Thomas Anderson: Connotative Aspects Of The Characters In The Film Jesus

The theory of Bildungsroman defines a genre that has been employed in several literature pieces albeit most novels have employed the framework partially. The Bildungsroman literary genre convention dwells on the growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood morally and psychologically. Works that have employed the literary genre can also be referred to as coming of age genres. The novel by Viramontes entitled Under the Feet of Jesus gives an account of the plight of a family that lives as migrants. It has aspects that indicate similarities with the theories of the Bildungsroman. The essay evaluates how and to what extent the events of the novel fit the genre conventions in the Bildungsroman. Furthermore, the essay will delve into the justification behind the choice to use or not to use the genre conventions to enhance the theme of struggle as Estrella and her family experience hardships, focusing on migration and adolescence which characterize the life of the protagonist, Estrella, and her family.

Jesus and the Disinherited begins the first chapter with the interpretation of Jesus. Dr. Thurman explained that Jesus was a poor Jew and was a minority in the midst of a dominate society. Dr. Thurman gives his analysis on the worldviews Jesus. People around the world have their own interpretation of Jesus; yet, people have an orthodox view of him being fully God and fully man. In chapter one, the author references the nonviolent resistance approach, which is a tactic Dr. Martin Luther King Jr used in the civil rights movements. He interprets Jesus as a black man who lived his life as an outsider in the world. Jesus was the disinherited and oppressed like African Americans.

Although the Bible’s description of Jesus and his crucifixion has not been changed, the perception of the people about Jesus has been changing throughout the ages. The poem “The Dream of the Rood” is good example of a unique view of Jesus and his crucifixion. The poem is referred as “one of the first and most successful treatments of the crucifixion” in Old English poetry (Burrow 123).

Words are strong; they can build, tear down, or repair; they have a purpose, much like tools in a tool chest. Using a distressed and then confident tone, the author of “Under the Feet of Jesus,” Viramontes, details the progression of Estrella’s character from a confused and hostile girl to an empowered and knowledgeable young lady through the use of repetition, an epiphany in the form of a potent simile and diction. The epiphany that words hold immense power and the key to success in life completely transforms Estrella’s character as she learns to grow stronger from her troubled childhood experience. Viramontes emphasizes how much power we give words when we use them to support or tear down each other and how we should carefully direct that power of words to give a voice to an underprivileged individual whose experience and potential in life would otherwise remain hidden and unknown.

In the book Simply Jesus, N.T. Wright makes three different claims throughout. N.T. Wright's first claim is about the “perfect storm”. The “perfect storm” takes up a large section of the first few chapters, and in those chapters N.T. Wright writes about that to enter the “perfect storm” you must step out of your own storm that is happening in your life, you must jump back into the “perfect storm” just as Jesus did in his own life. N.T. Wright fails to fully support the idea of the “perfect storm” throughout the book. Wright writes about the two myths that create the “storms”, the first is “… the high-pressure system of conservative Christianity” and the second is “... the new classic modernist myth…”. N.T. Wright loses his credibility to his claims by never giving evidence that disproves they myths. N.T. Wright states that the stories in the bible “...’really did happen’. And there the matter ends…. Facts or no facts”. N.T. Wrights claims are never fully

Fictional characters are persons that, when enlivened through careful, skillful writing and articulate literary elements, are incredible and relatable figures in any thoughtful novel. In Under The Feet of Jesus, the vibrant and distinct character of Estrella is thoroughly expressed as a young and passionate girl who struggles with her understanding of things that aren’t familiar— such “foreign alphabets” and Perfecto’s tools. Estrella is consumed in these emotions towards things she doesn’t understand, or know for sure, and expresses her moods without restraint. Helena María Viramontes, the author of Under The Feet of Jesus, uses selection of detail and figurative language to further develop this same iron-willed and impassioned character

The novel “Under the Feet of Jesus” is written by Helena Maria Viramontes. The excerpt that was read mainly focus on the protagonist Estrella. When analyzing the excerpt, some of the information that the reader received was that Estrella loathe not knowing things and she continued to ask about the chest that everyone was harvesting for and no one ever answered her. Also that Estrella is in school and some of the teachers had a problem with her hygiene. The author used literacy devices so the novel could be understood better. The three literacy devices that were used were selection of details, figurative language, and tone.

In Pierre De Berulle’s selected writings pages 109 through 134 we learn about the “Discourse on the State and Grandeurs of Jesus. The first discourse is on the excellence and singularity of the sacred mystery of the Incarnation. Then we move on to the next discourse which in the form of an elevation to God upon the mystery of the incarnation. The third and forth discourse is on the unity of God in this mystery.

The Christ figure is a recurring symbol in American literature. Throughout Ken Kesey’s novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, various interactions and events portray McMurphy as a Christ figure. There are frequent visual and concrete references to Christ throughout the novel. Also, the reader discovers that the other patients view McMurphy as an inspiration and someone they wish to emulate. This cooperation enables him to oppose Nurse Ratched and do what he thinks is best for the patients.

Parallel Lives of Jesus: A Guide to the Four Gospels by Edward Adams is a book that is focused on the unity of all four narratives Jesus’s life. This book is a very good example of an introduction to the four Gospels and a method to study the Gospels.

In the film, The Matrix, there are numerous references to Christianity and numerous images and references are depicted. The primary character is Neo, who is a representation of Jesus. At the outset when Trinity tells Neo that he is being watched, which is additionally comparative in how Jesus was being viewed by the Pharisees, which soon prompted his capture. At the point when Neo is being examined by the Agents, he did not allow himself to give in, like how Jesus did not offer into repudiate his heavenliness and his Father. Close to the end of the movie when Neo is stood up to and shot dead by the Agents, he revives, just like how Jesus did, and fought back against the Agents who are pictures of sin and Satan. Christian imagery is depicted

Through the movie we see parallel’s of Neo and Christian Mythology. Temptation from Satan to Jesus and the temptation to Neo from the Agents, are some very profound similarities between the two personages.

The most obvious and important symbolisms are the names of the main characters. The main character’s name is “Truman Burbank”, who is trapped in an artificial world and whose every move is broadcasted throughout the world. We can easily see that the name “Truman” is a linguistic blend of the words ‘True’ and ‘man’, but is Truman actually a true man? His actions are deliberately controlled by the director in the production center, so his actions and behaviors cannot be said to be completely true since they are only real inside the artificial world. This refers to the omnipotence of God.

Yancey starts out with the image of Jesus. When he was young he had envisioned Jesus to have angelic features such as, young, handsome, and a compassionate face. It wasn’t until he entered into a Christian college, that he was introduced to the real image of Jesus. I had an immediate connection with Yancey. I too had an image of Christ in my head, which consisted of Hollywood portrayals and those in classical paintings. It wasn’t till I engaged myself at a Christian college, that I have now received a new and more accurate picture of Christ. His book, The Jesus I Never Knew, questions the reader with the thought, “How many Christians today are in the same position, not fully understanding

Many Americans flocked to see Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Passion of the Christ.” On over 2.000 screens across America the viewed the “harrowing depiction of Jesus' last 12 hours in wide-screen vivid color.” (Allen 2004) People viewed images of Jesus being flogged, crucified and left to die. This violence caused some Christians discomfort with theology, and some Jews’ fear that it will “incite violence against them because of its portrayal of Jews’ involvement in Jesus’ death.” (Allen 2004)