The Muppet Christmas Carol: Movie Analysis

Traces of religious messages can be found just about everywhere in life. Sometimes it requires a finely tuned ear to fully grasp or understand them; however, this is not the case with The Muppet Christmas Carol. There are explicit references and plot lines that directly relate to biblical themes. Two very prominent themes in this movie that can be found in all four New Testament Gospels are: help those in need when possible (stewardship), and forgiveness. Stewardship is seen when Scrooge is urged not only to donate money to those in need, but even in the scene when Kermit asks him for a just extra shovel of coal on the fire to offset the coldness in the shop. Forgiveness is prominent throughout the latter half of the movie, where Scrooge says …show more content…
On the first theme of stewardship and helping those in need, we are presented with the parable of the Good Samaritan. The story goes about by explaining that a man was attacked, stripped of his clothing, and left on the side of the road. He was passed by a priest and Levite who both did nothing to help, as they just ignored him and carried on with their day. Then a Samaritan man took pity on him and healed his wounds, then brought him to an inn to care for him. An expert of the law was asked, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” the man replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” This story is about using action rather than words. The priest who is said to live his life by the teachings of God failed to help a person in need, and the same with the Levite; but the Samaritan is more devout than any of the others. The next story of stewardship is the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus. The story is that Lazarus was a sore covered beggar who lived outside the gate of a rich man. The man didn’t help him, and when they both died, Lazarus was carried by angels to the side of Abraham while the rich man was with Hades and was in torment. When the rich man asked, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.” And Abraham responded that you neglected to help him, therefore there in no help for you. There is a big reference to this in The Muppets Christmas Carol as the rich man asks Lazarus to go warn his five brothers about this, and to urge them to change their lives, which is very similar to the three ghosts that warn Scrooge to change his life to avoid this similar