Hidden Virtue Analysis

In The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer explores the concept of Hidden Virtue. He writes of religious life having extraordinary character and that there is a hiddenness of this life one chooses to live. Applying this to Oscar Schindler, from Schindler’s List, a complex case is presented. Though in many instances throughout the movie, Schindler presents himself as a self-righteous individual with a pompous attitude, his revelation at the end of the movie compels a different perspective. Oscar Schindler is an example of Bonhoeffer’s Hidden Virtue, though not always demonstrated by action, through the turning points of his life and his revelations as a result of the turning points. The first chapter that Bonhoeffer begins his analysis of the aspects of Hidden Virtue with is on hidden righteousness. He claims that followers are to hide their discipleship, begging the question, from who? Bonhoeffer wrote: …show more content…
There are a few scenes that take place within a church, but the focus is on interactions with Jews rather than on his spirituality. Bonhoeffer argues: “Prayer is the supreme instance of the hidden character of the Christian life. It is the antithesis of self-display. When men pray, they have ceased to know themselves, and know only God whom they call upon.” Arguably, when Schindler calls for a moment of silence near the end of the movie, and the Jews begin to pray, this could be seen as a representation of this belief. Schindler doesn’t force them to stop or pray in a different fashion ever throughout the movie, rather he allows them to exercise their religious freedom and respects it, though he does not practice it himself. Viewers never experience this side of Schindler, making it difficult to connect this portion Bonhoeffer’s belief to