Dantes Inferno

Throughout history there have been poets and directors who have influenced others in the arts and moved audiences all over the world. Poet Dante Alighieri and director Frank Capra have produced works that tell a part of the history from their time period through partially fictional stories. They used their passion in the arts to reflect on social conditions and show how those who fall into evil will suffer and those who stay morally and ethically true to themselves will find paradise in the end. Looking at Dante’s poem the Inferno and Frank’s film It’s a Wonderful Life one can see how when the government is facing problems people with power have a history of becoming deceitful, greedy and malicious and how during these times people turn to
A reoccurring theme of these sins is politics. This may very well be because during the time that Dante was writing the Inferno, Florence was having political problems. That would further explain the people Dante chose to highlight in the poem. People such as Caicco, Farinata and Vanni Fucci. “Critics have attributed the author’s negative illustration of this Italian city to his eventual disillusionment with both the politics of the city and the city itself” and say Dante shows his disdain with “all of the allusions to shades from Florence” (McGinnis, Rachel). Fast forward 600 years to America and one can see how director Frank Capra captured the same behavior of government officials during the Great Depression in his greatest film. It’s a Wonderful Life is not a historical film about the Great Depression, but the Great Depression does influence and affect every aspect of the movie. The most relatable character in the film to the powerful people during the economic downfall of the United States is Mr. Potter. While both of these masterpieces are not solely about religion one can see how it is fundamental to the story. Especially how good and bad are rewarded before and after
In a board meeting Mr. Potter, who owns the only other bank in town, suggests closing Building and Loans down for his own personal gain. Minutes before George is getting ready to leave, the board votes to keep Building and Loans open under one condition, that George takes the position of executive secretary. Knowing the alternative, George decides to stay and he never gets out of his small hometown. Just before the release of It’s a Wonderful Life in 1946, America had gone through the Great Depression and immediately after that they went through World War two. While both of these events are seen in the film, it is the Great Depression that plays a larger part in the plot of the story and defining Mr. Potter as a character. Mr. Potter is just as deceitful, greedy and malicious as the politicians Dante mentions in the Inferno. He only cares about himself and doesn’t care about the welfare of the common people. At one point in the film when he sees that he is not going to get his hands on Building and Loans, he plays on George’s desires of having a generous salary to try and get George to work for him. George considers it, but comes to his senses and declines the offer. Later in the movie, Billy Bailey “loses” twenty-five thousand dollars and