New Truths Derive from Modern Interpretation

After viewing a more modern interpretation of Dante’s Inferno, several new truths came to light that I had yet to discover.  However, it is hard to clarify whether these truths derive from Dante’s version of the story or the filmmaker’s interpretation.  The most intriguing interpretation I saw in the movie revolved around Hitler.  Hitler is a notorious figure in our society, known for the mass genocide of millions of Jewish Europeans.  However, in Hell he is being punished for consulting an astrologer, as is Ronald Reagan.  Their punishment is having their heads turned around, so they are forced to look at the past in return for attempting to look in the future during their lifetime. 

In the book, the punishment was outlined by saying, “As I inclined my head still more, I saw / that each, amazingly, appeared contorted / between the chin and where the chest begins; / they had their faces twisted toward their haunches” (XX, 10-13).  Although there is the rather obvious literal interpretation of why they had their heads backward, I believe Dante also sought to punish them for looking to false powers of divinity to seek answers.  Given the severity of the punishment with it being in the eighth circle, it is clear that Dante viewed this sin to be greater than most.  Therefore making it more realistic that the filmmakers chose to include Hitler in the eighth circle of Hell instead of the ninth, which is the deepest level of Hell.

By using Hitler to define the sinners who looked to other divine sources, it brought another question to my mind.  Throughout the film, money and other sources of power were used when reason failed in contrast to God’s divine power in the book.  One example was when Dante and Virgil paid to get their way through the gated community that represented the Gates of Dis.  By putting money nearly in the same category as astrologers (because both look to material or non-divine entities for answers), it raises the question about our own society and how we behave.  Money is such an integral part of our lives especially in other cultures where bribes to get your bags from the airport or to get the necessary legal paperwork have been so routine.  Although I believe this is an exaggerated depiction of our society’s flaws, I do believe it highlights one important area of weakness in our society.