preview

The Devil And Block Essay

Decent Essays

The film begins with a knight, Antonius Block, and his squire, Jöns, washed up on shore after fighting in the crusades. Block sees Death standing by him and challenges him to a game of chess to live longer. After beginning the first half of the chess game, Block and Jöns begin their journey to Block’s castle when they encounter a band of actors. Block and Jöns continue on their journey when come across a village, and they decide to stay for a while. At this village, they encounter a young girl accused of witch craft, the actors, and Block begins questioning God and his faith. Block goes to confession and confesses that his belief in God is dwindling because he has never seen or heard any proof of his existence, but little does Block know, that …show more content…

Throughout the film there is never masculine/fighting justice, but instead, there is a religious justice established. Some examples of this is when Block is trying to find the purpose of life and how God relates to everything. Block comes across a young woman who claims to know the Devil and block asks to see him because the Devil is the only one to who could tell him about God. However, Block does not see the Devil and realizes that there is no higher being acting over the young woman. Block gives her pain medicine because he knows that she will not be saved and by doing this Block establishes justice for this woman because he knows that she does not deserve this fate because she is not possessed by the devil. Another example of justice that is seen is when Block distracts Death to let the actor family escape. Death asks him if Block has done his good deed yet and fulfilled a great purpose and Block answers, “yes.” This great deed was saving the family from the Death and from the plague. In this scene Block established justice for this kind family by saving them from Death. Additionally, there were moments were revenge occurred. One of these moments is when Jöns saved the servant girl from being raped by the doctor. Later, Jöns encounters the same man and burns his face. Overall, there are many occurrences of the themes of justice and

Get Access