Comparison to ENGL 400
Tartarus
Charmed's Version of Hell
Dante’s Inferno is a story about a journey through hell and purgatory as told by Dante. There are nine circles of Hell that are described in Dante’s Inferno. The circles in order are: limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. In the afterlife if you were a sinner you were placed in one of these circles in hell based on what sins you committed while living. In the Charmed 2018 TV series, they have a version of hell named Tartarus. When Tartarus is introduced to the “Charmed Ones” it is described as a prison for mystical creatures who defy the rules in place by the elders. Although there are not nine different circles of Tartarus to torture sinners, there are multiple levels of punishments that the residents receive while there. While in Tartarus one can be tortured by their own memories, the things that they regret the most. The more they try to fight against the punishments the more they suffer
Alastor, The Dark Master
Devil as Charismatic/Charming Trope
Alastor is a very powerful demon who also happens to be the CEO of two major businesses such as Alistair Caine Enterprises and Morningstar Biotech. . Alastor can be compared to Lucifer the DC comic in the way that they portray Lucifer. Alastor, like Lucifer in the comic, is very charismatic and charming yet he only thinks of what is in his best interest. He does not think much about how his actions may affect others around him. My research paper is based on the portrayal of Lucifer in popular culture. Why is it that instead of the brute monster I was taught Lucifer was as a child is he now more charming, more human like? In The Changing Face of Satan, From 1500 To Today, there is a quote from Bernard Barryte, “Obviously, people are more fascinated with evil than with good, Just look at the TV shows and movies from the last several seasons–there’s a natural human curiosity about horror.” What could be more horrific other than the Devil himself appearing as somewhat human and tempting those around him to turn to the bad side?
Picturing Angels
The Progression of Women as Angels & Heroines
In David Albert Jones’ Angels, A Very Short Introduction, David talks about the transition from angels being portrayed as men to women. “The high point of feminization came into the nineteenth century and was strongly associated with the romantic movement.... In this context, angels were portrayed not as androngynous but clearly as young women, and it is these nineteenth-century images that shape contemporary popular culture.” This quote made me think of how women were portrayed in American TV, especially in today’s society. In the article Women in American TV series (1950s to 2000) Céline Morin stated, “The image of representations of women in American television series has been so marked by the liberated sexuality, racy language, female solidarity and existential monologues of Sex and the City and, to a lesser extent, Ally McBeal, that earlier series may have been over-shadowed, appearing as merely the proto-history of these productions, and later series as merely the comet’s tail.” Charmed is an example of a series that fits within this description. The character Mel Vera, is a lesbian feminist and she openly speaks out about women’s rights. I think it is great that history has impacted today's culture and made it so that women can be portrayed as powerful heroines.
Dante's Inferno
Ghost Guide & Whitelighter
In Dante’s Inferno there is a ghost named Virgil who guides Dante through hell and purgatory. In “The Roles of Virgil in Dante’s Divine Comedy: An Investigation of Primary and Secondary Sources” Virgil is described as the “personification of human reason and classical wisdom.” Virgil is Dante’s teacher and was sent to him to be a mentor and help him with his spiritual journey. In Charmed 2018 TV series the character Harry Greenwood can be compared to Virgil. Harry Greenwood is a whitelighter or rather a guardian angel and like Virgil, he appears as a guide to the Charmed Ones, Mel Maggie, and Macy. Harry Greenwood's sole purpose as a whitelighter is to teach them of the history of witches before them and also train them to be successful witches in their journey.