What Dreams May Come Reflection

The movie What Dreams May Come was a every beautiful and good movie. The movie very much relates to Dante's Inferno in many ways. In both Dante's Inferno and What Dreams May Come, the most important place is hell. Like in the Bible passage where Peter (one of Jesus disciple) that tried to walk on water and failed to do so when he let doubt take over, also Chris was unable to walk on water until after exportation from Albert. In both "The Inferno" and "What Dreams May Come" the most important place is hell. While in "The Inferno" almost all of the novel takes place in hell, in "What Dreams May Come" hell is only part of the movie. In Dante's Inferno, Dante is on a journey through the nine circle of hell in order to get through the journey. While in What Dreams May Come, Chris sees his wife in hell and vigorously tries to help her. Chris experiences hell as a result of his depression to find his wife and save her from that place. But for Dante, as he gets father down into the circles, the surroundings also increase in the intensity of it. The detailed description of hell and each of the circles contributes to the idea of hell not being a nice place and also creates a sense of desperation because it seems as if it will never end. The darkness and chaos of the setting created anxiety and that is the exact same thing that is transmitted to the viewer in "What Dreams May Come" and the reader in "The Inferno." Through the description of the horrid places the tone of the environment is set thereby transmitting the same emotion.

Through the use of flashback the viewer can comprehend the importance of the relationship between Chris and Annie, Chris and his son and daughter. If there was no use of flashback the viewer would not be able to understand why Chris' kids are treasured by both mother and father, why Chris believes the love him and his wife have can overcome even hell, and how death affected the family. In the Bible (Revelation) God explains to John what he sees and hears in Heaven. In "The Inferno" Virgil explains to Dante what he sees in Hell. Virgil serves as a guide for Dante and angles at times serve as guides for John. In "What Dreams May Come" Albert, later discovered it is truly Ian, guides and helps Chris understand the afterlife. In Revelation 3:16, it says that God will not tolerate lukewarm, neither hot or cold, those that neither hate nor love sin. Also in the movie, Albert is his guide through heaven.
Chris and Albert:


Dante and Virgil: