Quo Vadis Religion

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Quo Vadis is a film that represents ancient Rome in light of the Christian faith. The picture was released in 1951 starring Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr and Peter Ustinov. The screenplay is an adaptation of the 1896 novel Quo Vadis by author Henryk Sienkiewicz. The title Quo Vadis comes from the Latin phrase “where are you going?”. The story begins in ancient Rome around 64-68 AD during the reign of destructive, and arguably insane, Emperor Nero. The conflict between the Christian faith and the barbarous Roman Empire undergirds the story of the fictional military commander Marcus Vinicius as he falls in love with the Christian, Lygia. Lygia is the adopted daughter of General Plautius. Plautius and his wife are members of the Christian faith …show more content…
Christians gather underground to hear his teachings and to partake in baptism. Also worked into the plot is the apostle Peter. He shares his testimony of walking with the Lord and of his denial of the Christ. Vinicius watches the gathering with great interest. Meanwhile at the palace, Emperor Nero continues to give way to his ghastly and insane behaviors. His most notable and atrocious act is the destruction of his city. Nero has Rome burned to the ground and blames the devastation on the Christian sect. The Emperor orders that all Christians be seized and punished for the burning of Rome. Marcus Vinicius’s uncle Petronius, a trusted advisor in the court of Nero warns the Emperor that the execution of Christians may give the deceased the value of martyrs. Fearing his own execution for speaking against the Emperor’s wishes, Petronius takes his own life. Hearing of the rounding up of Christians for execution, Marcus Vinicius sets out to rescue his beloved Lygia. He is arrested while attempting to free her. Saint Peter is also imprisoned with the couple and marries them before his execution by …show more content…
When the emperor refuses, the crowd turns against him. Vinicius breaks free from his restraints and rushes to free Lygia. The people begin to suspect the destruction of Rome was Nero’s doing and not the Christians. A new General and his armies attempt to attain the throne and rebuild the Roman Empire. Nero results to killing himself before the rushing army are able to take his life. Thus, a new leadership is in power and Marcus Vinicius and Lygia are free. The film closes with Peter’s staff standing along the beaten path and words of Scripture are quoted as the frame is panned out. The film is a work of fiction showcasing the conflict of Christianity in the Roman world. The plot is loosely based on historical events surrounding the fictional story of Marcus Vinicius and Lygia. Interwoven into the picture, is the works of both the apostle Paul and Saint Peter. They are used to bring the message of Christianity to the early

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