(“Sam in the Cage.”)
This essay embarks on a comparative journey between Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy and the television series Supernatural, highlighting how Supernatural draws upon Dante's classical themes. The analysis examines the depiction and interpretation of otherworldly realms, the battle between good and evil, and the spiritual journey depicted in both works.
In The Divine Comedy, Dante is guided through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, encountering various allegorical figures and obstacles. Dante’s work focuses on themes of theological and philosophical concepts, exploring divine justice, love, and the quest for salvation. The essay references the wide-ranging influence of Dante's work in popular culture, highlighting its contemporary relevance (Wikipedia, 2023).
Supernatural, spanning 15 seasons, mirrors Dante's allegorical style, portraying the Winchester brothers' struggle against monstrous, demonic, and angelic beings. Their journey, filled with complex family dynamics and moral quandaries, aligns with the episodic and allegorical nature of Dante's journey, like the adaptation discussed in "Into the Video-Inferno" (Petricola & Fusillo, 2020).
The comparative analysis highlights the shared theme of navigating supernatural landscapes. Dante's detailed depiction of the afterlife realms parallels the Winchesters' encounters with Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. This adaptation for a modern audience echoes with Iannucci's (2004) observations on the continued fascination with such narratives in media.
Both works deeply engage with the theme of the eternal struggle between good and evil. Dante's ascent to divine enlightenment contrasts with the Winchesters' more direct confrontation with dark forces, displaying a more contemporary heroism narrative. The redemption arc is a common thread, where both sets of protagonists seek moral clarity and atonement.
The importance of guidance and mentorship is evident in both stories, with characters like Virgil, Beatrice, Castiel, and Bobby playing crucial roles in guiding the protagonists through their trials. Symbolism and allegory enhance both works, highlighting themes of kinship, hope, and the struggle between light and darkness.
Supernatural reimagines Dante's themes in a modern context, transforming medieval Christian allegories into a narrative accessible to today's audience. The essay discusses how Supernatural embeds references to Dante's work, like episode titles and plot elements, weaving a contemporary tale that pays homage to the classical epic.
This essay reflects on the interconnectedness of classical and contemporary storytelling. This comparison not only highlights the timeless nature of Dante's work but also showcases its ongoing influence on modern narratives, affirming its lasting appeal and relevance.
Works Cited:
"Divine Comedy in Popular Culture." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Oct. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Comedy_in_popular_culture. Accessed 3 Nov. 2023.
Iannucci, Amilcare A. “Dante and Hollywood.” Dante, Cinema, and Television, edited by Amilcare A. Iannucci, University of Toronto Press, 2004, pp. 3–20. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3138/9781442673700.5. Accessed 3 Nov. 2023.
Petricola, Mattia, and Massimo Fusillo. “Into the Video-Inferno: Vertical Television, Experimental Seriality and the Moving Collage in A TV Dante.” Between (Cagliari), vol. 10, no. 20, 2020, https://doi.org/10.13125/2039-6597/4226.
“Sam in the Cage.” Supernatural Wiki, 13 June 2014, https://supernatural.fandom.com/wiki/Hell. Accessed 17 November 2023.