Snow White, a Jesus type figure?

While watching Snow White I almost immediately relate Snow White with Jesus. The Queen asks the mirror who the fairest of them all is, and the mirror says Snow White, which means that the Queen is no who was the fairest no longer is. It reminds me a lot of King Herod finding out about the birth of Jesus and Jesus being the king of the Jews.  Herod was previously named the King of the Jews. Both the Queen and King Herod send people to kill the one they are jealous of.  Snow White is spared because of the kindness of the huntsman and the wise men decide to take a different way home, so as to not go back by King Herod to give him info on Jesus. Both Snow White and Jesus have a group of followers, the dwarfs and the apostles. However, the relationship between the followers and their leader is very different in the stories. Jesus was part God and human and his followers were not just friends but true followers of a new religion. However, there are similarities in their stories, like the resurrection. The Queen gives Snow White a poisoned apple and kills her, but the prince’s kiss woke brought her back to life. Similarly, Jesus was crucified and God brought him back to life. While there are parallelisms in the two basic stories, there are big differences too, since Jesus’ resurrection was meant to save humanity and Snow White’s story was not quite that deep.

Pocahontas, Prophets, and 1 Peter

1 Peter says “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” Pocahontas upholds these values very well. The moral of the story, we learn by the end of the movie, is to not rashly judge another based on stereotypes and assumptions. The tribe and the Europeans want to go to war with each other based on killing and wounding from each side; however, no one cared enough to get the full story or to talk things out. They were not living in harmony, being sympathetic, compassionate, or loving as brothers. In the end, they all realize their mistakes and embrace the values laid out in 1 Peter. It also calls for people to love each other deeply from the heart, not based on these stereotypes. John Smith and Pocahontas don’t pre judge, but get to know each other and begin to love the other. Through many trials and sacrifices they get the others to look at each other this way, too. Pocahontas and John Smith on this way are prophets of truth that try to bring the real message to their people, and the leaders of the Native Americans and Europeans are bringing false messages. This is similar to the Prophets in the Bible, Jeremiah and Ezekial, who bring God’s real message to the people, as opposed to the false ones being fed to the public. In both cases, when the false message is followed, then conflict arises; however, when the real message is followed people are enlightened. 

Did the Stories of Joseph and Moses influence The Lion King?

The Lion King mixes two famous Bible stories together to make a very entertaining movie. It begins with a Joseph-esq story line. There are two brothers, Scar and Mufasa. Mufasa was the privileged brother that became King and Scar was very jealous of his brother. Similarly, Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him and the fact that their father favored him. Joseph, like Mufasa, was a much better person than his brothers. Scar’s jealousy leads him to devise a plan to kill Mufasa, which is executed perfectly. Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery in order to get rid of him. Joseph goes on to make a great name for himself and live a good life, while Mufasa dies. Then, the movie takes a shift and feels much more like the Moses story. Scar convinces Simba that the only option for him is to run away, and Moses is forced to run away from Egypt, as well. Both find new places to live that seem to be good places. However, God has another plan for Moses. God wants Moses to go back to Egypt and bring his people out of oppression. Similarly, Simba encounters Nala, which leads him into a more supernatural encounter with the spirit of his father, much like Moses burning bush experience. This encounter convinces him to go back and rescue his pride. Scar and the Pharaoh both oppress the good and do not lead their kingdoms fairly.  Simba and Moses both succeed in their quest and go on to lead their pride/people.

*One interesting difference in the movie and the Bible is the significance of the stars. In The Lion King, the stars represent past kings that watch over the pride. However, the Bible clearly states that the stars are simply lesser lights. The idea of lesser lights went against the popular idea of the time that stars were gods watching the people below. So in this instance the Bible and The Lion King vary greatly. 

Pinocchio and Sin

In the beginning of the movie Gepetto  is a virtuous and faithful man, so he is blessed with his boy puppet coming to life and the chance at being a father to a real boy. This idea of good behavior being rewarded from a higher power is seen in the Bible, as well. God blesses those who obey and follow him. Pinocchio is given the opportunity to be truthful and good to become a real boy and fulfill Gepetto’s dream of having a son. This similarly represents the choice of free will that God gives us. Pinocchio does have a guide for his journey, a conscience named Jiminey cricket. God himself is a guide in our life, especially through Jesus’ model life on Earth. He also has given us commands and books like the Bible to help us see the correct path to follow.  Pinocchio doesn’t always listen to his conscience, which gets him in some very sticky situations. When Adam and Eve strayed from the path God intended for them, then their lives also got much harder. Not only did their lives get harder but their offspring’s’ lives, as well. Pinocchio’s disobedience leads his family right into the belly of a whale, which is quite a consequence to pay for another’s defiance. The idea of sin leading one down a path God didn’t intend for them and that is not best for them is the part of the movie where the boys go to the island. They are free to do whatever they want to in this fun land and they choose to drink, smoke, and destroy. The consequence of their decision? They turn into donkeys. Luckily, Pinocchio escapes with only donkey ears, but he sees the error of his ways before the consequences are fatal. After all of the trouble Pinocchio causes he redeems himself in the end by vowing to live a good life and his self sacrifice helps to rescue his family. In the end this vow and self sacrifice earn him the honor of becoming a real human boy. Once a person gives their life to Christ, then they also become “a real boy”, they are born again and saved, much like Pinocchio. It interesting to look at our faith as a journey from being a wooden, lifeless puppet of the world without God to becoming a real human full of live and joy with God, which is the way God intended things to be.