Amistad
The film, "Amistad," shows the role in which myth played in the religious life and consciousness of the Africans during their exposure to Christianity. The history of Africans outside of their native countries has been filled with suffering rather than comfort. The main reason for their distress comes from their exploitation in slavery. They have been bartered and traded around the world like merchandise. This caused them numerous hardships and much torture, emotional and physical. Slavery took away rights from people, which should not be taken away from anyone under any circumstance. It inflicted great suffering upon Africans that could never be healed and that could possibly transcend upon generation after generation. Myth serves as a motivating source for the Africans to overcome obstacles, in the film. There are many instances in the film in which the ritual, doctrinal, ethical, material, and doctrinal dimensions of religion, of the Mendes, can be seen. All of these dimensions of the Mendes religion are shown throughout every action they partake in the film. Before the Africans' exposure to Christianity, the role of myth keeps the tribe united as a whole. The myth among these people is that one of the
Cinque is the chief figure of the Mendes and he believes John Quincy Adams to be the chief figure of the Americans because they give him much respect just as his people do to him. Therefore, he talks to John Quincy Adams and informs him that his religion believes that a chief cannot become anything less than a chief, even in death. They also believe that his ancestors are the reason that he exists and that they would give them aid in the courtroom. He tells this to him because he fells that he can relate to the beliefs of his religion, since they are both "chiefs" of their respective people. The ethical dimension is evident when Cinque shows concern for his family and his duty and responsibility to take care of his tribe. Moreover, despite his despair, his loyalty causes him to stay with attorney Baldwin, which eventually into a strong friendship. The ethics of his religion make Cinque not give up on his attorney and stick with him, showing his faith in him. The material dimension is shown in the tooth Cinque wears as a necklace. This was given to him by this wife to keep him safe and away from any danger that might come his way. All of the dimensions are apparent in this people's culture, which gives support that it is truly a religion. During the Africans' exposure to Christianity, one of the men in their tribe comes across the Bible. Since he cannot read English he merely observes the pictures; however, he relates a great deal to those pictures. He and Cinque analyze the pictures in the Bible and compare their current situation, captive in a foreign land, with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. In the pictures, they see that foreign people captu
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1127
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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