Barabbas

When it comes to literature, or the arts for that matter, light is often used as a means of expressing the notion of good, pure, innocent, or godliness, but it is slightly different when it comes to Barabbas and it will be discussed further later on. But never the less, the issue of light is one that is repeating and somewhat vague. Light first is introduced in the beginning of the novel; “That is why at first glance the man seemed to be surrounded by a dazzling light” (Lagerkvist Pg. 5). It is used to show the divine nature of the “prisoner”, though Barabbas attributes this to his eyes adjusting to the light. The resurre

The author use light and darkness not predominantly in the traditional sense of good and evil but more accurately as clarity and confusion and how they compete against each other which correspond to Barabbas struggle for faith. This is foreshadowed in the beginning of the novel when Barabbas saw the light around Jesus in the prison yard but dismisses it because his eyes must have been adjusting since there were kept in the dark for so long. This alone epitomizes his struggle for faith; he’s confused as to what to think of the light. The darkness that surrounds Golgotha at Jesus’ crucifixion also represents confusion because Barabbas is baffled through out the book as to why this man, who looks so week and helpless, is took his stead. Barabbas continues to struggle for his faith as he is sent to the dark mines where he fights to believe as his fellow prisoner, Sahak, prays beside him. This too captures the essence of Barabbas toil for faith. He reaffirms Sahak strong faith in The Lord and even writes “Christos Iesus” on his slave disk, but all he can say is “ …I want to believe”(Lagerkvist Pg. 116). His accent from the mines and in to the light of day came to symbolize that the glory of God can bring him goodness, but he still can’t affirm his faith. It is when Barabbas is in the catacombs that Barabbas search for faith parallels to light and dark. When he was in the catacombs, in the dark, he gets a glimpse of light and dashes for it only to find more darkness. This darkness is his confusion an

Some topics in this essay:
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