Corruption

Dante’s Inferno the poem represents the corruption of Florence. Dante puts people in Hell that caused and portray the corruption of his great city. Dante's Hell shows how people in that time felt about Christianity and sin. Likewise, Dante’s Inferno the film is meant to represent the corruption of America. The film does this by making Hell look like America. There are fast food chains, a gated community, hot tubs, and the Capitol.

Back in Dante’s day, or according to how Dante felt, the only way to stay out of Hell was to be a Christian and refrain from any sins. His Hell is very black and white and God is perfect in his justice. However, in the film Hell is not as black and white. People that are not Christians can be saved from Hell, such as Muhammad. And God’s justice is not always perfect. For example, Hitler was in Hell for consulting an astronomer, not for genocide. Virgil even tells Dante that he got off on a “technicality.” Dante also feels a lot more pity for the people that he views as good people. He feels pity for his teacher who is in Hell for being gay.

Another big difference between the film and the poem, is that the divine presence in the poem is absent in the film. Instead of Heavenly messengers coming to save Dante and Virgil, they use money and guns to save themselves. Even when they are running in the airport security, they are essentially alone.

All this shows how America views Christianity and sin. The way Dante acts in the film, represents the American people. Dante is a drunk, divorcee, adulterer, and was kicked out of his apartment. He also isn’t very smart. He goes through Hell without really being transformed. He sees that he is on the wrong path, but in the end he doesn’t seem to change his actions. This is true of the American people, too. People know that they are sinning but they do not try to change their actions. They continue to sin and then ask for forgiveness after they committed the sins. Instead of looking to God for power, they look to money and power. They try to buy themselves out of trouble. This is why a most people in power, such as popes and politicians. They misuse their power and influence. And if the leaders of America are corrupt, then they will essentially lead America into corruption.

Just like in the poem, the film shows how the place where the author’s live are corrupt. In the poem it is Florence, where Dante is from, and in the film it is America, where the producers are from.