Comparison Of Up And Dorothy Day

Comparison of Movies with Road to Emmaus Both “Up” and “Dorothy Day” share many similarities to “The Road to Emmaus.” All three are stories of a spiritual journey, all going through these journeys in different ways. However, all three go with others through the journey. They a mentor joins and teaches them. Following that, there usually is an invitation for the mentor to become more involved in a person’s life. The teaching becomes an “aha” moment, where the people on the journey now understand something they did not before. Finally, the people tell others what they have heard. These elements make up a spiritual journey and each story studied has followed these elements. In “The Road to Emmaus,” the journey begins with two people who, travelling
to Emmaus meet their mentor, Jesus, but did not recognize him. The travelers are surprised this man has not heard everything that had been happening and the rumors going on regarding Jesus of Nazareth who was condemned and was supposed to be dead but he was not at his tomb the next morning but was alive according to angels. Jesus called the travelers foolish for believing what the prophets had declared. Eventually all three of them came to the village and when seeing Jesus, the travelers’ mentor, walking on, they invited him to stay with them. At a dinner they recognized him as Jesus when he broke the bread and gave it to them. At the end of the story, they told others. This is the typical spiritual journey story for the travelers. It follows all of the elements and continues on through more time. “Up” and “Dorothy Day” follow this spiritual journey pattern as well. Like the “Road to Emmaus,” “Dorothy Day” follows a similar spiritual journey. She goes through ups and downs in the beginning of her life having abortions and other life-changing events. Finally, she meets her mentor Peter and he teaches her about the Bible and helps her pursue her interests in helping those less fortunate. Dorothy continues working for the poor and invites Peter to stay with her and her sister. Over time she begins questioning herself and everything she is doing. Like the “Road to Emmaus,” Peter helps guide her just as Jesus did with the travelers. Dorothy has her “aha” moment when the people assisting her efforts in helping the poor think about leaving. This puts into perspective for Dorothy what she is doing and what her goal really is. They choose to stay and she remembers why she is really helping others. Time goes by and Dorothy and the others helping the poor have become successful in reaching their goals. What they are doing has spread so others are aware whether this is through word of mouth or newspapers. This is Dorothy’s spiritual journey. She went through some extremely hard times and persevered through them to get where she was later in life. This is very much true because of Peter. He guided her just as Jesus had done for the travelers. Similarly to “Dorothy Day,” “Up” is a classic spiritual journey story very much alike to the “Road to Emmaus.” Mr.
Fredrickson’s journey is joined by Kevin and Dug. He is also joined by his mentor, Russell. Russell teaches Mr. Fredrickson about friendship and loyalty, while going through obstacles such as trying to allow Kevin to get back to his family. Unlike the “Road to Emmaus,” Mr. Fredrickson did not want Russell to join him on his journey originally. However there was no turning back at the time so Mr. Fredrickson had to cope with the fact that his mentor would be with him, even though he did not realize it. As the travelers ask Jesus to stay in the “Road to Emmaus,” it is slightly different in “Up” in that Russell leaves to save Kevin. This makes Mr. Fredrickson go after Russell and Kevin rather than him simply asking Russell to stay with him on his journey. This is also his “aha” moment; Mr. Fredrickson removes all of his belongings from inside the house to save Russell from Muntz. He understands that Ellie wants him to have his own journey. However, unlike the “Road to Emmaus” and “Dorothy Day,” in “Up,” Mr. Fredrickson does not tell the others at the end of his spiritual journey. He supports Russell in earning is badge but does not spread the word as in the “Road to
Emmaus.” In conclusion, both “Dorothy Day” and “Up” are movies about a spiritual journey very similar to the “Road to Emmaus.” They start on a journey with others with an ultimate goal in mind. Following that, a mentor joins their journey and teaches them. There is then an invitation for the mentor to stay, leading up to a new understanding of something. In the end, the person experiencing the journey tells others, although this element was not apparent in “Up.” Overall these are all very similar spiritual journeys with similar ideas that are portrayed through different events.