A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL IN MID SEPTEMBER?! WHY NOT?!
Just kidding around here, but this is a movie in which i traditionally watch around the holiday season. But TECHNICALLY this is not a Christmas movie to some people, my older brother (who is as Scrooge as they come) has claimed to enjoy watching this film. And yes, i am listening to Christmas music while writing this because why not?! Big Lots already has their decorations out for the hoilday season so I'm going to make an acception. Anyways, continuing from the discussion, let's take a look at this break down of the movie.
While reading this, i kept thinking about when Professor Leeper would say "DON'T SAY THAT HE REPRESENTS JESUS" or something relative to that message when he talked about looking at the Christian elements in a film/book/story in general. Yet while reading this article, the writer kept referring to characters as what they could represent in the biblical terms. Saint George, Potter as the devil and Mary as well...Mary the mother of God. But the writer does it in such a way that it kind of works with the message. I think the comparisons of George and Moses works, as Bedford Falls is made up of the people who need Georges help in order to survive life in the Upstate New York regions.
(Seriously, as a person who has grown up over in that area of the state, everything is expensive over there with state taxes everywhere. Ever see a gallon of milk cost $3.49? No? COME ON UP TO NEW YORK! )
Like Moses, George has a lot of people relying on him to guide the people of this town out of the evil clutches of the Egyption Mr. Potter. Like Jesus, George is faced with temptations such as the "bad woman" Violet but turned a bad situation good by letting her know that she is much better than that and can indeed get redemption. But George has his flaws, having a damaged left ear and always dreaming of a better place than little old Bedford Falls but is taped down due to dutys and is therefore a little cynical about somethings. Deep down though, George is a good man. He did save his kid brother from dying and suffered a wound because of it. He is willing to go the extra mile to help keep the bank open with money that he had for his honeymoon. He is willing to help build new neighbor hoods for the people of that town, while supporting war efforts and raising a family. He earns his Saintly title through actions in which he puts others before himself. That is where it hits him the hardest when he sees what life is like without George Bailey. He runs through Pottersville in shock and reaction to how much has changed, that in the end he becomes grateful for what he had. He had a community that was loyal and earned his trust through acts of kindness.
I for one think that we all have a George Bailey complex inside. We might not think highly of our selves and how we've affected the community around us, but take yourself out of the equation and things are vastly different. God created you for a reason and had a plan for you ever since you were born. He planned out how you would help out towards the story of the earth and the other people on it. All choices and good deeds that you have made has made an impact on humanity, whether you'd like to agree or not. It might not be as large as changing a whole community as drastically as George did when he wished he was never born, but it is significant enough in the eyes of God and the people around you. Life is a spider web of confusing but interesting things that connect with one another in the strangest of ways. That's a pretty cool way of thinking of things huh?
That was my impression on the reading for tonight. Hopefully everyone has a great nights sleep and be glad that we have 99 days, 3 hours, 12 minutes and 35 seconds till Christmas!
(Okay, well at least look forward to Halloween and the day after for free/reduced priced candy.)
Good night!
No comments:
Post a Comment