Text and Traditions Outcome 3: Film interpretation of narrative text.
The Prince of Egypt – Exodus Story
TesaTe’evale- VCEMackillop. Film: The Prince of Egypt | Biblical Text: Exodus Story | 1) Moses didn't have a step brother that he played with that later became Pharoah. 2) The Pharoah’s wife raised him as her own son. 3) Nowhere in the bible does it say Moses got mad because Pharaoh killed the male Hebrew babies. 4) In the movie when Moses reunites withhis family, he does not know them. 5) When Moses returned the Prince of Egypt was a nobody shepherd from Midian, acting in the strength of the Lord. And though Pharoah called himself a God, Moses was now more than a match for him. 6) Generally, the whole "Moses is a prince" concept is non-biblical. He is not recorded in scripture as having any rank in Egypt. 7) Nor is there any indication that Moses had any romantic relationship with any Egyptian, nor that his Hebrew ethnicity was revealed - or hidden - by any Egyptian. 8) He was found by the Pharoah’s wife. 9) We don't know if he was raised as an Egyptian (of no rank) by Pharaoh's daughter. | 10) When Moses left he was 40 and came back when he was 80 11) Moses knew his family. 12) The Pharaoh never knew Moses when he came back. 13) Moses knew he was a Hebrew from the beginning The movie never showed Aaron going to meet Moses in the desert. 14) In the Bible Pharaoh drowned to. 15) It also says in the Bible that when the Pharoah’sDAUGHTER (not wife) found Moses, she knew straight away he was a Hebrew baby and calls on Moses’ sister to find a women to nurse him. 16) Moses’ sister then gets her mother (also Moses’ mother) to nurse him. 17) Pharoah’s daughter payed Moses’ Mother to nurse him until he got older. 18) Each of the 10 plagues was aimed at one of the gods of Egypt. 19) In the Bible, Moses is "slow of tongue", and Aaron speaks for him. There is no comment on that in the movie. |

2.) Discuss how important you think it is to be faithful to an original text when creating an interpretation in film medium.
Books in general have the innocence to be manipulated into dramatic movies that sometimes butcher the original meaning. This would only affect the people that have actually read the book. In all cases, filmmakers are meant to be very careful when adapting a book into a motion picture, but, when that book is the Bible – they are to proceed with extreme caution. This is because, not only is this a book, it is pretty much the rock of Christians worldwide and is much more than a book to them. It’s important to be faithful to the original text because these are peoples actual morals, values and beliefs and they may take offence to whatever part of the original story is taken away or added on.
3) What are the main messages of the story of the liberation of the Hebrews as found in Exodus 1 - 32?
The Bible is used to give hope to its readers, to provide aid and salvation. And this is basically the main message told through the Exodus Story. That although it took a long time to happen, God has provided a way to escape, He has already prepared aid and salvation to all who believe and have been oppressed. The Hebrews were slaves for a very long time, mistreated and made to work like dogs, but it was already in God’s plan to save them. This also leads into another message; God will give you strength when you need it most. Just like how He did to Moses. Gave him the liberation and dignity to leave his old life behind and embark on a new journey as the leader of the Hebrews.
4) What values are presented in the film interpretation? Discuss in detail how similar/different these are to the original story.
In the film, it is obvious that Moses becomes upset after knowing Pharoah ordered to kill Hebrew male newborns and that is the main concept on why Moses leaves to pursue the freedom of his people. In my opinion this leads viewers to believe that Moses was about vengeance which