Smart Severance Theory Unveils Uncanny Connection With Dante Alighieri (It's About Gemma and Helly)
Of course, Mark's wife's name has a deeper meaning.
There are many mysteries and unexpected twists in Severance, but one of the most intriguing stories is the connection between Gemma and Mark. Who is this woman, and what happened to her?
Severance fans have become accustomed to digging deeper – the show is full of hidden clues and references that do not go unnoticed by viewers. And the name Gemma was apparently no accident.
Gemma Was the Name of Dante Alighieri's Wife
Reddit user MetricMonster noted that Gemma was the name of the wife of Dante Alighieri, who wrote one of the most important and influential literary works in history – The Divine Comedy.
In it, the poet travels through the three realms of the afterlife, painting a vivid and memorable picture of what happens there with amazing clarity and imagery.
It is no secret to any viewer of the series that the severed floor is often compared to Hell – even the first episode is called Good News About Hell. However, the coincidence of the names of Mark and Dante's wives adds new layers to this allegory.
Dante and Gemma's Marriage Was Not a Happy One
It is well known that Dante Alighieri's muse and love of his life was Beatrice Portinari, who died at the age of only 24. But although Beatrice was the mistress of his heart, Dante also had a wife who is not often remembered – her name was Gemma Donati.
Gemma's life is virtually undocumented. Dante himself never mentioned her in his work throughout his life. At the same time Beatrice became one of the main characters in the Divine Comedy.
Scholars have long debated whether Donati and Dante's marriage was a happy one. The Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio claimed that the relationship with Gemma brought only sorrow and pain to the poet.
When Dante was exiled from Florence in 1301, Gemma and their children did not join him in exile, and it is likely that Gemma never saw her husband again.
Dante's Story Hints that Mark & Gemma's Marriage Was Not So Simple and Calm
There is some overlap between Mark and Gemma and Dante and Gemma fates. While Dante most likely didn't love his wife and their marriage was a burden to him, Mark's relationship with Gemma also brought him suffering, but for a different reason.
Some fans also believe that Helly is the counterpart to Beatrice. Like Beatrice, she leads the Lumon employees to enlightenment – before Helly's appearance at the MDR office, the workers didn't even think about their situation.
This parallel makes you wonder – how happy was Mark and Gemma's family life really?