Existentialism, Ecclesiasties, and Groundhogs Day
For those of you who like the movie Groundhogs Day with Bill Murray have I got a treat for you. This is a short paper I did a few years ago comparing the film with the book of Ecclesiastes in a discussion of Existentialism. It is a bit longer than usual so please read it if you like the film. Otherwise please come back another time to see what I have posted. Thanks.
Existentialism is a worldview first formulated by Soren Kierkegaard, whose theories formed Christian existentialism, while later thinkers founded atheistic and agnostic veins, all sharing some precepts. A freedom to make choices is stressed, and any impetus to obey rules or moral codes is rejected. Ideas like fate and destiny are also rejected, due to the belief that the universe is absurd. Coincidence and chance govern our reality if we do not take the responsibility ourselves via our personal choices. Therefore truth is subjective, and our own experiences and relative perspectives are more important than any imposed moral, social, or religious code. Unavoidably, viewing existence as a purposeless life and a meaningless death leads a person to feel despair or angst. Kierkegaard, however, believed that hope exists if individuals choose to surrender themselves unconditionally to God. Agnostic existentialists believe those redemptive choices remain the individual’s to determine. Ecclesiastes the biblical book and the film
Groundhog Day, reflect the existentialist framework specifically regarding the emotions despair and hope. One accurately depicts agnostic existentialism and one represents the Christian vein.
Groundhog Day stars Bill Murray as the main character Phil, a weatherman forced to relive the same day repeatedly. The day chosen happens to be the character’s most hated day, covering Punxatony, Pennsylvania’s February 2nd festivities. His new existence seems to be a living hell. At the film’s beginning, we meet a cynical, sarcastic and egocentric man. His initial reactions are fear, anger, further self-absorption, and despair. Afterwards, he realizes that he can do whatever he wants because essentially there will be no consequences. He rejects societal and moral rules to embrace licentiousness, greed, abusiveness, and crime.
Soon he discovers this will not satisfy, and he attempts to seduce his beautiful producer Rita. When she repeatedly rejects him, Phil reaches his ultimate despair. Accordingly, he begins to attempt multiple suicides, and he fails. One day he decides to tell Rita his troubles. He even tells her that he thinks he is a god; he has proven himself immortal and somewhat omniscient regarding the events, details, and people present. He suggests that God is not sovereign, but rather he has been alive long enough to learn everything. She believes his entrapment story, but can only suggest he attempt to do some good. They share a true romantic moment, but he awakens to find nothing has changed.
The next day, however, he watches a homeless man collapse. The emergency room nurse tells him that the man died because sometimes people “just die”. Phil decides to save the man, but no matter what he tries, everyday the man expires. Everything is not under his control, and random things do take place whether or not he is a god. For the first time, he considers how to make his life livable. Interestingly, he chooses to pursue worthiness and begins doing good deeds and aiding everyone he can. Then one day, he proves himself both worthy and good, and Rita recognizes this. He had learned to love others more than himself. Accordingly, Phil awakens to find Rita asleep and realizes tomorrow has come.
Ecclesiastes, the complementary text, may be the most interesting biblical book, because it is intentionally depressing. The word most repeated is meaningless, and the writer’s first and last words are equally bleak. According to most translators, King Solomon is the author. However, if another man had wrote this book, its significance remains unchanged. The Teacher, a man who has obtained great knowledge, has a desire to share this wisdom. It is fair to discern that pride was a character flaw, as well as egocentricity and cynicism. Unlike Groundhogs Day, these teachings were not written during or following an event. Rather he seems to be communicating this knowledge via hindsight, alluding to this when he petitions the youths to remember their creator while enjoying life, because a time would come when it would bring no pleasure (New International Version Bible, Ecclesiastes 12:1). Like Phil, he faces his own despair, believing his existence is ephemeral.
The first five chapters list seven subjects labeled meaningless: everything, wisdom, pleasure, folly, toil, advancement and riches. Basically, both the Teacher and Phil understand life’s cyclic nature as it marches on regardless of any one individual’s troubles. These characters also realize their superior knowledge cannot rescue them. Rather it makes the experience less bearable. Ecclesiastes 1:18 says, “For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.” Interestingly, both characters are forced to discover their limits. Phil claims to be a god, and then learns he cannot know everything. The Teacher explains that he was the wisest man to rule Jerusalem (Ecclesiastes 1:16), but later admitted that wisdom is “beyond me. Whatever wisdom may be, it is far off and most profound—who can discover it” (Ecclesiastes 7:24).
Therefore, the Teacher would maintain that ignorance was bliss, according to chapter five verses nineteen and twenty, “…to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is gift from God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.” Especially since the same death awaits the wise man and the fool (Ecclesiastes 2:16). Subsequently, the Teacher compares folly and pleasure to “chasing after the wind,” (Ecclesiastes 1:17 and 2:10-11), which might precisely express Phil’s feelings towards his self-gratification and the simplistic townspeople’s revelry. He would even agree that concerning toil and advancement, the Teacher has a point. When death comes, or another February 2nd, all the work completed is forgotten. All the accomplishments can be usurped. Lastly they learn that riches, like pleasure cannot satisfy the void within.
The Teacher weaves hopeful messages between those overstressing despair. Structurally speaking, one might argue that there are nine sections where despair dominates and eight where the listener or reader is offered hope. Besides the seven sections listed above, “Oppression, Toil, and Friendlessness” (Ecclesiastes 4:1-12), discusses pain, evil, ambition, loneliness and dependency, and “A Common Destiny for All” (Ecclesiastes 9:1-12), describes the judgment awaiting everyone since there is none sinless (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Of the eight hopeful passages, there are three sections the Teacher revisits, and one might argue that he attempted to elucidate a few earlier statements. Chapter one is entitled, “Everything is Meaningless” and chapter three reads, “A Time for Everything.” Additionally, chapter two verse twelve bears the title, “Wisdom and Folly are Meaningless”, but chapter nine verse thirteen until verse eighteen reads, “Wisdom Better than Folly.” The third example begins as “Wisdom is Meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18) and ends as “Wisdom” (Ecclesiastes 7:1-8:1)
Interestingly enough, this is the section where the Teacher states, “Do not be over righteous, neither be over wise… Do not be over wicked, and do not be a fool… It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes” (Ecclesiastes 7:16-18). He instructs students concerning life, but he had previously pursued and promoted wisdom. Therefore balance’s worthiness upholds itself as a good achievement because wisdom is its equal. These verses, however, have deeper implications. Like its structure suggests, Ecclesiastes itself is a balance between the extremes of hope and despair. Rather than taking this book’s depressing tones seriously, a reader should relax and chuckle. It mocks itself. This early existentialist writer could not keep the hope from pervading a text that was intended to be a sorrowful warning and admonition (Ecclesiastes 7:2-6). Additionally, the last five sections are like a five step process: “Stand in Awe of God”; “ Obey the King”; “Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters”, as bait for fish; “Remember Your Creator While Young”; and “The Conclusion of the Matter”, which declared God to be feared and obeyed (Ecclesiastes 5, 8, 11, 12). These could be expressed as recognizing God’s sovereignty, respecting authority, faith and surrender, remembering God always, fearing God and obeying him.
This illustrates the essential difference between Ecclesiastes and Groundhog Day, the former represents Christian existentialism and the latter depicts the agnostic counterpart. Primarily, the Teacher acknowledges that God is the sustaining factor, but Phil believes God is irrelevant and is reduced to a semi-powerful, semi-knowing, not really sovereign, indifferent figure. Consequently, it is Phil’s personal choices shape his life and future, while God keeps the Teacher sane despite his bitter disillusionment. Goodness and self-less love enable Phil’s redemption, but there is no indication that the Teacher experienced any mind or heart change. Ironically, the agnostic model gives the audience an ending overwhelmingly hopeful. The Christian model, however, leaves the average reader desiring a hopefully more redemptive sequel.
Existentialism is a worldview first formulated by Soren Kierkegaard, whose theories formed Christian existentialism, while later thinkers founded atheistic and agnostic veins, all sharing some precepts. A freedom to make choices is stressed, and any impetus to obey rules or moral codes is rejected. Ideas like fate and destiny are also rejected, due to the belief that the universe is absurd. Coincidence and chance govern our reality if we do not take the responsibility ourselves via our personal choices. Therefore truth is subjective, and our own experiences and relative perspectives are more important than any imposed moral, social, or religious code. Unavoidably, viewing existence as a purposeless life and a meaningless death leads a person to feel despair or angst. Kierkegaard, however, believed that hope exists if individuals choose to surrender themselves unconditionally to God. Agnostic existentialists believe those redemptive choices remain the individual’s to determine. Ecclesiastes the biblical book and the film
Groundhog Day, reflect the existentialist framework specifically regarding the emotions despair and hope. One accurately depicts agnostic existentialism and one represents the Christian vein.
Groundhog Day stars Bill Murray as the main character Phil, a weatherman forced to relive the same day repeatedly. The day chosen happens to be the character’s most hated day, covering Punxatony, Pennsylvania’s February 2nd festivities. His new existence seems to be a living hell. At the film’s beginning, we meet a cynical, sarcastic and egocentric man. His initial reactions are fear, anger, further self-absorption, and despair. Afterwards, he realizes that he can do whatever he wants because essentially there will be no consequences. He rejects societal and moral rules to embrace licentiousness, greed, abusiveness, and crime.
Soon he discovers this will not satisfy, and he attempts to seduce his beautiful producer Rita. When she repeatedly rejects him, Phil reaches his ultimate despair. Accordingly, he begins to attempt multiple suicides, and he fails. One day he decides to tell Rita his troubles. He even tells her that he thinks he is a god; he has proven himself immortal and somewhat omniscient regarding the events, details, and people present. He suggests that God is not sovereign, but rather he has been alive long enough to learn everything. She believes his entrapment story, but can only suggest he attempt to do some good. They share a true romantic moment, but he awakens to find nothing has changed.
The next day, however, he watches a homeless man collapse. The emergency room nurse tells him that the man died because sometimes people “just die”. Phil decides to save the man, but no matter what he tries, everyday the man expires. Everything is not under his control, and random things do take place whether or not he is a god. For the first time, he considers how to make his life livable. Interestingly, he chooses to pursue worthiness and begins doing good deeds and aiding everyone he can. Then one day, he proves himself both worthy and good, and Rita recognizes this. He had learned to love others more than himself. Accordingly, Phil awakens to find Rita asleep and realizes tomorrow has come.
Ecclesiastes, the complementary text, may be the most interesting biblical book, because it is intentionally depressing. The word most repeated is meaningless, and the writer’s first and last words are equally bleak. According to most translators, King Solomon is the author. However, if another man had wrote this book, its significance remains unchanged. The Teacher, a man who has obtained great knowledge, has a desire to share this wisdom. It is fair to discern that pride was a character flaw, as well as egocentricity and cynicism. Unlike Groundhogs Day, these teachings were not written during or following an event. Rather he seems to be communicating this knowledge via hindsight, alluding to this when he petitions the youths to remember their creator while enjoying life, because a time would come when it would bring no pleasure (New International Version Bible, Ecclesiastes 12:1). Like Phil, he faces his own despair, believing his existence is ephemeral.
The first five chapters list seven subjects labeled meaningless: everything, wisdom, pleasure, folly, toil, advancement and riches. Basically, both the Teacher and Phil understand life’s cyclic nature as it marches on regardless of any one individual’s troubles. These characters also realize their superior knowledge cannot rescue them. Rather it makes the experience less bearable. Ecclesiastes 1:18 says, “For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.” Interestingly, both characters are forced to discover their limits. Phil claims to be a god, and then learns he cannot know everything. The Teacher explains that he was the wisest man to rule Jerusalem (Ecclesiastes 1:16), but later admitted that wisdom is “beyond me. Whatever wisdom may be, it is far off and most profound—who can discover it” (Ecclesiastes 7:24).
Therefore, the Teacher would maintain that ignorance was bliss, according to chapter five verses nineteen and twenty, “…to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is gift from God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.” Especially since the same death awaits the wise man and the fool (Ecclesiastes 2:16). Subsequently, the Teacher compares folly and pleasure to “chasing after the wind,” (Ecclesiastes 1:17 and 2:10-11), which might precisely express Phil’s feelings towards his self-gratification and the simplistic townspeople’s revelry. He would even agree that concerning toil and advancement, the Teacher has a point. When death comes, or another February 2nd, all the work completed is forgotten. All the accomplishments can be usurped. Lastly they learn that riches, like pleasure cannot satisfy the void within.
The Teacher weaves hopeful messages between those overstressing despair. Structurally speaking, one might argue that there are nine sections where despair dominates and eight where the listener or reader is offered hope. Besides the seven sections listed above, “Oppression, Toil, and Friendlessness” (Ecclesiastes 4:1-12), discusses pain, evil, ambition, loneliness and dependency, and “A Common Destiny for All” (Ecclesiastes 9:1-12), describes the judgment awaiting everyone since there is none sinless (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Of the eight hopeful passages, there are three sections the Teacher revisits, and one might argue that he attempted to elucidate a few earlier statements. Chapter one is entitled, “Everything is Meaningless” and chapter three reads, “A Time for Everything.” Additionally, chapter two verse twelve bears the title, “Wisdom and Folly are Meaningless”, but chapter nine verse thirteen until verse eighteen reads, “Wisdom Better than Folly.” The third example begins as “Wisdom is Meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18) and ends as “Wisdom” (Ecclesiastes 7:1-8:1)
Interestingly enough, this is the section where the Teacher states, “Do not be over righteous, neither be over wise… Do not be over wicked, and do not be a fool… It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes” (Ecclesiastes 7:16-18). He instructs students concerning life, but he had previously pursued and promoted wisdom. Therefore balance’s worthiness upholds itself as a good achievement because wisdom is its equal. These verses, however, have deeper implications. Like its structure suggests, Ecclesiastes itself is a balance between the extremes of hope and despair. Rather than taking this book’s depressing tones seriously, a reader should relax and chuckle. It mocks itself. This early existentialist writer could not keep the hope from pervading a text that was intended to be a sorrowful warning and admonition (Ecclesiastes 7:2-6). Additionally, the last five sections are like a five step process: “Stand in Awe of God”; “ Obey the King”; “Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters”, as bait for fish; “Remember Your Creator While Young”; and “The Conclusion of the Matter”, which declared God to be feared and obeyed (Ecclesiastes 5, 8, 11, 12). These could be expressed as recognizing God’s sovereignty, respecting authority, faith and surrender, remembering God always, fearing God and obeying him.
This illustrates the essential difference between Ecclesiastes and Groundhog Day, the former represents Christian existentialism and the latter depicts the agnostic counterpart. Primarily, the Teacher acknowledges that God is the sustaining factor, but Phil believes God is irrelevant and is reduced to a semi-powerful, semi-knowing, not really sovereign, indifferent figure. Consequently, it is Phil’s personal choices shape his life and future, while God keeps the Teacher sane despite his bitter disillusionment. Goodness and self-less love enable Phil’s redemption, but there is no indication that the Teacher experienced any mind or heart change. Ironically, the agnostic model gives the audience an ending overwhelmingly hopeful. The Christian model, however, leaves the average reader desiring a hopefully more redemptive sequel.
Comments
Post a Comment