CHRIST-FOOL THEME

CHRIST-FOOL THEME
   This term, evidently coined by Richard Slotkin, refers to hero figures who, though superior to others in prowess, humble themselves to save others. In A Fistful of Dollars (1967), the Man with No Name (Clint Eastwood) enters town on a donkey, wearing a serape. He is a Christ figure who temporarily plays the fool yet redeems the town and takes the sins upon himself. In Shane (1953), the hero rides into the valley out of nowhere, puts away his guns, dresses humbly, and plays the fool in order to appease the family he stays with and be an example to their young son who looks to Shane for his values. Shane deflects a saloon fight, but in the end he brings his guns to town and redeems the settlers. Then he rides back into the unknown from whence he came.

Historical Dictionary of Westerns in Cinema. . 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Christ figure — A Christ figure is a literary technique that authors use to draw allusions between their characters and the biblical Jesus Christ. More loosely, the Christ Figure is a spiritual or prophetic character who parallels Jesus, or other spiritual or… …   Wikipedia

  • biblical literature — Introduction       four bodies of written works: the Old Testament writings according to the Hebrew canon; intertestamental works, including the Old Testament Apocrypha; the New Testament writings; and the New Testament Apocrypha.       The Old… …   Universalium

  • English literature — Introduction       the body of written works produced in the English language by inhabitants of the British Isles (including Ireland) from the 7th century to the present day. The major literatures written in English outside the British Isles are… …   Universalium

  • performing arts — arts or skills that require public performance, as acting, singing, or dancing. [1945 50] * * * ▪ 2009 Introduction Music Classical.       The last vestiges of the Cold War seemed to thaw for a moment on Feb. 26, 2008, when the unfamiliar strains …   Universalium

  • South Asian arts — Literary, performing, and visual arts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Myths of the popular gods, Vishnu and Shiva, in the Puranas (ancient tales) and the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics, supply material for representational and… …   Universalium

  • Christianity — /kris chee an i tee/, n., pl. Christianities. 1. the Christian religion, including the Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox churches. 2. Christian beliefs or practices; Christian quality or character: Christianity mixed with pagan elements; …   Universalium

  • Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) — Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) …   Wikipedia

  • The Beatles — Pour les articles homonymes, voir The Beatles (homonymie). The Beatles …   Wikipédia en Français

  • German literature — Introduction       German literature comprises the written works of the German speaking peoples of central Europe. It has shared the fate of German politics and history: fragmentation and discontinuity. Germany did not become a modern nation… …   Universalium

  • ethics — /eth iks/, n.pl. 1. (used with a sing. or pl. v.) a system of moral principles: the ethics of a culture. 2. the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics;… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”