When looking at the poem and the movie adaptation
of it, it is clear that the makers of both had very different purposes for
writing or directing what they did. These two works are separated by hundreds
of years so it is not a big surprise for the differences between the two.
However, the beliefs of Dante and the creators of the film play a critical part
in the message these works were trying to convey. Dante considered himself a
Christian man. It is very likely that his poem was meant to show fellow Christians
his interpretation of Hell and to warn them of the dangers of smaller, petty
sins that they may not have really considered before. He also may have hoped
his Comedy would convince more sinners to repent to avoid the punishments in
Hell. While Dante throws in bits about politics of his time and culture
references, his main points seemed to be driving home the justice of God and
the importance of repentance.
After watching the film twice now, I highly doubt
that the creators would consider themselves Christians. In their adaptation,
nearly all divine power or intervention is removed from the story. In the poem,
Virgil is a source of reason for Dante and whenever Virgil's reasoning fails,
some kind of divine intervention would help them on their journey. This is seen
when the two struggle to get into the city of Dis and one of "Heaven's
messengers" comes to assist them (Dante 81). This intervention is
completely omitted from the film and is replaced by money. In the film, the
pair initially is not let into the city of Dis, but once Virgil says Dante has
money they are quickly let right on in. Similar scenes are seen throughout the
movie. When Virgil and Dante try to get a ride from the centaurs, it is money
that convinces the centaurs to help out the two. This again completely takes
God out of the equation. This is opposed to in the poem where it is only after
Virgil states that is "by the Power that permits my steps to journey on so
wild a path" that the centaurs agree to help them (Dante 109).
The film also replaces the divine aspects of the Inferno not
only with money, but with violence as well. Instead of having an angel kill
Cerberus, Virgil simply shots him with a gun in the movie. Whenever Dante is
confused or tempted in the movie it is not the reminder of God's protection and
purpose for him that comforts Dante. Virgil instead usually hits him as if to
knock sense into Dante.
Another part that the film left out was the justice
of God. The poem shows that God's justice is perfect and that while us as
flawed humans may not always agree or understand, His justice is true and the
sinners are receiving what they deserve. In the film, the justice does not seem
as concrete. Hitler is placed in a section of Hell for consulting with an
astrologer instead of for the death of thousands of Jews. When Dante questions
Virgil on this, he responds that he is here on a technicality. This reference
to technicalities infers that the justice system in the film is not as perfect
as the system Dante sets up in Inferno. Again there is a lack of
divinity in this moment. Instead of having an all-knowing God appointing Minos
to properly punishing the sinners, the sinners go through a court like process
where a Minos lacking divinity has to pinpoint what exactly is condemning these
souls. While the souls in the movie still do receive justice, it does not seen
to be as established as the justice in the poem.
By replacing almost all the divine aspects of the Inferno in
the movie, it is unlikely that the creators are Christians themselves and
likely wish to convey a different message in their satire. Their work seems to
be more directed at pointing out problems with America and the world today than
of the religious morals Dante addressed in his poem. In the earlier examples
discussed above, the creators may be trying to point out how in America today
many people turn to violence and money to get what they want. By referring to
technicalities of the justice system in Hell, they may be trying to get viewers
to think about how they are judging people and for what things to people really
deserved to be punished for. The Hell represented in the film is one that is
lacking divine or godly aspects. This set up makes the viewers more aware about
the issues in the world today, instead of focusing on religion and Christianity.
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