An Analysis of A Fistful of Dollars

A Fistful of Dollars needs little introduction; it is one of the great Western classics, whose protagonist is acted by the face of Western cinema, Clint Eastwood, whose director was Sergio Leone, and whose composer was Enrico Morricone. However, those familiar with archetypes and the Bible will find in it a layered Christian allegory.

The city where the story takes place in, São Miguel, operates under the violent logic of the Old Testament.

''Here you can only get respect by killing other men.''

Marisol - whose name echoes the Virgin Mary, the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ, meaning ''Mary Sun'' - is kidnapped and separated from her child, Jesus - whose name, well… speaks for itself.

The protagonist feels a deep empathy for Marisol, as his own mother was a woman like her; and he, in turn, was like Jesus (Marisol's son). In essence, he becomes a mirror image of Jesus Christ, transcending his harsh upbringing in this dog-eat-dog context; aiding in the rupture of the cycle of violence by choosing the path of the martyr.

After rescuing Marisol, the hero is captured and subjected to torture - a harrowing sequence that alludes to the crucifixion of Christ.

Later, he hides inside a coffin - a symbolic death, an important step to the Hero's Journey (read Joseph Campbell's The Hero With a Thousand Faces) that evokes Jesus’ own entombment. Upon his "resurrection," the hero emerges transformed: just like Christ, who returned to life prepared to ascend to paradise, the protagonist too returns perfected - spiritually, mentally, physically - and ready to complete his earthly mission.

In the final showdown, the protagonist uses a clever trick to appear immortal. The villain, Ramon, always aims for the heart - symbolically targeting the soul. But after his resurrection, the protagonist has protected his heart - quite literally - by shielding it with a plate of iron, which references the movie's symbolic motive of the knight's armor. This act renders him impervious to the enemy’s rifle fire, reinforcing his transformation into a Christ-like figure who has transcended mortality.

Throughout the movie, the antagonists employed an empty suit of armor as a shooting target. The symbolic knight was no more than a husk which the evildoers mocked. The hero, however, ended up fulfilling the role of the knight, destroying evil and rescuing the damsel.

The protagonist ultimately unites opposites, symbolized here by the destruction of the two rival gangs. By setting one against the other, he creates a new order from chaos; Ordo Ab Chao.

The result is a new covenant - the New Testament. São Miguel was finally redeemed and can now prosper under an era of peace.

And this is the end of this week's post. Thank you for your support! I truly appreciate it.

I've been busier than usual in the past couple of weeks; I'm a college student, a private teacher, I've been writing and illustrating a book which is set to be completed next year and have other duties to fulfill with my health, family and girlfriend. The little free time I have I spend working on The Firelink Conspiracy and this Patreon. I will always do my best to write an insightful post each week; however, I feel obligated to write this to say that I may not be able to maintain perfect consistency. I apologize in advance for a possible deadline I miss. Again, thank you for your continued support. I have rent to pay, so it helps a lot and encourages me to do my best.