Christ Figure[]
A Christ figure (also known as a Christ-Image) is a literary technique that the author uses to draw allusions between their characters and the biblical Jesus Christ. More loosely, the Christ Figure is a spiritual or prophetic character who parallels Jesus, or other spiritual or prophetic figures.
Description[]
In general, a character should display more than one correspondence with the story of Jesus Christ as depicted in the Bible. For instance, the character might display one or more of the following traits: performance of miracles, manifestation of divine qualities, healing others, display loving kindness and forgiveness, fight for justice, being guided by the spirit of the character's father, death and resurrection. Christ figures are often martyrs, sacrificing themselves for causes larger than themselves.
In postmodern literature, the resurrection theme is often abandoned, leaving us with the image of a martyr sacrificing himself for a greater good. It is common to see Christ figures displayed in a manner suggestive of crucifixion as well.
One recurring trend in modern fiction places the name "Sheperd" or has the same initials as Jesus Christ onto the Christ figure.
Associations[]
- The Chosen One
Known Examples[]
religion
Jesus Christ (Judeo-Christian religion)
Folklore/Mythology[]
- Heracles/Hercules (Greco-Roman Mythology)
Literature[]
- Jim Conklin (The Red Badge of Courage)
- The Boy (The Road)
- Sydney Carton (A Tale of Two Cities)
- Uncle Tom and Eva St. Clare (Uncle Tom's Cabin)
- Jim Casy (The Grapes of Wrath)
- Santiago (The Old Man and the Sea)
- Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia)
- Simon (William Golding's Lord of the Flies)
- Finny (A Separate Peace)
- Billy Budd (Billy Budd)
- John Coffey (The Green Mile)
- Harry Potter (Harry Potter series)
- Meursault (The Outsider)
- Randle Patrick McMurphy (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)
- John Proctor (The Crucible)
Live-Action Film[]
- Gandalf (The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings)
- Neo (The Matrix series)
- John Connor (The Terminator series)
- Spock (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
- Ellen Ripley (Alien series)
- Alex J. Murphy/Robocop (Robocop)
Live-Action Television[]
- The Doctor (Doctor Who)
- Eleven (Stranger Things)
Western Animation[]
- Simba (The Lion King)
Comic Books[]
- Superman (DC Comics)
Manga/Anime[]
- Nausicaä (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind)
- Goku (DragonBall Series)
Video Games[]
- Cole MacGrath (inFamous series)
- Furina de Fontaine (in Genshin Impact)
- Lieutenant Commander Shepard (Mass Effect series)
Gallery[]
