Did you know that in It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey is Saint George the Dragon Slayer of Bedford Falls and Henry Potter is a depiction of Satan? According to English Professor Geoffrey Hill, there’s a whole lot of symbolism in the movie. For example, George’s wife Mary is a representation of Mary, the mother of God, because George brags he’s going to lasso the moon for her, and Mary shall subsequently swallow it and the moon beams will shine from her hair, hands, and feet. Hill believes this image is comparable to the Catholic depiction of Mary, which is a picture that director Frank Capra would have often seen because of his Catholicism. After hearing these opinions from Hill, are you enlightened on what the movie is actually meant to be about? No, because George is just a regular business guy, Mary is his kind and supportive wife, and Henry Potter is just a mean old grouch. That’s what the audience perceives them to be, and that’s what they are on the screen. Whether or not Capra envisioned these representations, does it really matter? Can’t people just take the movie for what it is without depicting characters and events from the movie as other beings?
Anyone is capable of comparing films to other people, place, and events. For example, one could say Simba from The Lion King is actually a portrayal of Moses. They both are destined for the throne, and through a tragic event they end up in a wilderness. After spending some time away from their birthplace, they are called to return and free their people (or lions) from oppression. Did the filmmakers think of this when making The Lion King? If the symbolism is so “obvious” then that must be what the director(s) had in mind, right? Just because George Bailey has the same name and a similar role as Saint George who defeats the devil (a.k.a. Henry Potter), why must people work so hard to symbolize movies and relate them to history or mythology? Why not just enjoy the movie and accept it for what it is, whether it’s an inspiring Christmas classic about how one’s life can make a difference or an animated musical masterpiece in the Sahara featuring talking animals.
The funny thing is, The Lion King is a direct clone of Hamlet, but it could be argued that Hamlet is a direct reference to the story of Moses as well. But hey, I agree, why can't we enjoy everything for what it is? Why can't we watch a movie without plastering another guy's face on the protagonist.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think symbol/application-spotting is fun. I don't do it with every story, but when I do it makes it even more interesting to me. I find it fascinating when something has multiple layers of meaning.
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