Jesus Vs. Roberts: The Death Of Jesus Christ
The Holy One, Word of God, Emmanuel, and Son of God, these names describe one man: Jesus Christ. No other person in the history of the world is more well known or respected. The man born of a virgin and raised by a carpenter. He taught kindness and compassion while driving out hate and corruption, and his own people, the Jews, and the Romans put him to death for preaching the good news. Jesus’ impact on the world is unparalleled. Wars were fought in his name. The church, his lasting gift, influenced life for almost two-thousand years in Europe. The modern world is truly shaped by this man. One may wonder who, if anyone, can match this man in any manner. While no mortal is even on the same level as Jesus, similarities can still be drawn.
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In Joshua Logan’s adaptation of “Mister Roberts”, the protagonist Lieutenant Roberts has striking similarities with the one above all. Both Mister Roberts and Jesus are capable leaders who also have palm tree imagery associated with them, and both sacrifice for the good of others. Roberts and Jesus both are strong and respected leaders. Jesus lead a group of disciples who truly loved and believed in him. His disciples followed him around Israel for three years while he preached of God and performed miracles. So too, Roberts’s men follow him adamantly even though he is not the highest ranking man. His men believe and trust in him, because they know Roberts is always looking out for them. For example, the captain of the ship does not allow men to take their shirts off while working, but on a very hot day, Roberts lets them take their shirts off. When the captain hears of this, he berates the men and commands them to put their shirts on. They refuse. To calm the captain down, Roberts simply tells the men “put your shirts on”(370), and they listen. The men only listen to Roberts, because they believe in him more as a leader than their own captain. Both men also lead on after their deaths. After Jesus dies, his men establish a world religion founded on his principles. Likewise, Roberts ideology of fighting the captain’s injustices is carried on by Pulver, Roberts friend and roommate. After Roberts death, Pulver, who is overcome with shock, fights back against the captain who has just cancelled movie night again for the men. Pulver charges right up to the captain and tells him off by asking him “what's up with all the crap about no movie night”(419). While not world changing like Jesus’ impact, Robert’s leadership does inspire an otherwise cowardly Pulver into seeking justice for the crew. In all, Jesus was more of a world changing leader, but Roberts has the same effect on a smaller scale. Throughout “Mister Roberts” and the gospel, both Jesus and Roberts have palm trees associated with themselves.
In the physical aspect of palm trees, both men can be related to it in means of fruitfulness and elasticity. Jesus and Roberts both birth a movement from their actions. They spawn something that grows into an action that is bigger than themselves. Also, both can be seen bending but never breaking. During his persecution, Jesus never gives in to the will of the Romans. He stays strong and confident in God no matter how much he is tested. On the ship, Roberts is tested also. He has to put up with the boredom of each day. Even though his everyday life is filled with work and drudgery, he sees boredom as the enemy. Boredom drives him to the edge of cowardice and craziness, but he never breaks completely. In the end he learns that “the ones who refuse to surrender to it[boredom]… are the strongest of all”(418). Just like a palm tree with wind blowing on it, Roberts bends but never breaks. Also, the imagery of Palm Sunday and triumph is present in both Roberts and Jesus’ life. Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to a crowd who praise and adore him. They also happen to lay leaves of palm trees along his path representing his triumph of fulfilling his destiny. Roberts too is presented palms for triumph in the form of a palm tree medal. Before Roberts leaves to fight in the war, his men present him a medal with a palm tree on it. It represents Roberts’s successful battle against the captain. It shows that he “went beyond the call of duty [in service of his men]”(415). His greatest triumph aboard that terrible ship is receiving that palm tree
medal. Finally, Roberts and Jesus sacrifice what they have for the betterment of their men’s lives. Jesus sacrificed his life so that all people may go to heaven. He accepted the torture, humiliation, and pain. His sacrifice was extraordinary; He gave up his life. Roberts while not dying for his men does sacrifice something very important. He gives up his dream so his men may have liberty (allowed to go ashore). Roberts for most of the time on the ship has the dream of leaving and fighting in the war. Roberts writes a request to be transferred everyday, but the captain will not let him leave the ship because he is so vital to its success. One day, when the ship arrives at a “luxury” port, the captain refuses to let the men go ashore. Roberts takes it upon himself to get the captain to change his mind. Roberts runs up to the captain and asks “what do you want for Liberty”(385). The captain is expecting this, and he uses this opportunity to barter with Roberts. He will allow the men to go ashore if Roberts agrees to stop trying to follow his dream of fighting in the war. Roberts agrees. Roberts sacrifices his dream so his men can have their liberty. Also, Roberts does sacrifice his life, although without intent. He does die while fighting for his country, but this is not necessarily the same as Jesus giving up his life willingly. The fact still remains that Jesus and Roberts both willingly sacrifice their own needs for the needs of others. Is Roberts the Messiah of theatrical world? No. Logan did not intend him to be, and he most likely never even considered it when adapting the play. The connections between Jesus and Roberts cannot be disregarded however. While Jesus is an impossible role model to live up to, Roberts can be seen as a practical role model. Roberts has qualities of Jesus such as compassion, loyalty, and wisdom, and he has his human qualities of anger and impatience. Roberts is an everyday Jesus. While no messiah, Roberts represents an ideal and attainable version of Jesus for the modern man. Should one put down everything and begin to transform themselves into Roberts? No. But, one should see that he is a modern day example of living in a Christlike manner.
In Joshua Logan’s adaptation of “Mister Roberts”, the protagonist Lieutenant Roberts has striking similarities with the one above all. Both Mister Roberts and Jesus are capable leaders who also have palm tree imagery associated with them, and both sacrifice for the good of others. Roberts and Jesus both are strong and respected leaders. Jesus lead a group of disciples who truly loved and believed in him. His disciples followed him around Israel for three years while he preached of God and performed miracles. So too, Roberts’s men follow him adamantly even though he is not the highest ranking man. His men believe and trust in him, because they know Roberts is always looking out for them. For example, the captain of the ship does not allow men to take their shirts off while working, but on a very hot day, Roberts lets them take their shirts off. When the captain hears of this, he berates the men and commands them to put their shirts on. They refuse. To calm the captain down, Roberts simply tells the men “put your shirts on”(370), and they listen. The men only listen to Roberts, because they believe in him more as a leader than their own captain. Both men also lead on after their deaths. After Jesus dies, his men establish a world religion founded on his principles. Likewise, Roberts ideology of fighting the captain’s injustices is carried on by Pulver, Roberts friend and roommate. After Roberts death, Pulver, who is overcome with shock, fights back against the captain who has just cancelled movie night again for the men. Pulver charges right up to the captain and tells him off by asking him “what's up with all the crap about no movie night”(419). While not world changing like Jesus’ impact, Robert’s leadership does inspire an otherwise cowardly Pulver into seeking justice for the crew. In all, Jesus was more of a world changing leader, but Roberts has the same effect on a smaller scale. Throughout “Mister Roberts” and the gospel, both Jesus and Roberts have palm trees associated with themselves.
In the physical aspect of palm trees, both men can be related to it in means of fruitfulness and elasticity. Jesus and Roberts both birth a movement from their actions. They spawn something that grows into an action that is bigger than themselves. Also, both can be seen bending but never breaking. During his persecution, Jesus never gives in to the will of the Romans. He stays strong and confident in God no matter how much he is tested. On the ship, Roberts is tested also. He has to put up with the boredom of each day. Even though his everyday life is filled with work and drudgery, he sees boredom as the enemy. Boredom drives him to the edge of cowardice and craziness, but he never breaks completely. In the end he learns that “the ones who refuse to surrender to it[boredom]… are the strongest of all”(418). Just like a palm tree with wind blowing on it, Roberts bends but never breaks. Also, the imagery of Palm Sunday and triumph is present in both Roberts and Jesus’ life. Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to a crowd who praise and adore him. They also happen to lay leaves of palm trees along his path representing his triumph of fulfilling his destiny. Roberts too is presented palms for triumph in the form of a palm tree medal. Before Roberts leaves to fight in the war, his men present him a medal with a palm tree on it. It represents Roberts’s successful battle against the captain. It shows that he “went beyond the call of duty [in service of his men]”(415). His greatest triumph aboard that terrible ship is receiving that palm tree
medal. Finally, Roberts and Jesus sacrifice what they have for the betterment of their men’s lives. Jesus sacrificed his life so that all people may go to heaven. He accepted the torture, humiliation, and pain. His sacrifice was extraordinary; He gave up his life. Roberts while not dying for his men does sacrifice something very important. He gives up his dream so his men may have liberty (allowed to go ashore). Roberts for most of the time on the ship has the dream of leaving and fighting in the war. Roberts writes a request to be transferred everyday, but the captain will not let him leave the ship because he is so vital to its success. One day, when the ship arrives at a “luxury” port, the captain refuses to let the men go ashore. Roberts takes it upon himself to get the captain to change his mind. Roberts runs up to the captain and asks “what do you want for Liberty”(385). The captain is expecting this, and he uses this opportunity to barter with Roberts. He will allow the men to go ashore if Roberts agrees to stop trying to follow his dream of fighting in the war. Roberts agrees. Roberts sacrifices his dream so his men can have their liberty. Also, Roberts does sacrifice his life, although without intent. He does die while fighting for his country, but this is not necessarily the same as Jesus giving up his life willingly. The fact still remains that Jesus and Roberts both willingly sacrifice their own needs for the needs of others. Is Roberts the Messiah of theatrical world? No. Logan did not intend him to be, and he most likely never even considered it when adapting the play. The connections between Jesus and Roberts cannot be disregarded however. While Jesus is an impossible role model to live up to, Roberts can be seen as a practical role model. Roberts has qualities of Jesus such as compassion, loyalty, and wisdom, and he has his human qualities of anger and impatience. Roberts is an everyday Jesus. While no messiah, Roberts represents an ideal and attainable version of Jesus for the modern man. Should one put down everything and begin to transform themselves into Roberts? No. But, one should see that he is a modern day example of living in a Christlike manner.