefore the filmmakers were simply following president, not intentionally making the film more relatable. But now I see that by following president and setting the film in modern time, it does make the give the audience a better understanding.
ReplyDeleteThis idea that the film being set in modern times makes it more relatable goes beyond just the scenery, but extends to the punishable sins as well. For example, in the film there are sections of Hell reserved for professions that did not exist in the 13th century such as money launderers and insider traders. Yet, these jobs had their equivalents in the 13th century, such as usurers, and likewise sections of hell were reserved for them. Thinking back on the film, it does give one a better understanding of the poem, an understanding that would have not been there if the setting was not made more relatable.
Jessie, I thought it was fascinating that you interpreted the city of Hell in the film as being “run” by Lucifer. My first inclination was to disagree with you because in the poem, Dante very much makes it seem like God is running the show in Hell and Satan’s job is just to keep cold wind blowing…I mean Minos even has a more crucial role than Satan in condemning the newcomers to Hell to their respective circles for their most grievous sins. Despite this experience with the poem priming me to view Satan’s role in Hell as minimal, I can see how in the film it appears that Satan is much more important. I think it is also significant that you emphasize Satan being human in the film while all of the other characters are shadow puppets. I felt that this was a comment by the filmmakers that maybe humans in today’s society have evil, Satanic tendencies. Humans were supposedly created in the image of God in the Bible—and now Satan, one of the seminal figures in Christianity, is created in the image of the human race. I do not know if they did that on purpose, but it definitely left an impression.
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