by Adelina Ghilea staff writer
Often labeled as a secular reinterpretation of the Gospels, “The Last Temptation of Christ” is considered one of Nikos Kazantzakis’ masterpieces. Published in English in 1960 reviewed by Time Magazine as “A searing, soaring, shocking novel,” it presents a distorted and completely human image of Christ.
Born in Heraklion, Greece in 1883, Kazantzakis was well known for his pertinent style of writing. Kazantzakis’ quest for truth is evident throughout his writings. In the countries he visited, political views he adopted and religions he experienced, he was seeking answers for his soul.
As P.A. Bien notes, Kazantzakis, “Thereafter [renounced] Nietzsche for Buddha, then Buddha for Lenin, then Lenin for Odysseus. When he returned finally to Christ, as he did, it was to a Christ enriched by everything that had come between.”
However, Kazantzakis’ faith in Christ was short-lived. He slipped into heresy as he tried to create his own version of a savior, enabling him to write such a novel as “The Last Temptation of Christ.”
This novel instantly stirred up controversy. In 1954, the pope placed it in the Roman Catholic Index of Forbidden Books. The very next year, 1955, Kazantzakis was excommunicated from the Greek Orthodox Church. Christians around the world classified his novel as blasphemous.
Martin Scorsese’s 1988 screening of the novel created just as much controversy. According to a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) report, several protests against showings of the movies took place, one of which included some 25,000 participants. Over 3,500 theaters refused to screen the movie and sought to ban it.
Throughout the novel, Kazantzakis shows an impressive amount of biblical knowledge, but demonstrates his own battle between flesh and spirit. He clings to Christ’s humanity. To him Christ is not the begotten Son of God, but just a random human being selected and forced by God to take on the Messianic role.
As the novel begins, Jesus is pictured as the son of a carpenter. This image of Christ establishes His humanity from an existential and social point of view. Soon enough, he starts to struggle. He has nightmares that torture him not only spiritually, but physically as well. Mary, his mother, thinks he is possessed. As he steps into the shoes of the Son of Man, fear remains a devil he cannot conquer in the midst of his struggle with God.
Before he enters the process of transubstantiating, Jesus is restless in his humanity. He says in the novel: “I can’t! I’m illiterate, an idler, afraid of everything. I love food, wine, laughter. I want to marry, to have children.”
As the story progresses, all the major events in Jesus’ ministry take place under his image as the Son of David. Despite the impending hour of his crucifixion, and transformation into the Son of God, he feels as though there is still much mud within him.
The final image of Christ in the book is that of the Son of God. While hanging on the cross, Jesus faces his last temptation. As he draws nearer to the end of his manhood, he is captured by a new dream. He imagines that his death is no longer needed and that all of the earthly pleasures are waiting for him. A lad who represents Lucifer takes him off the cross and accompanies Him. Jesus marries Mary Magdalene right away and fathers a child.
After her death he continues to bring offspring through both Mary and Martha. He is content with his humanity. He therefore fails in reaching the image of the Son of God and the devil’s victory seems assured. Despite the struggle, Jesus successfully wishes himself out of his dream and back on the cross. He dies and so finally becomes the Son of God.
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Quintessential Classics: essential works of art that constructed genres and shaped our culture