Inferno, by Dante vs. Dante's Inferno

Despite being a modern day adaptation of Inferno, by Dante, Dante’s Inferno the film (I hope you’ve got that) takes quite a different viewpoint. The film focuses more about how we live our lives on earth more than our eternity in hell, whereas the poem is more concerned with the eternity spent in hell rather than the lives we led. Dante’s Inferno seems to be much more a commentary about how people, and Americans in particular, are living their lives on earth. By including modern day brands, corporations, and people in the journey through sins, the filmmakers seem to be critiquing our lives in the 21^st century. Moreover, Dante the traveler learns a great deal about the background of the sinners he meets, again suggesting that our lives on earth are really the central focus of the film. However, in Inferno, Dante seems to be much more concerned with the actual punishments these sinners are receiving. Dante goes into great detail about the punishments in each circle while largely overlooking the earthly lives of each sinner. He cares more about whether justice is being served, as opposed to what the sinners’ lives were like on earth.

The film version acts as a commentary of the sins we (and yes, that includes you and me, too) are currently committing on earth. The poem, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with the consequences of our sins, namely justified punishments. The film also seems to function as a warning to viewers on how not to live our lives; by including well-known individuals, we are supposed to realize that we should not commit the same sins they did. The poem, however, does not provide us with this opportunity. Instead of offering a chance for potential redemption or reformation, the poem focuses on our eternity in hell and how justice will be served to all sinners. 

In Inferno, Dante is more involved in learning about the punishments the sinners are receiving and if they are justified, showing that the poem is more about life in hell than life on earth. The film goes into greater detail on the lives and backgrounds of the sinners, showing that the film is more a critique about our lives on earth. The film acts as a warning to viewers on how not to live your life; the poem acts as a guide on how justice will be served and how you will spend eternity in hell for your sins.