Jesus A Trickster Figure Analysis

Improved Essays
Jesus is a trickster figure. The “trickster figure” literary archetype is a very controversial one. The thing that most people don’t understand is that it is not always a negative thing to be labeled as a trickster figure. What is a trickster figure, and how is Jesus considered one? A trickster figure is someone who violates the principles of social norms and natural order (Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art). They can be a hero who makes up for a lack of strength or bravery in people, or someone who has intellect or secret knowledge of some sort. As defined by Lewis Hyde, “trickster is a boundary-crosser”(Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art). Their actions set them apart from every other person; they stand out. They are people who go the extra mile and do something to make a difference in the world, and leave an impact on the people around them. …show more content…
Although he is mentioned in both of these religions, they have different perspectives, views, and opinions on him. He is considered a prophet in Islam and Christianity, and viewed as a teacher in both of these religions. With a focus mainly on Christianity and Islam 's stories and beliefs about Jesus, he has proven to be a trickster

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    In the book Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time Marcus J. Borg discusses how the perspective people have of God and Jesus evolves throughout time. He does this by examining his own faith journey, and how his vison of Jesus and God changed as he matured and had various experiences. After his personal narrative, Borg examines the different perspectives scholars consider for Jesus. These two perspectives are the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith. It is through these two perspectives that Borg examines not only his own faith but Christianity as well.…

    • 808 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Perhaps the best example that can be given to prove Simon is a Christ-figure is through his actions seen in the novel. Some of Simon’s smallest and simplest actions add up and relate to simple actions done by Jesus. It is known that Jesus was always very good with children. There are many pictures of him being surrounded by children and helping them. When Simon walks pass the little ones struggling to reach for berries, he does not even think twice before stopping and helping them gather food for the others: “Simon found for them the fruit they could not reached . . .…

    • 1540 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Helena Maria Viramontes ' novel Under the Feet of Jesus present the true realities that a young thirteen-year-old girl, Estrella, and her family encounter as migrant laborers. Working as migrant laborers, Estrella and her family face conflicts with the legal system, the perpetual state of being short on money, and the depiction of their labor. Viramontes’s novel effortlessly demonstrates how the life of migrant workers are both demanding and brutal through exemplifying Estrella and her family 's life as migrant workers. One of the biggest hardships that Estrella and her family encounter relate to the fact that their work depends on factors that they cannot control.…

    • 1710 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A Christ Figure is a character in literature whose actions and intentions resemble those of Jesus Christ. In the three works of literature that we have discussed, each character exemplifies key aspects that relate closely with those of Jesus Christ. Though the three separate works each shows evidence of characters being a Christ Figure, they do so in their own unique way. A Separate Peace is a story that tells of Gene’s recollection of his closest friend Phineas life, death and the many events that occur at boarding school. Finny is a strong character with a boisterous personality and is the image of a perfect person to his best friend, Gene.…

    • 1246 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Over that past two millenniums, there has been much criticism and many arguments made about the historical significance of Jesus. In the book “The Jesus Controversy: Perspectives in Conflict” there are many new perspectives incorporated through three different authors eyes who each have their own views on Jesus’ role in history. The three professors who wrote this paramount book were Professors John Crossan, Luke Johnson, and Werner Kelber each of who teaches different religious programs at some of the top recognized college institutions. The preliminary writings throughout his book are broken down into three different areas exploring topics such as the historical, theological, and textual problems at core of this theological controversy. Interesting…

    • 173 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This podcast talks about Jesus Christ from a historical perspective through the book Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth and its author, Reza Aslan. This book dives into the historical perspective of Jesus of Nazareth and discusses Reza’s own religious journey. Religion is defined by the book to a a social institution involving beliefs and practices based on recognizing the sacred. There are several concepts from the lecture and book can be seen through this podcast. Religion is very complex as shown by Emile Durkheim thought of religion involves things that surpass the limits of our knowledge.…

    • 594 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    n chapter 3 of Jesus Behaving Badly, Mark Strauss addresses the issue of Jesus being someone who cures diseases and someone who is angry or loving. Reading this chapter I feel that Jesus is the loving type because he doesn’t reject anyone from knowing him. He wants people to know him and can share the gospel to other people so that when judgement day comes they will go to heaven rather than hell. One verse that stood out to me was Mark 1:33-34, “The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.…

    • 299 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Christianity vs. Islam The religions Christianity and Islam both share many differences. With both of these religions emerging from the Middle East, they have created a great impact on this world. Like most religions, they both claim to be the one true way to God. Their differences include their view on Jesus, how the religion had originated, and also their practices.…

    • 729 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Gospel of John seems to display Jesus as a very powerful and persuasive person. Right from the beginning, in (John 1.1-4), Jesus has been described as though he was God. The gospel starts with the lines, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” The detailed descriptions of the signs also promote the idea of Jesus’s greatness.…

    • 1073 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    N.T. Wright, in his book Simply Jesus, tells his view on who Jesus was, what he was trying to accomplish in his public career, and why it all matters. He describes that Jesus is much more complex than most people think. Many Christians believe that they know Jesus. Wright argues that Jesus can’t be understood easily. He uses the analogy of the perfect storm to show the complexity of Jesus which consisted of the Roman oppresive force, Jewish expectations, and the wind of God.…

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The invention and eventual sharing of mythology and the stories its creation has intern influenced has lead to a series of character types and eventual individual characters that both intrigue and disturb the consumer. In particular, trickster characters tend to be the most violent, unpredictable, and memorable of the characters in these stories, however; there are different types of tricksters that have been involves in some of the more well-known stories. Two of these tricksters, Anansi and Rumpelstiltskin, tend to have relatively different stories while also showing the same characteristics and amoral choices. While these individual tricksters have played their parts in completely different stories, played their part in different cultures…

    • 1524 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Portrait Of Jesus Essay

    • 1345 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The stories of Jesus are represented through the four New Testament Gospels: Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John. Each Gospel emphasizes on particular principles that represent Jesus differently. Jesus is seen as the suffering Messiah in all four Gospels, but each Evangelist puts in his own intake, hence expanding on the original Markan portrait of Jesus. The writers of the Gospels give their own theological assertions, and understandings, which in effect creates a new portrait of Jesus for each Gospel. The Gospel portraits vary and represent a different and evolving view of Jesus’, stories, and traditions over time.…

    • 1345 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Islam is a monotheistic faith centered around belief in the one God (Allah). In this regard, it shares some beliefs with Judaism and Christianity by tracing its history back to the patriarch Abraham, and ultimately to the first prophet, Adam. All the prophets preached the same universal message of belief in one God and kindness to humanity. The last in the series of prophets, according to Muslims, was Muhammad. Muhammad was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia around 570 CE.…

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Jesus Christ Influence

    • 1186 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Jesus Christ is without a doubt one of the most polarizing figures in history. His life and work have changed the course of the world and the fate of millions. Within his own time, Jesus was a controversial figure in the viewpoint of the Jews and the Romans. To the Jews he was a blasphemous heretic, To the Romans, he was a dangerous inciter of Judaic nationalism and rebellion. In the modern era, Jesus is hailed as the leading figure in Christianity and the role it took in history.…

    • 1186 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There are many types of religions in the world, all in which different cultures believe in. It is one thing to be raised and taught to believe in a “God” but it is an other thing when that “God” is proven real. Many people believe in a “higher power” but do not want to classify that “higher power” so that it does not change their lifestyle or their behaviour. Humans like to be comfortable in their own skin, with their own beliefs, therefore, they will try and convince themselves in what they believe is real for their own comfort. In that case, couldn 't that be very scary if they are wrong?…

    • 918 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays

Related Topics