The Christmas and Jesus Connection

I have another name to analyze in addition to Alexandra's.

Joe Christmas- Not only it his name sac religious in the sense that he was born through wedlock or sin, it is interesting that he did not have a father.
When Jesus was born on the day now known was Christmas, Mary was a virgin, therefore leaving Jesus without a technical father. This caused many to questions arise and disbelief about his biological origins within the town. Jesus was discriminated against and labeled a "manza". This word during that time was worse than bastard today. On the night of his birth, Mary was turned away from many homes because she was a fatherless mother. She ended up giving birth to in in steeple. Later in the life of Jesus, he was persectuted and labled as a manza and a lier.
Faulkner may have been commenting on Christianity and the belief that Joseph was not Jesus' father. His father was known to many and believed to be God by many others. In a far stretch of a comparison (that I don't really believe, but some may) Joe has an unknown father that causes people to questions his origin and his race. This caused many people to label him racially.
I know its kind of far out there, but I learned about Jesus' struggle with people believing him and labeling him because of his lack of a father. I just thought it was interesting.

Comments

[Margo S.]

I actually heard that other classes were discussing this connection and decided that Lena was like the virgin Mary (but I don't really see the connection).

[Crystal]

Not to be mean, but you have some of your basic facts wrong. First off, Mary wasn't turned away from homes because her baby was fatherless. She was turned away from inns because they were all full. There was a census going on at the time, so everyone was traveling to their birth town or their father's birth town or something like that.

Also, Jesus wasn't born in a steeple. He was born in a stable. A steeple is that big pointy thing that sits on top of churches. A simple mistake, albeit a crucial one.