Dante’s Influence on Se7en

By Harrison Bell

Image credit: Purnell, Kristopher. “David Fincher working on ‘Se7en’ remastered version” Philstar.com, 17 June, 2023, https://www.philstar.com/movies/2023/06/17/2274567/david-fincher-working-se7en-remastered-version  

Dante Alighieri’s renowned poem, the Divine Comedy, has had an immeasurable impact on not only Italian literature, but world literature as a whole. Through this work, we see Dante’s influence spanning into many different areas of art and literature. His influence can be seen in many contemporary works like art, music, cinema and more. One example of this influence is found in David Fincher’s psychological thriller, Se7en. Specifically, I will analyze how we can see Dante’s influence in this film’s structure, atmosphere, and moral exploration.

Se7en’s structure closely mirrors that of Dante's descent into Hell in Inferno. Firstly, as homicide detective William Somerset approaches retirement, he is tasked with easing a transferring detective, David Mills into taking his spot. With Somerset having more experience and wisdom, and Mills lacking such experience, Somerset can be seen as a figure like Virgil. Both Somerset and Virgil take on a role of mentorship in which they guide someone else. However, it is worth noting that while Dante is being guided through a spiritual journey, Mills deals more with the struggles of the gruesome murders with which he is investigating. One scene in particular, Somerset consoles Mills’ wife and promises her that he will look after Mills’ well-being. Like Virgil's relationship with Dante, Somerset is seen acting in the best interest of his partner. Additionally, we see parallels in the structure of the Divine Comedy, specifically Inferno, with Se7en. Like the punishments of the souls in Dante’s journey through Hell, the murders in Se7en become increasingly more violent and disturbing. Relating back to the relationship of Virgil and Dante, we see that Somerset becomes more of a supporting figure to Mills throughout their investigation.

        When looking at the atmosphere of Se7en and that of Inferno, Dante the author’s influence is made evident. Many of the scenes in Se7en depict a dreadful, rainy cityscape. This dreary imagery establishes the somber tone carried throughout the film. The atmosphere created here closely resembles a similar ambience in Dante’s journey through Inferno. Over the course of Dante’s journey in the afterlife, the circles which he visits depict a similar anguish and depravity. For instance, in Canto 13 of Inferno where Dante describes his surroundings detailing, “no green leaves in that forest, only black; no branches straight and smooth, but knotted, gnarled; no fruits were there. . .” (Inferno, Canto 13, 4-6). Here, we see Dante’s environment in Hell as lifeless and miserable. This construction of scenery aligns with what we see in the film Se7en as well. Ultimately, Dante’s vision of Hell in Inferno can be seen as having influenced the atmosphere and tone of the film Se7en.

        Dante’s influence on the moral exploration of Se7en is seen in the film’s focus on the seven deadly sins. As the investigation progresses, it becomes clear that the killer chooses his victims based on these sins: lust, gluttony, greed, pride, sloth, envy, and wrath. The way the killer murders his victims coincides with the sin he attributes to them. For example, the killer forces a man to eat non-stop for days until his stomach physically bursts. At the crime scene, Somerset discovers the word “gluttony” written on the wall in grease. Somerset soon deduces that the killer is “punishing” his victims for their sins. This mirrors the idea of contrapasso in Dante’s Inferno, where “it is the one ‘law of nature’ that applies to Hell, stating that for every sinner’s crime there must be an equal and fitting punishment” (Kameen, 2013). Like the punishment of souls in Dante’s Inferno, the victims in Se7en are “punished” based on the sin which they committed in their life. In Inferno, Dante the character questions ideas of morality and justice in his encounters with the punished souls. In Se7en, both Somerset, Mills, and the audience are forced to question their ideas of justice as the victims can be seen as morally corrupt. This challenged understanding of justice reaches its climax in the final scene of the film where Mills shoots and kills the captured murderer named John Doe. After realizing that John Doe killed his wife, Mills gives in to his anger and kills him. While Somerset and the audience can sympathize with his anger, the whole scene becomes enveloped with moral ambiguity. This is a similar moral vagueness which pervades Dante’s Divine Comedy.

In all, it is clear that Dante Alighieri’s the Divine Comedy has had a profound influence on the film Se7en. We see Dante’s influence in the film’s structure with the relationship of Somerset and Mills. Qualities of the films’ tone and atmosphere mirror those in Dante’s vision of Hell in Inferno. Finally, the moral exploration of Dante’s Divine Comedy, specifically in Inferno, is prevalent throughout the film. With many elements found in the Divine Comedy, Dante’s influence on Se7en is vast and powerful.

Works Cited

• Dante Alighieri, and Allen Mandelbaum. *Inferno.* Illustrated by Barry Moser, University of California Press, 1981.
• Fincher, David., et al. *Se7en*. New Line Cinema, 1995. <https://orbiscascade-washington.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma99140975160001452&context=L&vid=01ALLIANCE_UW:UW&lang=en&search_scope=UW_EVERYTHING&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=UW_default&query=any,contains,Fincher,%20David,%20Se7en.&offset=0>
• Kameen, Joseph. “Darkness Visible: Dante’s Clarification of Hell.” Writing Program Darkness Visible Dantes Clarification of Hell Comments, Boston University, 2013, www.bu.edu/writingprogram/journal/past-issues/issue-2/kameen/.