General Instructions
- *Update*
- Sorry for the confusion - the characters listed below are the Guarani - I don't have names for the Spanish and Portuguese characters.
- Choose one of the questions below to answer in depth.
- Spend at least 10 minutes brainstorming your answer to the question; don't be satisfied with the first answer(s) that come(s) to mind, but continue to think more deeply about the problem for the entire 10 minute period. Write your answer in a text-editing or word processing program - don't write it directly in the comment box!
- The, spend another 10 minutes editing your answer - challenge yourself about your answer, ask yourself why you think the way you do, and develop your answer more completely.
- Finally, copy and paste your answer in the comment box, below.
- A good answer will be at least half a page long as you're writing it in your processing program.
- Answers are due by 4 a.m. Sunday morning.
- By 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday morning, respond to one of your colleagues. You can (respectfully) challenge the person's reasoning, expand on what someone else has said, use a colleague’s idea as a jumping off point to develop something else, or ask a colleague (in detail, and showing why and how you’re confused or unsure of their reasoning) to expand on what they’ve said. But be sure you’re demonstrating serious engagement with the ideas.
Questions
Choose one of the questions below to work on.
- Mendoza's views of what constitutes the good life undergo sweeping changes in the film; how do his views change, and what do you think it says about how to live a good life?
- Do you think all, or only some, or none of the people in the film exhibited courage? Why do you think so? Everyone in this Mission certainly meant to be courageous - how would you describe each person's view of courage?
- Gabriel's view of courage is based on his religious commitments; could you make an argument for that view, without depending on a particular understanding of the divine?
Medicine man - Sigifredo
Chief (king) - Asuncion
Luitenant - Alejandrino
Young boy - Bercelio (the main little kid, with the monkey)
Jeremy Irons was Father Gabriel
Robert DeNiro was Rodrigo
The Cardinal's name is Altimarano
Question 3.
ReplyDeleteBefore I start I want to make something clear: courage is not always what is right, it is doing what you truly believe in. A definition of courage from Dictionary.com:
“1.) the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger pain, ect., without fear; bravery.
2.) The heart as the source of emotion.
3.) To act in accordance with one’s beliefs, esp. in spite of criticism.”
To join any sort of commitment involves courage: courage to look past any doubts, courage to always find hope, courage to go along for the ride. A religious commitment involves even more courage than a normal commitment, because in a normal commitment there usually is an actual document or person to communicate with. All religions that I know of follow some form of scripture for moral codes and have greater powers who are not actually human beings on earth who you can call on the phone. It is much harder to have hope when the thing/person you confide in most is no where to be seen. I would say it is very much courageous for someone to dedicate themselves to a religion.
Gabriel shows his commitment and courage most during the actual war scene. When given the choice to either help fight for the Guarani and be excommunicated or to keep his hands clean and stay true to his commitment, he chooses the latter. Gabriel strongly believed that the mission should’ve been saved but instead of shaming his priesthood with blood he chose to leave it in God’s hands, like his commitment of being a Jesuit asks of him. He walked out, facing guns and cannons, with no weapon, only a cross. It is very courageous to go out against firearm with only the hope of the good of man to save you.
Angelique V.
Rhonda S.
ReplyDeletePhilosophy 110
The Mission
I’m responding to question 2: Do you think all or only some, or none of the people in the film exhibited courage? Why do you think so? Everyone in the Mission certainly meant to be courageous. How would you describe each person’s view of courage?
I believe the priest, the brothers, and the people in the film exhibited great courage. After the opening scene where the first priest was killed, Father Gabriel felt responsible. He could have left things, and forgot about trying to make contact with those who killed his predecessor. But his faith in the power of God and the church propelled him to make the journey to see if he could somehow reach these people and “save their souls.” Sitting there, he didn’t try to communicate by talking, but through the universal language of music. Even though the first aborigine broke his flute, another from the tribe put it back together for him, and he began again. He was scared to death, and knew what this tribe was capable of, but he continued to play.
Eventually, he and the other brothers were invited to stay, and was able to convince the people of the word of God, and to teach them how to pray and worship.
The aborigines were also courageous. They put aside their beliefs of centuries to listen and accept what was being taught them by an outsider. They came out of the forest to build homes and missions in which to worship and pray to this new God.
I believe that anyone who goes out of their comfort’s zone to do something that someone else may have been unsuccessful at achieving is very brave. Just because someone has tried it and failed, does not mean you’d do the same. There is more than one way to achieve something that seemed impossible for someone else. If you believe in yourself, and learn from the experience of others, things happen. The Priest’s approach was different, and the results were also.
It is hard to change after you’ve been taught something from birth. Especially when what’s been taught has been the custom of centuries. The efforts of the people to trust and put some of their customs aside, and to at least try to change to make their lives and their way of survival better shows a lot of courage.
on #1
ReplyDeleteOriginally Mendoza believed the good life was at royal and high-class castles and doing what he did best: be a mercenary. Mendoza believed this because this is what made him happy. In his belief there is nothing wrong. But of course, when there is a good life, a bad life is inexplicitly created. Mendoza’s view of the bad life is basically what is not the good life; what he sees from the peasants.
Mendoza’s good life becomes twisted when he realizes the one he loves does not love him but rather, his own brother. Out of anger, he kills his brother, whom he loved. Anger clouded his vision and he committed an act that will regret until his death. It is at this point that Mendoza questions his own life and actually wishes to die. It is not until Father Gabriel saves him that he realizes his life is not over. Father Gabriel challenges Mendoza, just as Mendoza’s brother challenged him, and out of his competitive spirit as a mercenary, he accepts. Mendoza’s also felt that this challenge to climb a waterfall carrying heavy weaponry was also a way of punishing himself for killing his brother, a punishment he thought he deserved as shown when a helper cuts the baggage off his back and Mendoza retrieves it still.
After his quest, he finds happiness in a place he never thought he would: being part of the Mission with the Natives. The life of the natives and the life of royalty is vastly different, yet Mendoza has found happiness within both. From this we can see that the “good life” is not a specific life (such as the life of the rich), but rather a life filled with whatever brings happiness. One can see Mendoza’s happiness when he chooses to not stay with his old life, which he once considered good, and goes against it to stay and defend his new life with the Natives. Perhaps he likes the life with the natives because they know nothing of his past.
-Marc C.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteQuestion#3
ReplyDeleteGabriel's view of courage is based on his religious commitments; could you make an argument for that view, without depending on a particular understanding of the divine?
Assuming that Gabriel’s view of courage is to face every situation with love, and that even when one is under attack, the courageous thing to do is not to fight back, but only to love, and that this view is coming from his religious commitments, then yes, I can make an argument for this view, without depending on a particular understanding of the divine:
When Mendoza asks Gabriel for his blessing to fight, Gabriel says, “if might is right, then love has no place in the world,” meaning, it can only be one or the other- with love, there can be no might, and with might, there can be no love. I find this to be very courageous, agree with him whole-heartedly, and I am not religious. For me, this type of courage comes from intuition of what feels good and what does not- religion, and understanding of the divine is not necessary to make this assessment.
There was a time in my life, when I beat a young woman so badly, she almost died. I did this out of might, (fighting for what I thought was right, or wrong, depending on how one looks at it), because she lied about a young man, my best friend, and said he raped her (she was white, and he was black), and his Father stripped him and beat him with an extension cord, from his neck to his feet. When all was said and done, my intuition told me that nobody wins, everybody suffers. She was obviously already suffering, otherwise she would not have lied about something like this, knowing the consequences, then she suffered further (from my rage and lack of understanding), my friend suffered a wrongful beating, and I suffered from beating another. After realizing this, I made a decision to never fight back, even if it was to save my life; I would rather die with love, forgiveness, understanding, and inner peace, than live with hate, grudge, misunderstanding, and anger!
Charity Ruth Edmondson
I am responding to question 2.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Felipe Mendoza was courageous. He definitely knew how his brother would react about his relationship with his brother’s girl. Felipe knew what he was doing when he decided to duel with his brother; he also knew that he had no chance of winning. He decided to do it though because of the love he felt for that lady. In his mind was the right thing to do.
Rodrigo Mendoza was courageous. He could ended up his life (and that’s what he wanted to do), when he killed his brother. Instead he chooses to completely change his life, and embrace a new cause. He loved the Guarani people and their cause. Rodrigo was aware that they had no chance against the army. Of all of them he was the most conscious one. He had been a warrior and knew about the resources that the army had. However, he did not hesitate about fighting for a cause he believed in. Rodrigo knew they were ended up, and the right thing to do was to die fighting.
Father Gabriel was courageous. He chooses to die for his faith and beliefs. He probably felt guilt. The Indians were living their lives, and the Jesuits go there, disturb their peace, and show them a new way of living and at the end cannot sustain the Indians faith. Father Gabriel knew he would not be able to live with himself if he abandoned the Guarani people, who became his own people. He did the right thing, not the easy thing.
The Guarani’s King was courageous as well. Although they were a peaceful people, he knew they had no chance against the army. In addition, he embraced the faith that was presented to him. For him it was better to die for the cause he believed in, rather than surviving without a real reason to live.
In my opinion, all the Guarani people were very courageous. They all embraced Christianity, and they all died in the name of what they believed in.
I am responding to question 2.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Felipe Mendoza was courageous. He definitely knew how his brother would react about his relationship with his brother’s girl. Felipe knew what he was doing when he decided to duel with his brother; he also knew that he had no chance of winning. He decided to do it though because of the love he felt for that lady. In his mind was the right thing to do.
Rodrigo Mendoza was courageous. He could ended up his life (and that’s what he wanted to do), when he killed his brother. Instead he chooses to completely change his life, and embrace a new cause. He loved the Guarani people and their cause. Rodrigo was aware that they had no chance against the army. Of all of them he was the most conscious one. He had been a warrior and knew about the resources that the army had. However, he did not hesitate about fighting for a cause he believed in. Rodrigo knew they were ended up, and the right thing to do was to die fighting.
Father Gabriel was courageous. He chooses to die for his faith and beliefs. He probably felt guilt. The Indians were living their lives, and the Jesuits go there, disturb their peace, and show them a new way of living and at the end cannot sustain the Indians faith. Father Gabriel knew he would not be able to live with himself if he abandoned the Guarani people, who became his own people. He did the right thing, not the easy thing.
The Guarani’s King was courageous as well. Although they were a peaceful people, he knew they had no chance against the army. In addition, he embraced the faith that was presented to him. For him it was better to die for the cause he believed in, rather than surviving without a real reason to live.
In my opinion, all the Guarani people were very courageous. They all embraced Christianity, and they all died in the name of what they believed in.
Maggie Souza
Responding to Q2:
ReplyDeleteMost of the characters exhibited courage in the Mission, but everyone else was cowardly. The people who lived in the missions had more to lose and fight for so they had to have the most courage. The mercenaries and Portuguese had not much more than money at stake. All of the Guaraní were brave for not only standing firm and fighting for their home, but also for challenging the words of the authorities who claimed to hold the words of God. They viewed courage as questioning authority and standing firm to their beliefs; very similar to Father Gabriel’s view of courage. Father Gabriel and Rodrigo especially showed courage but in different ways. Father Gabriel did so by sticking to his beliefs and not letting the situation break down his faith. His viewed courage and holding to values and not bending to misfortunes. Rodrigo displayed courage by turning his life over to the Jesuit ways to pay for his actions. He is then faced with the choice of leaving fate up to God or taking action towards the mercenaries. He is brave enough to change his views in order to save his home. He also viewed courage as challenging authority and fighting back. The other Jesuit leaders changed their views in the end and also showed bravery by renouncing their faith and fighting; they shared similar views as Rodrigo. Lt. Alejandrino believed that obeying the words of the king was above the faith to God. He thought he was being brave by challenging the natives and missions and taking power from them. The King who went and visited the missions knowing the decision couldn’t be swayed was the biggest coward of all. He saw the beauty in the missions and the compassion in the communities, but did little to help.
Koy S.
Response to Question #1
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the film Mendoza is seen above the falls as a mercenary, hunting down human beings for sale in the slave trade. He is a man whose focus in life is about obtaining the pleasures of life that often come through the avenue of money. His life seems to be all about him and what he wants or what satisfies him. This is the “good life” to him. He seems unconcerned about human life (apart from his own). And it appears that he does not recognize the humanity of the Guarani at all. They are a commodity to him.
After Mendoza winds up tragically killing his own brother, he goes to a mission and is despondent, believing that there is no redemption for him and no penance to difficult for him. Through the intervention of Father Gabriel he goes on a journey above the falls in which he carries an extremely heavy net full of armor as his penance. By the time he makes it to the top he is beyond exhausted physically and emotionally. One of the Guarani, the people he used to capture and sell into slavery inquires about his burden and winds up cutting him loose. This is the turning point for him. He is set free by the very people he used to enslave. This is when Mendoza’s heart begins to break and change and he begins to see that there is more to life than riches and comforts. Through his relationship with Guarani he begins to experience a new sense of joy and peace; a new sense of what is really important in life. This is now the “good life” to him. His world is all about humanity. He sees the preciousness in human life and eventually commits himself to the priesthood in order to Shepherd that precious life.
This movie spoke to at least two things about what it means to live a good life.
(1) Living a good life means that you value other human life. At the very least, you DO NOT abuse other human beings as a means of personal gain. Human life is precious and people are more important than things.
(2) Living a good life doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t wind up in heartbreak in the end or at some point. Mendoza’s life still ended in tragedy even though he finally saw the brutality of human slavery. Ironically, he was killed by the very men who he once worked for and whose values he once embraced.
Answer Question #2
ReplyDeleteCourage can be defined in numerous ways. This depends on what a person believes in. Courage to me can be different than what courage is to another person because they may not have the same beliefs that I have. I believe that courage is the strength of the mind or body that allows people to overcome an obstacle without fear. In the movie, I think everyone in the movie had courage. Everyone had to face an obstacle and went through with what they believed in. Mendoza changed his mind of being a slave trader and became part of the Jesuits. He had courage to climb over the falls to the Guarani Indians and learned to accept them. He helped them with building a mission, and changed his whole persona. His view of courage was doing what he felt was right, even though others look down upon it. The Jesuits had courage because they stuck to what they believed in and did not give up on Mendoza or the Guarani Indians. Their view of courage was to live under their god’s name. The Guarani had lots of courage. They faced: being hunted by slave traders, living in the forest, changing their lifestyles and going into battle to save their home. Their view of courage was to fight for what they believe in.
-Ashley T.
Response to CHARITY
ReplyDeleteWow Charity! You’ve blown me away with your raw honesty. Thank you. YOU are very courageous to share that story in this forum.
I agree with much of what you’ve said. You’ve left me wondering though… is there EVER a time to fight? I believe there is. I would defend myself or my LOVED ones. I would not seek out a fight nor do I desire to take justice into my own hands, but I believe I would fight… for love.
And Mendoza, in the end was fighting to protect the ones HE had come to LOVE. Yes love. I believe love motivated him. Do you think there is ANY time love and fighting join hands? I think they do, though I will say that those times are few are far between. In a hypothetical situation, are you saying that if some criminal ran up to you and your 5 year old daughter and it was obvious that they were going to do her harm, that you wouldn’t fight for her? I’m thinking there must be more to what you said because I can’t imagine you NOT coming to her aid. Is it only yourself that you wouldn’t defend? Tell me what you think, please. Thanks!
I respond to question #1
ReplyDeleteAfter Mendoza killed his brother, his life was totally changed, but before that, Mendoza believed that good life was doing any thing good for Portuguese, especially for himself. When the one, whom Mendoza loves, loves his brother instead of him, Mendoza is so angry. His selfishness is risen up, and he killed his brother. After that, he repented of his sin, but it was too late. When Mendoza meet father Gabriel, Mendoza’s life becomes to change. He realized that instead he seated in the jail until die, he could go with father Gabriel and punish himself by another way such as carrying heavy stuff and climbing a waterfall. While he was climbing with that stuff, it was so difficult; until he arrived where Indians lived, and seeing how they treated him. Then he thought he needed to change his life by doing something good for these Indians to atone his sin. When Mendoza lived with the Indians, he noticed that the Indians always live together peaceably, and a good life is loving people around you.
I think it says living a good life is loving people as father Gabriel said. The film opens up for audience different ways to express love. For example, father Gabriel love Indians and choose to stay with them, but he doesn’t want to fight. He relies on god, and Mendoza fought until he died because he loved Indians.
~ Trang N.~
Responding to question 3
ReplyDeleteFather Gabriel should great courage despite knowing the outcome of being there in the war. Father Gabriel died a man worthy of courage because of the fact that he died for his faith and believing in it even til his death.In the war scene father Gabriel still holds mass and is praying while all the shooting and violence going on; he is able to continue his faith with courage.
Courage to me is being able to know the outcome and face it no matter what. Courage is standing up for what you believe in and conquering any fear that you hold inside. Father Gabriel conquers his fear by accepting his fate and continues to go on. Father Gabriel saw the meaning of dying for the mission because he knew as a human being that there is a higher power that wants him to stand up for his faith; instead of, easily siding with Lt. Alejandrino and staying alive. . Father Gabriel is a man who is able to spread his faith without forcing it on others and is able to be a man of faith by dying out of courage for his faith.
Response to Marc
ReplyDeleteI think what you said about Mendoza's life was true. Mendoza's representation of having a burden was well represented in what you said. But I disagree with you when you said he was clouded by anger because he knew what he was doing when he did it but I'm not saying its right either. Mendoza killed his brother because he felt that it was right and that was going to make things better. Mendoza's action to me caused him to have to leave and carry his burden and found refuge in the villagers because of the fact that it seemed like they were happy with the simple things and they didnt care about the past and wanted to keep living life and Mendoza to me found refuge in their happiness. I think that mendoza and villagers represented what society is today in that we are all people who are seeking happiness but the fact that we carry all our burdens and we don't let them go prevents us from finding our villagers or our refuge from all the burdens that we carry.
I am answering question #2:
ReplyDeleteDo you think all, or only some, or none of the people in the film exhibited courage? Why do you think so? Everyone in this Mission certainly meant to be courageous - how would you describe each person's view of courage?
I thought that Father Gabriel showed courage during the film but especially when the king sent his army to attack the aborigines. Gabriel showed a lot of courage and wasn't worried. He had faith in his people and thought that the kings army wouldn't have the courage to kill a father or the woman with kids. He thought that by seeing all the crosses and the people they would think twice and not kill anyone. I thought that the aborigines showed courage too. They went out of there comfort zone and fought for what it's there. Even though they weren't taught like that. I believe they did that because they didn't want to loose everything they have made or worked hard on to survive. Father Gabriel view of courage was love. But love wasn't what everyone believed was courage. For example, Rodrigo thought that courage was to fight for what it is right and defending yourself. The king also thought that just because the aborigines didn't have money or weren't dress properly, they wouldn't be able to defend themselves. The young boy also showed courage by wanting to fight the kings army but Rodrigo didn't let him. I thought that the the children, the father and Rodrigo all showed at least some courage.
I am answering number 2: Do you think all, or only some or none of the people in the film exhibited courage? Why do you think so? Everyone in this Mission certainly meant to be courageous - how would you describe each person's view of courage?
ReplyDeleteFather Gabriel showed courage throughout the whole movie. He took the courage to climb the waterfall and to change the Natives’ viewpoints, which I would find it hard to do as a person, in general. In the end he showed courage by not backing down and walking forth with the cross in his hand, and died having faith and love in what he believed in.
Rodrigo showed courage by fighting against his own ego and conforming into a religion or sets of beliefs that were way different from his. He showed courage climbing up the waterfall as well but with the weaponry behind his back, keeping forward and not giving up. In many situations, a person would give up and lose hope.
Lastly, I feel the Natives, all together showed courage by not turning their backs on the missionary and fighting back in the end. I was appalled when I saw the children help and showed no fear against the Portuguese.
Overall, I feel that it takes a lot of courage to just believe in a higher power. To change how you live life, to change what you believe in and so forth, these Natives’ accepted the ways in which Father Gabriel taught them and that ultimately took the most courage to do.
Here is my response to question #3:
ReplyDeleteIt takes great strength and courage to stand up and defend what one believes in, especially when faced with the choice of making the ultimate sacrifice. Up until the moment he was shot dead, Father Gabriel did not let his faith in his own beliefs waver. When it became time to protect the Mission of San Carlos and the Guarani people from annihilation, Gabriel refused to resort to violence and thereby abandon his religious beliefs in the power of love and peace, even though it gave him little chance at survival. By sticking with his religious principles in the face of almost certain death, Gabriel’s courage demonstrates how deeply committed he is to the Guarani, to the beliefs of the Jesuits, and to his personal values.
As observed in the case of Father Gabriel, courage can absolutely be shown through one’s religious commitment because the exhibition of courage does not depend on the source of one’s beliefs, but rather how one defends them. A person’s level of courage is largely determined by the circumstances under which that person acts. In easy-going times, standing up for one’s beliefs may be unproblematic, but when confronted with a perilous situation, the ways in which one acts reveal the extent of one’s true commitment. To act with courage means to stand up and facing one’s difficulties while not letting them break one’s faith in a particular set of beliefs, whether religious or not.
Thank you,
Jeffrey H.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteResponse to Question 2:
ReplyDeleteI believe that most people displayed courage in the Film. The first group was Rodrigo and the other priests who renounced their ties with the church in order to fight against the Portuguese and protect their home. They would rather renounce their views and fight. I believe that took a lot of courage, especially when the church representative said anyone who would fight will be excommunicated.
Rodrigo should a humoungous amount of courage because he worked to pay for his guilt. He climbed the waterfall and befriended the very natives that he captured and turned into slaves. I believe that trying to befriend people who resent you takes a huge amount of courage. When the missions gave the natives a home and were going to take it away, Rodrigo did not run. He did not quit on the natives, but fought along side them in order to protect their home. Rodrigo fought to his last breath to fight for the very people he use to make money off of. They weren’t just objects to him anymore, but real people.
Father Gabriel also showed courage throughout the movie. He showed the most courage when he didn’t leave the natives or force them out of the mission, but stayed with them. He also displayed courage when he chose not to fight because he knew that fighting would enact more fighting. He used love. He guided the natives who couldn’t fight out of the mission and marched.
It was courageous that the soldiers tried to stand up to their superior and say that none of them wanted to do this, but it was cowardly of them to follow orders and slaughter unarmed women and children. They slaughtered them as they marched out of the mission with Father Gabriel.
The natvies were very courageous also because against all odds they fought in order to protect their own home. They knew they were out armed and out manned, but they still went into battle.
Many of the defenders showed courage because against all odds they risked their lives to protect their home and the people they cared about.
- J. Madison
I am responding to the question 2.
ReplyDeleteI think Father Gabriel was the most courageous person in The Mission. He was real courageous because he could climb the steep cliff and get to the top of fall so that he wants to people who live in The Guarani could be blessed by god. When he was hade to missionize and tried to let these people believe the god, he met Rodrigo Mendoza. I think Father Gabriel gave Rodrigo Mendoza the second life. Gabriel was never afraid of Rodrigo Mendoza, and also he never hated Rodrigo. He just wants to use love the reclaim Rodrigo. When Rodrigo Mendoza killed his younger brother, his soul was dead already. It was Father Gabriel awakened Rodrigo Mendoza and let him to accomplish self-salvation. Finally, when Father Gabriel faced to death, his heart didn’t fill with fear. I remember Father Gabriel had ever said that he could not live in the world without love. He was too pious. He believed god and love so much. He believed love can solve everything. Therefore, when he faced to brutal massacre, he didn’t want to strike back by force because he believed love. I agree with that Rodrigo Mendoza was courageous because he lead the Guarani people to strike back those army, he was not afraid of death. However, I want to say Father Gabriel is more courageous. I think the most courageous thing is standing calmly to wait for death. I still believe that waiting for death calmly needs more courageous than taking up arms and striking back.
Rodrigo Mendoza was also courageous. In the first half, he loved his brother and his woman. At that time, his love was a kind of personal love. It was a kind of narrow love. After he killed his brother and went to the Guarani. His love had changed to a kind of universal love. He began to love every good thing. Rodrigo’s courageous also had changed in the process. He was an honor. He was a warrior. However, he was not a real Christian. I think Rodrigo Mendoza was more practical than Father Gabriel because he probably thought standing right there to wait for death was equal to nothing to do.
The Guarani’s king was also courageous. His courageous came from expecting a beautiful future. When the government asked his Guarani to go back to forest, he said “no”. It is his courageous. Before Father Gabriel got to Guarani, people who lived in Guarani never knew what the better live was. They even didn’t go outside to see the world so they could stay contentedly in forest. Father Gabriel help them broadened their visions and knowledge. When they had better lives, they never wanted to go back to old lives. It is their psychological changes. Therefore, all people who lived in Guarani were courageous.
Everyone in the movie exhibited some type of courage one way or another. I believe Mendoza showed the most courage throughout the movie. In the movie you see him transition from being a slave trader into becoming part of the Jesuits. It was not an easy journey for him because he had to climb up the mountain carrying that heavy sack. He then embraced the Guarani Indians and learned their culture. He accepted their way of life and helped them build a mission. The Jesuits displayed courage by not giving up in what they believe in. The helped Mendoza find himself again by not giving up on him and encouraging him not to give up on himself most of all. The Guarani were forced to show courage because of where they live. They cannot give up because every day is a fight for their survival. Living in those conditions is tough and they get tested daily trying to find the next meal. Then on top of that they have to fight slave traders. In the end the Guarani were put to the test and had to fight to save their home and lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Question 1:
ReplyDeleteMendoza’s first view of a good life was living the rich life and having money. He didn’t care who stood in his way to get his money. He would do anything and that is why he was a mercenary. He even captured slaves to sell illegally in the Spanish Market. Rodrigo thought that money was the key to happiness. But when he discovered that his girlfriend loved his brother, he wasn’t happy anymore. He tried to hold in his anger for his brother’s sake, but ended up killing him. After killing his brother, Rodrigo went into a depression and felt that nothing could be a large enough redemption for him. Then, Father Gabriel challenged him to climb a waterfall with an entire set of armor to see and meet the people that Rodrigo use to sell as slaves. After struggling to get to the top of the waterfall, Rodrigo is accepted by the people and wants to be a priest to help them. Rodrigo then found happiness by helping and working with the natives.
I believe that Mendoza’s epiphany of learning what true happiness is says a lot about how we should live our lives. His realization teaches us that money doesn’t bring true happiness. It may lead to temporary happiness, but not one that will last as long. The way to get to true happiness is to struggle and work for it. It tells us that we shouldn’t want jobs because they are high paying, but because it is something we want to do. Doing what you love is the way to pursue true happiness. Rodrigo teaches us to pursue happiness itself, and not money in order to obtain happiness. This lesson can teach us to do jobs we love for the enjoyment, and not the money
-Gabriel Pel.
I do think that some people certainly showed courage and others a lot of courage. Starting with Farther Gabriel, he showed courage in so many different ways; at the beginning of the movie, he tells his Jesuits brothers that he had to go into the falls to see the Indians despite that fact that his brothers were discouraging him having seen what the Indians had done to the other priest. The Indians had tied him on the cross and set him into the river where he died. Even after, this horrible act against of his fellow Jesuit, father Gabriel still decided to go ahead and try to go reach out to the Indians all by himself. Father Gabriel was surely a courageous man, because one of the other fathers believed that he was the only one who could reach out to Rodrigo, the mercenary who everybody else had failed to reach out to. It had to take courage to get Rodrigo to change his mind and turn his life around into a Jesuit. Father Gabriel also showed so much courage at the end of the movie where he gathered some of the Indians that mostly included women and children in a church. He made them sing in hope that may be the sweet melody would make the soldiers merciful in some way even though he feared that they might actually all die.
ReplyDeleteRodrigo was most certainly the most courageous because he stuck with the Indians to the end. Even though, he knew that they probably did not stand a chance against the Portuguese soldiers. I certainly do think that he gave courage to the Indians to stand and fight for their land. It should have also taken courage on his part for him to tell Father Gabriel that he wanted to renounce his vows.
Carlotta was courageous enough to tell Rodrigo that she loved Philippe more than she loved him even though she knew that it could result in serious consequences. From how I saw the movie, Philippe and Carlotta were very scared of Rodrigo. Therefore, I would also consider Philippe as a courageous man who stood up to Rodrigo after he had found out that Carlotta was telling the truth about them.
The other two Jesuits brothers were also very courageous because they stayed with the Indians to fight even after his eminence had warned them about the consequences of staying to fight. They did not care; their minds were made up to stand for the right cause.
The chief was strong and courageous in that he stood up for his people, by answering the eminence that if the king of Portugal would not listen, then he was also the king and he would not listen. I really do think that was courageous and admirable.
The kid with the monkey was also courageous in his own way, he was always there by the side of Rodrigo for example, when he handed Rodrigo a sword showing him that he believed in fighting .He was also courageous because when all the men were heading out to fight, he was in front of the line like he was a grown up soldier, until Rodrigo pulled him to the side. I would certainly say that he was a kid of courage.
The Indians were so courageous to stay and fight against the Portuguese soldiers; they knew that the Portuguese had guns and all. But nonetheless, they stood together and fought for their land. Some even picked up the cross as Portuguese soldiers had just shot Father Gabriel and continued walking towards the direction of the bullets.
The reason I feel that some people were courageous and not all is because of His Eminence, I did not think that he was courageous because he did not stand for what he believed in. By the looks of it, he seemed like he was blown away by the missions and he certainly could not come to a judgment. In my opinion, his decision was cowardly; he did not stand for what he believed in despite the fear of King of Portugal. He instead claimed that the missions had to be sacrificed for the greater good. Having been a Jesuit himself, he could have certainly stuck by his beliefs that the missions were good and the Indians deserved the right to keep them. Making such a decision to me could have been a sign of bravery and courage.
I am responding to question 3.
ReplyDeleteFather Gabriel is very pious. He believes the love can change everything. He thinks he cannot live in the world without love. He thinks everyone in the world is equal. No matter is white or black persons, they all have equal right to live in the world. However, is he divorced from reality? Someone don’t why he did not to strike back with Rodrigo. The reason is he had belief, he believed love. It is difference between him and Rodrigo. When he was killed by those armies, authority beat love, but Father Gabriel still believes love until he is dead. This is his view of courage. He still helped others because he loved everything in the world. In the first half of the movie, he helped Asuncion’s people build their own villages. He let them to have better lives. Then he helped Rodrigo confront the world again. In his heart, Father Gabriel explained his love. No matter who you were and what you did, he all loved you. He all helped you to make a change. In the second half, he explained his belief. He believed everything can be solved in a peaceful way. He felt he was failed because he did not persuade government to protect The Guarani. Because of his belief, because of his pious, he gave up to fight back. He did not send God’s bless to Rodrigo because he hoped everyone can solve the problem by the love. Finally, when he went to outside with other Guarani’s people from the church, his pious and belief were beyond everyone. He was the most courage one in the movie. Even though, finally he and all Guarani’s people were killed by the government, he also thought he was winner because he had love. Probably, he was not fit to live in the world, but his belief and his spirit are worthy of respect.
Responding to question 2: Do you think all, or only some, or none of the people in the film exhibited courage? Why do you think so? Everyone in this Mission certainly meant to be courageous - how would you describe each person's view of courage?
ReplyDeletemost of the people in the film were courageous,starting with father Gabriel who still had the courage to continue the mission after all that had happened to the first priest in the opening scene of the film.Gabriel never had any idea of what would happen to him when he reached in the society of the guarani Indians but he went and was ready to deal with whatever situation that came his way.he allowed to leave his community where he was leading a good life and had the courage of living in the forest ,being able to change the indians to was courageous and the way he never believed that the solution to the question was fighting but instead prayed for God to answer him because of all his beliefs.when the indians were attacked Gabriel showed a good example by gathering the indians and pray before facing the firegun shooting where they were killed and father Gabriel died holding the cross in his hands.
Mendoza was corageous too being able to admit his sin and taking the punishment he was giving was a good example,he had the courage to climb the waterfalls and go join the guarani indians .not only that but also changing his life from the way he was bahaving and commiting his life to God helped much cause its not easy most of the times for people to be changed from what they were.he helped the indians fight in the war bacause for him,he believed the indians were being mistreated and yet they were doing the right thing.asking the blessings from father Gabriel is also a good sign of what he believed in as a believer.
The guarani indians changed,they left the forest and built the missions to pray from which was courageous.they accepted the preachings from father Gabriel and also welcomed Mendoza in the community and become one of them.they refused to take the ideas of the fighters who faught them but instead decided to fight with them,most of them died in the war cause they believed in themselves and also in what they were doing.Bercelio(the young kid)had the courage of also fighting in the army but he was stopped by Mendoza but for him thinking that he would join the army and fight too as young as he was was courageous and showed what he believed in.not forgetting the chief(king of guarani people)Asuncion who have courage to the his people and was able to allow them fight cause he would not take the words from the people who were trying to fight his kingdom.he also believed in himself.
Patience.M.
This is from Kinesha, who had trouble getting her comment to post:
ReplyDelete# 2
According to Webster’s Dictionary, integrity is “a firm adherence to a code of moral or artistic values.” To me, integrity goes hand-in-hand with hand courage. Integrity is what compels you to do the right thing all the time. It makes you do the small things when nobody is looking, simply because you know it’s the right choice to make. In everyday life, integrity can be seen in many different places. Courage on the other hand comes in many different forms. This is because fear is different for all people. People often demonstrate physical courage and mental courage to overcome these fears. A lot of courage was shown in the film from many of the people such as the Chief, the Father Gabriel, and Mendoza. This is because each of them had their own believes and views of what they loved and what they viewed of the world.
Mendoza’s took a 360 degree turn in the film. He once captured the native people for slavery. After he realized what he was doing, he demonstrated courageous by forcefully showing the colonist that capturing the people of Guarani was wrong and that it was wrong for them to leave the Mission. Mendoza showed a lot more courage during the trial because he stood up and called the Spanish speaker a liar. He also showed courage by being the one that wanted to stand up to the Spanish.
Father Gabriel believed that fighting was not the answer to the problem. His idea of making peace and not war was the Godly way of handling things. I feel as if Gabriel’s way of not striking back was courageous and showed character because he displayed no fear. Even when flaming arrows where being shot at him, he just continued to walk peacefully.
The King of the Guarani community exhibits his courage by trusting the priests enough to join the community and convert their religion. He exhibits courage when he stands up against the church and state officials to keep the mission. He also defends the people of village no matter what it costs him. He decided to defend the land even if it meant to sacrifice his life in the process of doing so.
Courage and integrity are displayed in many different forms due to each person’s strengths and weaknesses, beliefs and values. These are the ways people showed courage and integrity in the film, although they weren’t the same, they made a difference.
Responding to Gabel Pel.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said. Mendoza changed his life after killing his own brother. I believe that when that incident happened, he realized that killing came pretty easy for him. Even though he loved his brother very much, he ended his life. That was the first time his eyes were opened to what kind of a person he had become. He couldn’t see it before because the aborigines were not seen as people to him, but animals to be sold into slavery to serve him and others. Another observation was that what he did, he enjoyed. It was like sport to him. He also was a very competitive person who did not like to lose. But his brother was different. This was his flesh and blood. He didn’t think, and even promised that he would not harm his brother. He killed him because he didn’t like losing. Seeing himself for the first time was frightening. He couldn’t handle what he saw, and felt that no one who tried to reason with him knew or could relate. He wanted everyone to be afraid of the monster he saw in himself. This is why he wanted the priest to say that he was “laughing at him” in the jail visit. The priest was not there to try to make him feel better, but to try to reach Mendoza’s humanity.
Mendoza arrived in Brazil thinking that living a lavish lifestyle with servants and his woman are the pure definition of living a good life, he has nothing to worry about. He has money and people to do his dirty work. Even though he’s lifestyle is comfortable in his mind there is something perturbing him stopping him from living in peace. When he catches his brother with the woman he loves it’s like a wakeup call to him, telling him that this lifestyle is just a big fallacy. I don’t believe that killing his brother is the only thing that makes him go to exile but the series of events clashed together make him realize the type of putrid human being he is. Once he goes out in to the wild he realizes the damage that he has done, but what truly makes him give a complete turn in his life is the welcoming that the natives give him. Even though he has harmed their people so much they are willing to accept him and forgive him. As times goes by and he gets to know the indigenous people more he realizes that living in solidarity with a clean conscious is a better lifestyle than living in luxury and having to hurt others.
ReplyDeleteMel. Espino
Mendoza was the type of man who didn't care about anything but himself. He was a selfish slave-trader/mercenary who killed his brother. He was a misguided soul that didn't realize how he had become. Killing his brother was what triggered him to recognize the monster he had become. He knew what he had done was wrong. That is why he isolated himself from the world. Because he wanted to lock the monster (himself) from civilization. That is when Gabriel came in to show him that his sins will not be forgiven if he just rots there feeling sorry for himself. It was Gabriel who helped him get back on his feet and showed him the way. But not only Gabriel, it was also the Guarani who showed him mercy. When he was carrying that big net full of stuff is like a way of showing how Mendoza felt emotionally. He felt a big weight of sins and regrets on his back until the Guarani cut it off which basically showed how forgiveness of the Guarani set him free. Mendoza's view (in my opinion) that helping the people he once done wrong to was a way to pay for all he has done. What I think about Mendoza showed how to live a good life is to appreciate life and what life gives you and to have a peaceful one.
ReplyDeleteAnd if there is something anyone has done wrong the best way is to not hide or run from it but to comfront it and find a way to make it right.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Kristy, and thank you for your acknowledgments!
ReplyDeleteQ: Is there a time to “fight for love?” A: Could this be looked at as an oxymoron? :)
I do understand your question, and this is a complicated argument, as love can be so strong, that one feels compelled to protect this love at all costs, one cost being violence. With this being said, for me, there is never a time to “fight for love-“this tickles me every time I read it or say it, “fight for love.”
Q: Is there any time that love and fighting join hands? A: Not for me. Perhaps we should examine the word love, and the word fight, and our animal instinct (especially as women) to “fight for those we love. Is it love that we are fighting for? Is it just instinct, without the thought of love? Is it instinct and love? How far does one go with love; are there stipulations; if so, is this love? My love is for all sentient beings (everything living). This includes “enemies”, people who have hurt me, almost taken my life, and certainly taken my innocence; this also includes everything “ugly” and “scary”, not just the beautiful and pleasing things.
Q: Would I fight for my five year old daughter? A: I have chosen a more personal perspective (my 10 year old niece, whom I raised from 3 months to five years of age), so that I can better answer the question. This is a VERY good and challenging question! If a man approached my niece and me with obvious threatening intentions, I would grab my niece and run, and if he caught up to us, I would throw my niece as far away from him as I could and use a set of skills to stop him from going any further without any permanent damage. There are many ways to protect our young and ourselves from danger without harming the person in question. If none of this worked, as difficult as this is to say and feel, no, I would not take one life to save another; I would put all of my faith and trust in destiny/karma.
Q: Is it only myself I wouldn’t defend? A: It is not that I would not defend myself, I do defend myself well, and in various ways; it is that I will not defend myself with violence. I am a country girl, have been shooting guns since I was seven years of age, carried guns on my person for over ten years, and traveled for three years, full time, with a gun show circuit, selling guns; in all of this time, I have never pulled a gun on someone, until last year: someone was trying to break into my motel room in the middle of the night, and my dogs barking did not stop them. I grabbed my nine millimeter pistol, went to the door, and slammed it in their forehead, forcing them backwards to almost fall over the railing of the second floor. I was taught to never pull out a gun without full intention to use it; this was my intention, my immediate reaction to defend myself. At this point I remembered my promise to myself that I made at fourteen years of age to never harm another, pulled the gun away, watched the two people run away, and went back inside. This is actually when I discovered that no matter what; I would rather die than take another life to save my own. And trust me, I do love and honor myself very much. I have been on both sides of most fences; the ways in which I think and feel have not occurred over night, and did not arrive easily.
To CHARITY and KRISTY
ReplyDeleteCharity i have heard this story for the second time and by far it still touches my heart. BUT i do agree upon what Kristy says. You really wouldnt fight on the terms of saving someone you truly love? i really find that hard to believe. There is a point in time to walk away instead of fighting i have learned that thru martial arts. But only on the bases of if my life or someone that i love life was threatened. It would seem very selfish wouldn't it? I know you have no religious beliefs but im sure you have a heart. I too want to know what you would do on the bases of an EXTREME situation?
Mendoza starts out by thinking that to live a good life he needed money and to be seen as a person of power by everyone else. Mendoza started out being a mercenary who captured the natives to use them as slaves. He thought that capturing natives and using them as slaves made him see as a men of power which seemed to make him happy at the time, since at the time that was what he saw as happiness.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Mendoza started out as a mercenary and saw this as a good life, his opinion of a good life changed after the love of his life didn’t love him back and instead loved his brother. This might have seen as a harsh experience but this alone wasn’t what made Mendoza change his opinion of what a good life was. What started making Mendoza change his opinion of a “good life” was when in a moment of anger he killed his brother. After this Mendoza sought refuge in a mission to wait for his death, since he wanted to die to pay for his brothers death. However Father Gabriel didn’t leave Mendoza to die and instead challenge him to go on leaving and took Mendoza with him to preach to the mission that was on top of the fall. In the entire journey Mendoza carried heavy equipment behind him, which he saw as his penance for everything he had done in the pass including his brothers death and it wasn’t until they got to the mission that a Guarani relief him of all his stuff. This was the very turning point of Mendoza’s view about a good life, this was when Mendoza started living according to what dictionary.com defines as good life- a life abounding in material comforts and luxuries. Mendoza abandons his luxuries life to turn into a missionary and serve the people that he had once tried to capture to be his slaves.
Mendoza’s new view about what a good life was shows that in order to live a good life you don’t have to be the riches man in the world, to have all the latest technology or to be better than every one else. Mendoza’s change shows that to live a good life all you need is to be in peace with your self and everyone around you.
Question #1:
ReplyDeleteI think Mendoza thought he had the good life because he had a sense of control of others and power. When he found out the person he loved did not love him back he felt like his good life and control was gone. After he killed his brother he realized his life was not good at all he had turned into a bad person who could murder his own brother just for greed and jealousy. When he reached the top of the falls and saw how the Guarani took him in, he then realized a good life is not about money and getting what you want it is much more simpler than that. I think to live a good life does not necessarily mean to have wealth and power it means to be surrounded by people who care an accept you the way you are. Mendoza realized this when he joined the priests at the mission and when he fought for what had became his new life at the mission. His meaning of a good life completely changed after experiencing how good the Guarani lived, they did not need much to simply be happy. He had to go through a horrible experience his old life led him to to see that what he had was making him be a bad person who was selfish. At the mission he fought for those who taught him so much about loving others, he gave up his own life to try to defend the Guarani people. I think that by deciding to stick with the mission and fight to keep it he proved that he had reached what you could call a good life because he believed in something he wanted to fight for not for his own benefit but for the benefit of others.
Grethel Rodriguez
Michelle, I think we may be getting stuck on the definition of fighting for someone else. It sounded from Charity's response to Kristy that she doesn't rule out using physical force to try to protect someone, but short of causing permanent damage (for example, you might try to disable the person temporarily to give yourself time to escape the situation).
ReplyDeleteIf I'm reading her correctly, what she's ruling out isn't any use of physical force at all, it's the use of force to kill or severely injure. That is a stronger commitment to non-violence than most people make, but it's different from passively submitting to harm to oneself or others.
In response to question 1:
ReplyDeleteI believe Mendoza’s views changed once he murdered his brother. The murder of his brother defined the value of life. With the death of his brother came sorrow and grief. Thus, Mendoza began realizing how much sorrow and hate he created with his present position in the world. I believe once Mendoza realized the destruction he had bestowed upon the world he deliberately placed himself in a monastery, in hopes to die in his own misery.
Father Gabriel noticed the destruction Mendoza has planned and reminds Mendoza God will forgive him; however, he must accept God in his heart and release his misery bestowed upon him. Father Gabriel introduces Mendoza to the realization of penance (i.e., make amends) by having Mendoza carry combat equipment in a satchel until he finds forgiveness. Mendoza’s views dramatically began to change after the Guarani Indians showed him forgiveness; unlike he has in the past.
Finally, I believe Mendoza’s new views express one should fight for what he or she believes in. Do not allow one’s private views to reflect another’s. I believe trying to reciprocate actions and attitudes in a positive way leads a person to a good life.
Clayton Marshalek
CHARITY!
ReplyDeleteThere you go again! Blowin’ me away again with your gut-wrenching honesty! =) Thank you for answering my questions. You have been through some stuff in life. I can tell it has changed you and shaped who you are today. I love your obvious desire to learn in life!
“Fight for love”… it does seem to be an oxymoron of sorts! … and yet it makes sense to me. Hahaha.
Anyway, listen, I want you to know upfront that I respect what you’ve said. I respect what you’ve been through and how you have arrived at your conclusions. You have sorted out these difficult questions in a “rubber-meets-the-road” kind of way in your life. I can’t argue with that! I think there is a whole lot of good sense in what you’ve said and on most accounts I agree with you.
I am glad to hear you would defend yourself. I understand you just wouldn’t want to do it with violence. I wouldn’t want to use violence either, but I think that if someone was trying to take my life or the life of someone I love and it was my last option… I would use violence in defense. And trust me when I say that this is a mighty difficult and loathsome thought to me. Like you, I hate the idea of harming or (God forbid) taking another life. I hope this is a moment that never comes about in my life.
I guess the bottom line difference between you and I is that you couldn’t live with yourself if you harmed someone or took their life in defense of your life or the life of someone you love and I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t use any means at my disposal, including violence, to defend my life or the life of someone I love. It’s interesting to me that we mostly agree, and we part ways only at the very last.
Thank you so much for having this dialog with me. I loved learning about your life and how you came to your conclusions… and I love your honesty. =)
Dear Marisela,
ReplyDeleteI really liked what you said about courage. I think that father Gabriel was really courageous. However, don’t you think that he seemed to know that the journey he was embracing was a one way journey? The reason for my thoughts is that he definitely had a good knowledge about the political and religious system of that time. I think he was aware that the army was going to kill everyone in the mission. I believe that on his last conversation with the cardinal he figured out the outcome. Do you remember the statement that father Gabriel made on his last conversation with Rodrigo? He said he could not live in a world controlled by might instead of love. In my opinion, all of these facts make father Gabriel even more courageous. He died for his beliefs and his faith.
Thank you,
Maggie
@ Michelle:
ReplyDeleteNo, I would not fight (with violence) for someone I really love, or for something I really believe in. There are ways to fight and or protest without violence, but certainly, one must be willing to give up their life to do so.
No, I do not consider this to be selfish; I consider it to be selfless, so to speak.
As Dr. Cromartie teaches, one does not need to be religious to do good works, or to be defined as having a heart; religion is not required to have faith, believe in God, do “good deeds”, or to have a heart. There is much truth in what he said about there being some religious people who do horrible things, and some people who are not religious, atheists even, who would never do any of these horrible things—I believe he used George W. Bush as an example. I have been in very extreme situations, Michelle, and nothing changed; I have already made it clear what I would or would not do in extreme situations. With all of this being said, I understand and respect you passion and position.
@ Professor Boyle:
You are indeed reading me correctly, and yes, there is a difference between the two.
@ Kristy:
I insist, thank you!
I understand and respect your position on where we differ; this is the position of most people, and was my position for a very long time.
Now, if the three of you will excuse me, I need to read through all of these answers, compose a response, and get to my pre calculus.
Charity Ruth
In response to Charity and Kristy’s discussion:
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Charity. He or she should not react to violence with violence. I used to hunt wild animals. I shot and killed a deer about 5 years ago. I looked into the deer’s eyes as she died. I can not put into words what it looked like but I can express what it felt like. As I watched , at first, I felt powerful, but a few seconds later I felt like an imposter of God. Once I realized I took a life a unsettling feeling came over me. I asked myself “who am I to take life?” I never hunted again.
On another occasion my wife and I were walking down Market Street, in San Francisco, when a man approached us with a knife demanding money. Looking back I wished we would have ran or tried some other tactics, but instead I resorted to violence nearly beating the man to death. Later I realized I was no different then the man with the knife. Living in a country promoting “fear” on a daily basis does make it hard not to resort to violence. No I’m not justifying my actions, but we must remember the rule of the land is “survival of the fittest.” I believe violence breeds violence.
Clayton Marshalek
question #1: Mendoza's views of what constitutes the good life undergo sweeping changes in the film; how do his views change, and what do you think it says about how to live a good life?
ReplyDeleteMendoza felt that what constitutes the good life was all that he had. He had a woman by his side, he was well respected and had what he wanted in life. he then realize his life changed when the woman he loved betrayed him and fell in love with his brother. mendoza's actions where out of anger seeing that he never wanted to kill his brother or hurt the woman who once loved him. it caused him to hide, run away from the world feeling all the guilt and feeling like he didnt deserve to live. his life changed when the priest asked him to step out the dark hole he was hiding in go with him to his mission he was apart of. from there mendoza learned what the good life was really about, and how it didnt contain being wealthy, well respected or in a relationship. he was at peace with himself just like everyone around him was which was the good life, helping others expand their knowledge and helping them build up their mission.
I think this says that you dont have to have it all to have the good life. One mistake may make you feel like you are at the bottom of a whole, when you only spoke out of anger and want to bbe forgiven for your mistakes. Being at peace with who you are and helping others. Also seeing how those under him were treated as slaves when they were equal to those who seemed superior to them because of their power they had.
-Caneisha Felder
question #1: Mendoza's views of what constitutes the good life undergo sweeping changes in the film; how do his views change, and what do you think it says about how to live a good life?
ReplyDeleteMendoza’s views on what living a good life undergoes changes throughout the film. Mendoza equates a good life to riches, while ignoring his ethical and moral views on being a slave trader and mercenary. His life revolved around money without thinking of the consequences of his actions. After Mendoza kills his friend or brother he spends time with Jesuit monks and starts to have a new outlook on life. He travels to the jungle with the Jesuits to build missions. He carriers a heavy sack that is meant to represent his guilt and the Guaraní are the ones who cut off the heavy sack, freeing Mendoza of his guilt. This act gave Mendoza a new outlook on life because he was forgiven by the people he used to hunt, which is a very Christian ideal. Mendoza begins to give back to the people he has wronged and found out that living a good life consists of helping one another and shared happiness. Mendoza’s conception of good comes from the bible, since in his mind God gave him a second chance, and he wants to spread the word of God throughout the Guarani because it gave him such a positive change in his life. The Spanish eventually decided to destroy the missions, and Mendoza decided to gear up and go to war because he believed the Guarani deserved a chance at the good life that Mendoza has experienced. Mendoza never really analyzed the conception of a good and meaningful life when he was a slave trader because a good life to him meant financially comfortable, as it does to many people. It’s when he saw the lifestyle of the Guarani and the simplicity in which they lived, did he start to see the meaning of a good life.
- Conary Eliot
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteResponse to #1
ReplyDeleteRodrigo Mendoza constituted living a rich life as a slave trader and mercenary with his beloved wife as the good life. He thought this up until he found his wife cheating on him with his own brother. Out of rage he killed his brother and reached his breaking point where he felt there was no reason to live anymore. But Father Gabriel encouraged him to do penance. It wasn’t until after Mendoza sought penance that he felt happiness. He reached happiness in a new way far different than what he was accustomed to. He would have never thought the “peasant” life would have brought him happiness but now he discovered otherwise. The Natives didn’t live lavishly they lived simply and were happy with they had. In the end he fought for the Natives instead of fighting to profit himself as he did in the past. From this I think that living a good life is living a life filled with happiness, surrounding yourself with people that love you and make you happy would be the key to living a good/happy life.
2:
ReplyDeleteI believe that everyone did exhibit courage in their own way. Whether it was religiously or out of spite, to protect people through war. EVERYONE showed a type of courage even if it was shown in a different way. The way Asuncion showed courage was when he was told to move away from the Mission. He was told that it was God's will, but instead of leaving because he was told by the church, he decided to fight so that he could keep his home. The way Rodrigo wanted to denounce his Jesuit ship to fight for the Guaranis showed so much courage. He had to stand up to Gabriel and swallow his pride in order for him to tell him his decision and actually prepare for war. I'm pretty sure Bercelio was a huge factor for Rodrigo to do what he did. He was always with the boy and i'm sure he grew a love for him that he wanted to preserve for a long time. The way Gabriel showed courage was by doing a peaceful protest and having the Guarani sing beautiful hymns. It was very inspiring to see how he was able to walk and not flinch, let alone have the Guarani do the same. It was an amazing moment, to see how everything took place.
Chan Saephan
Question 2:
ReplyDeleteI think many people exhibited courage. It was especially shown at the end within the battle scene. How could you not call that courage? People were split up between how they showed their courage. Many either fought against the Portuguese to protect their village or stayed with Father Gabriel to hold a peaceful mass so as to show the Portuguese that they are humans too. The villagers, Father Gabriel, Mendoza, Fielding, and other Jesuit priests all showed their courage. Those who fought sacrificed themselves to protect their home. That is the ultimate sacrifice. Though the warriors were not the only ones who sacrificed their lives; those who stayed with Father Gabriel (mostly women, children, and elders) were killed. They courageously walked into the Portuguese’s gunfire. It showed that the Guarani were not the “savages” the Portuguese were the brutal ones.
Father Gabriel wanted to have this remain peaceful. He is a Jesuit priest and believes in peace and love. He shows his courage through his trust that love is the way to go. He believes with love that he could change the minds of the Portuguese. It helped sway some of the Portuguese but he and many others were killed regardless.
Mendoza was a man who used to live by his sword until he became a priest. Then when the time came that the Guarani decided to fight for their village he decided to go back on his word as a priest in order to help them. He believed in facing the enemy and that was by physically stopping them.
-Diana J
2)I think MOST the characters in the film exhibited courage in one way or another. Although, I believe Father Gabriel exhibited the most courage, mainly because he did so in a number of ways. Probably the simplest example of this is him climbing the waterfall, in an effort to convert the natives. Going into the jungle was a courageous act in itself, for he did not know what to expect; especially considering another priest had been previously murdered. Towards the end of the movie Father Gabriel again exhibited courage by electing to stay with the native people, even after being warned by Cardinal Altimarano that they would no longer be acknowledged by the church and exceled if they elected not to return with him.
ReplyDeleteI also think it took a lot of courage for Rodrigo to allow Father Gabriel to help him repent after killing his own brother. At the time, it seemed that Rodrigo felt he had nothing else to live for. By isolating himself, it looked as if he was just waiting to die. In my opinion, it took courage to pull himself together and face the truth head on, and not allow the guilt of killing his brother be the cause of his downfall as well.
On the other hand, I believe Cardinal Altimarano had the opportunity to be courageous but squandered it by not allowing Father Gabriel to continue his mission in the jungle. It seemed like Cardinal Altimarano’s heart was in the right place, and really liked what he saw when he came to Father Gabriel’s mission, but gave into pressure from the church and Lt. Alejandrino not to allow the mission to survive. Had he gone against the interest of the church and Lt. Alejandrino and allowed Father Gabriel to continue his mission, I’d include the Cardinal as being courageous as well.
-Ryan J
Clayton,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this!What an awesome and beautiful awakening you have had!!!! About the dear, I do believe that if a family is hungry and needs the dear to survive, it is OK to allow the dear to give it's life for the purpose of survival, but essential that a ceremony takes place, to pay tribute to the dear, celebrate it's life, and give thanks for it's sacrifice--this position I take comes from years of friendship with an elder from the Cherokee Nation. What are your thoughts on this?
Charity Ruth
In response to Marc C. regarding:
ReplyDelete“After his quest, he finds happiness in a place he never thought he would: being part of the Mission with the Natives. The life of the natives and the life of royalty is vastly different, yet Mendoza has found happiness within both. From this we can see that the “good life” is not a specific life (such as the life of the rich), but rather a life filled with whatever brings happiness. One can see Mendoza’s happiness when he chooses to not stay with his old life, which he once considered good, and goes against it to stay and defend his new life with the Natives. Perhaps he likes the life with the natives because they know nothing of his past.”
It is true that there are different views of ‘the good life’, but I more so viewed question 1 asking what does it take to live a good life, besides happiness alone. And if it is happiness alone that makes for a good life, what kind of happiness should one look for? Mendoza’s happiness from being a rich guy is different happiness than being a Jesuit; accordingly, the lives associated with each kind of happiness are different too. The two ‘good’ lives Mendoza lived are indeed vastly different, and overall one could say that Mendoza would denounce his old life as being good and give that title to his new life. The reason why he chooses this better ‘good’ life is what every person should search for too if they want to have a better ‘good’. If this is what question 1 was asking then it seems that you have overlooked why Mendoza found the new life he achieved to be good. Considering this you could better answer the question of “what do you think it says about how to live a good life?”
-Angelique V.
Response to Elizabeth:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Mendoza found the good life with the natives. At the beginning of the movie he had no respect for the human life he did what he wanted and killed who ever he wanted to get what he wanted. Like when he went into the forest and killed a couple natives he did not care that they were people with real lives who were just up their living happy. He also could not stand the love of his life loving another man so out of rage he killed his own brother. I agree that he reached the point where he realized he had a bad life when they showed him carrying the armor up the falls. He wanted to be punished for what he had done and for the person he had become. Living with the natives he had a complete change of personality he learned how to live simple and be happy with what you said love. I also think a good life is one were your surrounded with people who love and respect you all the other things Mendoza had that made him “happy” were not important after all. He didn’t need much to live a good life and he died knowing that.
Grethel Rodriguez
I respond to Marc C
ReplyDeleteHi Marc, you said that: “After his quest, he finds happiness in a place he never thought he would: being part of the Mission with the Natives. The life of the natives and the life of royalty is vastly different, yet Mendoza has found happiness within both. From this we can see that the “good life” is not a specific life (such as the life of the rich), but rather a life filled with whatever brings happiness. One can see Mendoza’s happiness when he chooses to not stay with his old life, which he once considered good, and goes against it to stay and defend his new life with the Natives. Perhaps he likes the life with the natives because they know nothing of his past.”
I agree with you that Mendoza found his hapiness when he came to the Mission and lived with the Natives. He still felt that was a good life for him to stay with the Natives and fight the army until he died to defend his new life. However, I disagree with you that Mendoza liked to live with the Natives because they don’t know any thing about his past. I think the Natives know what Mendoza did, but they still accept him to become a part of the community because they are Jesuits; they have learned to love and forgive. Mendoza saw that, so he wanted to stay with them even though he knew he couldn’t oppose the army.
~ Trang N.~
In reply to Jenifer,
ReplyDeleteIn the first place what gave the father courage to climb the waterfall was his belief on the divine, or so he thought it was a divine power that gave him the strength but it was his actual will to help the people and its later on that he realizes that he doesn't need the church in-order to do good or be courageous
Mel. E
To Rhonda.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with what you described as courage from the Guarini and priests. I forgot that the Guarini let Father Gabriel into their tribe without previous knowledge of his history or knowledge of his intentions. Father Gabriel on the otherhand never forced the Jesuit ways onto the aborigines and only offered the choice to them. Change and adaption does takes courage.
Koy S.
@ Angie V. & Ashley T.
ReplyDeleteSeeing your definitions of courage (strength of the mind to overcome fear & doing what one truly believes in), I differentiated for courage and guts. i mean, it takes a lot of guts to eat a bowl worms, but that's certainly not courageous because it's not what you believe in (hopefully!). And its true that courage is different in the eyes of other people because of our varying beliefs. Guts seems to be more associated with doing something amazing without purpose and courage is more associated with doing something amazing for yourself. By "amazing," I mean something someone wouldn't normally do. In this sense, Mendoza did not have the courage to kill his brother, but he did have the guts to do it.
Hello Chan,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the people in the movie show great courage, especially the protagonists, I would just like to point out a particular counter-example that came to mind. Right before they are ordered to fire upon the Guarani peacefully praying within the mission, the Portuguese soldiers express how none of them believe what they were about to do to be right. When their order came, the soldiers went against their own conscious beliefs and killed the men, women, and children of the mission. If courage is standing up for what you believe in, no matter the consequences, then these soldiers seem to be badly lacking it.
Thanks,
Jeffrey H.
In response to Ashley T.
ReplyDeleteYou say everyone had to face an obstacle to go through. What obstacle did the Cardinal, Portuguese, and Spanish overcome, and what courageous acts did they display while doing so? What do you mean when you say Mendoza’s and the Guarani’s view of courage was to live under God’s name? I don’t understand how they were being brave living under god’s name, unless they were afraid of living under god’s name. I do somewhat agree with you when you said Mendoza displayed his courage by continuing to work and help the Guarani when others looked down upon it.
- Conary Eliot
This response is to Wenyi He:
ReplyDeleteI agree that Gabriel is the most courageous, and that he died with confidence and commitment to love. I find your conclusion, “Probably, he was not fit to live in the world, but his belief and his spirit are worthy of respect,” very interesting, and would like for you to expand on this. Are you saying he was probably not fit to live in this world because the majority of the people of this world would consider him absurd? And what do you mean when you say,” but his belief and his spirit are worthy of respect”? This leads me to believe there may be some other reason why you feel he was probably not fit to live in this world. If he was not fit to live in this world for reasons of his peaceful and loving approach, and it is agreed upon that this is the most courageous approach, then could we not say that this approach is right approach, as it requires the highest level of courage, and therefore it is the majority of people who are not fit to live in this world, and people like Gabriel are fit to live in this world, and simply outnumbered by the majority who are not fit for this world?
Thank you.
Charity Ruth
Please excuse the typos...I am exhausted, hungry, and my brain is officially fried. :)
ReplyDeleteandrewfaro
ReplyDeleteI think that your response to question 3 is short and to the point, but I don’t think you answered the question fully. I do recall that the question was: Gabriel's view of courage is based on his religious commitments; could you make an argument for that view, without depending on a particular understanding of the divine?
You have stated what courage is and the reasons of why Father Gabriel has courage, but can you make an argument against why his view is the way it is.
I like and agree with what you said. It takes a lot of courage for him to keep mass going through all the violence and shootings. When I was watching that part of the movie, I was so speechless.
in response to charity:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you, and after someone has made a horrible action and later dawns on it realizing the situation and how it couldve ben acted up differently people do tend to change, SOME DONT, they fail to realiz the hurt in their actions and how it gets them nowhere to learn from there mistakes. I am surprised that you said you vow to never fight back even to save your own life now that takes courage! But i think i would have to agree when you say you can't fight back. For LOVE is sometimes the reason people act out and do such harmful things without thinking, well they think love is the reason for their actions. So is it that people shouldnt fight for their loved ones? to protect one another? or to protect they self because it could later on lead to an action that would hurt someone else or hurt they self? it just some thoughts, i have witness people fight, because of one being hurt or even lying about something creating a person to be hurt but they may blame it on love, or to protect they self from being hurt.
-Caneisha Felder
Hi, Chan
ReplyDeleteI agree with your idea that you believe everyone did exhibit courage in their own way. I find an important point from your writing. It is that Bercelio is very important for Rodrigo. This point I have never thought before reading your post. I think Bercelio looks like Rodrigo’s younger brother. Why Rodrigo always protect Bercelio, he does not allow others to insult the young boy? It is because Rodrigo looks on Bercelio as his younger brother. Rodrigo and his younger brother always stay together. It is the reason why Rodrigo always takes Bercelio around with him. Rodrigo knows he should not kill his brother. He knows he makes a mistake. He used his whole life to expiate the crime. Did you remember when Bercelio wanted to attend into the battle, Rodrigo let him to go away? Because Rodrigo did not want his “brother” to be wounded, and he did not want to see his “brother” die again. Rodrigo still protected the Guarani’s boys until he was dead. Rodrigo saw his younger brother’s shadow from these children, and Bercelio is one of the best representatives. I think this point is very important for the movie. Therefore you are very nice to find this. Good job!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteChan,
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree everyone in the film displayed courage in one way or another. Father Gabriel, rodrigo and the natives showed the most courage. Father Gabriel showed courage in a religious way, Rodrigio showed courage when he stood up in court and when he helped the natives. The natives showed courage by standing up for themselves.
Dear Angie v,
ReplyDeleteyou started by defining what courage was.And said courage is not always what is right, it is doing what you truly believe in.But as we saw in the film when the Portuguese soldiers were told to go ahead and fire on(shooting)the guarani Indians,none of them believed in or the action of what they were going to do was right.so at this point if we were to consider the above definition of courage,i guess then no one of the Portuguese soldiers had courage to do what they were supposed to do.
Patience.M.
Caneisha,
ReplyDeletethe word "fight" is broad; one can "fight" for a belief, or loved one without using violence. I do not think that people shouldn't fight for each other, or themselves, as it is not my place to determine what people should do, nor is it my place to judge what they do do.I think people should do whatever they personally feel is the right thing to do; I personally feel the right thing for me to do is to love, forgive, and practice nonviolence at any cost.
Thank you for your input and questions,
Charity Ruth
Responding to Charity, Andrewfaro and Wenyi.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with all you guys about father Gabriel showing his courage through what he believed in, which was love. But I do not completely agree with what Father Gabriel did. His courage was shown in such a wrong way, which was leading those people to get slaughtered by the Portuguese soldiers. Farther Gabriel was surely a courageous man; there is no denial in that. Looking at how he behaved throughout the movie, he was tremendously courageous but to some extent in a wrong way. He knew that once the Portuguese soldiers attacked, they were going to kill everyone, nevertheless he decided to stay with them in church and pray and sing. I feel that even though the Indians had decided to stay and fight, father Gabriel would have approached it differently and changed their minds. The same way he convinced some of the Indians to stay and sing, he would have convinced them otherwise, which was to tell them to run for their lives. I understand that some people might find this as a cowardly act. But come on people, we all know that sometimes, trying to be courageous in a situation can not save you. I believe people stand a better chance trying to save their own lives and others than just standing there and allowing someone to take it away. I do not believe death is better than life .In my opinion Father Gabriel’s courage that he claimed was love, was also murder of those people. Andrewfaro, fate has never been an answer, you are not going to see someone coming to kill you, and then you just stand there, you have to defend yourself. The Portuguese soldiers apparently felt bad but still went a head and shot women and children. How are you going to expect to reach out to search people with love? The way I see it Father Gabriel committed suicide and his way of courage was a little extreme.
Hey Gabriel
ReplyDeleteI like you way of describing what Mendoza’s change says about how to live a good life. An I personally like the way you compared it to doing a job, simply because if the money that it pays or because it is something you love. I also like this sample because I think so many people in the U.S. right now are just doing certain jobs just because of the money for one reason or another but they aren’t taking into consideration on if they like or dislike the job. I think if people took this into consideration people would be better able to perform and advance in their jobs. I also think that this is a great and simple way to make sense of what you’re trying to explain. So lastly what do you think would mean to live a good life without taking the movie into consideration?
Hi Maggie Souza
ReplyDeleteI agree with your idea. I think Father Gabriel should felt guilty. The Guarani’s people were died because they believed God can bless them. I always think if these Guarani people did not follow Gabriel, and just still stayed in forest, would they be happier? I do not know the answer. I am really confused this question. I think when Guarani’s people followed Gabriel to build their own village, they should be happier than staying in forest. However, because they had own village, they were killed by government. I don’t know whether it is correct about Gabriel sent gods’ bless to Guarani’s people. However, Gabriel took them to a new beautiful world, and let them to know that they could live as well as white people. From this point, Guarani’s people should thank Gabriel. I understand feelings of the Guarani’s people. If you went to a big modern city from a poor village and owned a better life, did you want to go back and stay in the poor village? I think the most people will say no! Therefore, we can understand why Guarani’s king refused to leave the village. I think in the end of the movie, Gabriel was blessing all the Guarani’s people until he was dead.
In responding to Rhonda:
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with what you said about everyone showing courage in the film. It really is hard to change the habits you have from birth. Father Gabriel really wanted to make a change in the aborigines life as much as he could. You did a good job answering the question. I felt like you explained the meaning of courage very well.
To Zhisen Qian
ReplyDeleteI agree very much with what you said. Father Gabriel showed a lot of courage when he went back to the Guarani. Climbing a steep cliff he showed that he wasn’t going to give up. He acted courageous throughout the film and in the end he stood alongside guarani and lead them to stand up to the Portuguese without fighting. I think it takes a lot of will power and courage to refrain from fighting and just hold up a cross in hopes that it would somehow stop the Portuguese.
I also agree that Mendoza showed courage by seeking repentance for all he had done. Instead of avoiding repentance he went through and did it. He was courageous in that he received forgiveness from the very people he once killed and traded out as slaves. He was also courageous in standing up for the indians as a protector knowing he was once their enemy.
And I also agree that the Guarani king was very courageous in accepting to enter a new life that was different from the life they’ve been living in the forest. He was acting courageous when he said if the king of portugal chooses to be stubborn, then i too shall be stubborn. He showed that he wasn’t going to give up hope in keeping the mission he would do whatever it took so that he and his people could live at the mission.
CLAYTON
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think made Mendoza fight to protect the Guarani (whom he had come to love) at the end of the movie?
Also, do you agree with Charity about it being okay for an animal “to give its life for the purpose of survival” if a family needs it to survive? After reading your hunting story I wondered if you gave up meat at that point.
And just as a point of clarification, I too would want to run if accosted on a street. It is actually something I have thought about long before this discussion in class ever came up. The thought of having to hurt someone for ANY reason is a horrible to me and I would avoid it. I would not resort to violent methods of survival unless I had no other choice. And I would not defend a love one with violence unless there was no other way.
In response to Mel Espino:
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis of Rodrigo. I never thought that he realized the depth of how much pain he causes people. I honestly thought that he only exiled himself because the death of his brother. I believe that the scene when natives accepted him even though he hurt them was the turning point in his life. Good answer.
In response to Jose Ayala:
That is a hard question to ask. It is actually like a Socrates question. But, to me, a good life is where you are happy to the fullest extent. When you can live your life without needing anything else. As humans, we want things, but we only need some. I'm reading back my answer and it sounds pretty funny, but what do you think a good life is?
-Gabe Pel
Responding to Clayton M;
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you. Mendoza’s defining point on his view of life was definitely when he killed his brother. Before that though, he was a slave trader and his life was defined more by money and power. He was brutal and didn’t care for the rights of humans. Then when he killed his brother he hated himself for that. His whole life changed. The woman he loved now hated him as well.
For a while after that point he didn’t have a particular view on life other than that he wanted to be dead. Then Father Gabriel came in and gave him hope. As you said the Guarani showed him forgiveness and he was able to forgive himself too. His last view on life was almost opposite of what it was in the beginning. He now fought and died for those he used to capture.
In response to Michelle:
ReplyDeleteI agree with your answer to question 2. Father Gabriel, Rodrigo, and the Natives both displayed a lot of courage, especially to stand by their beliefs. They stood by it when they were opposed by the Spanish, the Portuguese, and even the Church. That took a tremendous amount of courage. I agree with you when you stated that it took the natives a lot of courage to accept Father Gabriel’s teachings. I like your answer and I agree with it entirely.
-J. Madison
To Conary Eliot. I completely I agree with your comment on Mendonza. Mendoza had the sack of guilt which showed the Guarani cutting it off as a symbol of setting him free from his guilts. Basically getting forgiveness from those he had wronged. The part were you said "it's very Christian act" makes a lot of sense, there will always be (not just in movies) the Christian ideal way of forgiveness, to fix those you have wronged. I also liked how you spoke about Mendoza's view of life changing experience wanting to spread the word of God because of his life changing experience. I couldn't have said it any other way. If you look at my comment we both have similiar opinions.
ReplyDeleteMy answer to question #3
ReplyDeleteFather gabriel was very courageous and his actions proved it. He ignored fear and faced difficulty and danger and acted in accordance to his own beliefs. He showed courage when he climbs up the dangerous and steep cliffs to face the tribe that killed his fellow priest. He also showed courage when he decided to stay with the tribe even though he was going to be excommunicated and the Portuguese were going to invade. He said "If might is right , then love has no place in this world" which meant that for him only one or the other belonged in the world. He stuck with his belief that violence was unnecessary until the end. I disagree with that view because I believe that there is times where might may be necessary for example when police use necessary force to arrest a dangerous criminal. I think that there is a balance of right and wrong in the word and one could not exist without the other.
Luis R.
In response to Charity
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say that I respectfully disagree with your belief that only love and peace belongs in the world because I think we need a balance of right and wrong, without one the other can't exist. Think about it, In your answer to question 3 you said that when your experience was over you learned something from it. If you hadn't experience that you would have never learned and grown from it. There is a quote I don't know who said it but it goes like this, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" . To me this quote means that everything bad that happens to you is necessary in order for you to learn from it and to find your inner balance/peace and help you grow to be physically, spiritually and mentally healthy.
Luis R.
In response to Trang.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. The way Mendoza transformed was very beautiful. He knew he did something wrong, so he wanted to repent for it by doing deeds that were very difficult. When he found the village and the people there and his views changed, it was also something very nice to see. I think that the whole movie was showing an opening to how someone can change for something that they really want to have. For Mendoza, it was the good life, it was the life that he wanted the Guarani to have and he wanted to share with them.
Diana J- Thank you for your response. I’m glad we are on the same page.
ReplyDeleteKristy C- Well, I believe Mendoza fought to protect the Guarani for two reasons:
One, as you mentioned Mendoza fell in love with the Guarani. Love can be a powerful emotion. I believe Mendoza took his lost love for his brother and transferred that love to the Guarani.
Second, once a person finds love, usually, that person finds hope too. Hope, really, enables a person to continue on. Although, government entities use hope as a tool for control (i.e. religion), but in this film hope consumes even the most dreadful person (Mendoza) transforming his mind.
No, I never gave up beef. In the words of Ted Nugent “Vegetarians are cool. All I eat are vegetarians - except for the occasional mountain lion steak.”
Charity- Well, first before I answer your question I must ask one . Do these same Native Americans perform sacrificial rituals with humans? To please their god?
Clayton Marshalek
In Response to Ryan J.,
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about the priest. I think he exhibited the most courage throughout the movie. Climbing up the waterfall and learning the ways of the indians. Just to go to the jungle after you know that another priest was killed is couragous. I think Gabriel was the most couragous.
Mendoza the slave trader is The Mission's main character. His views of what constitutes a good life are evident in the following examples. To begin with, the fact that he's a slave trader alone reveals his lack of concern for individual liberty in the face of self-profit. His desire for money is further displayed as the movie continues and we are taken to his home. Mendoza's home represents the good-life he is trying to build for himself, full of material luxuries, multiple servants, and riding horses. Along with these fine things, Mendoza longed for a woman to complete his vision for a life well lived. It was the desire for this last addition that dramatically changed Mendoza's opinion on what constitutes a good life.
ReplyDeleteThe woman Mendoza wanted was unfortunately in love with his brother and wanted little to do with him. Because of this, Mendoza's vision of the good life was altered and he was left in confusion. What good were his riches without his lady? So, in a confused jealous rage Mendoza kills his brother.
The death of his brother plagues Mendoza with guilt, and further distorts his vision of the good life. Now Mendoza isn't remotely concerned with how to make his life good, he only wants redemption. With the help of the missionaries, his new views on the good life focus around building human relationships and valuing them. He spends much time with the Guarani people, and soon isn't concerned with redemption so much as helping them.
In my opinion, Mendoza's transformation reveals that living a good life is done by paying attention to your human relationships and holding them dear.
Andy,
ReplyDeleteI think you're right. Living a good life is one that is lived in acceptance. In regards to Mendoza though, had he accepted the relationship between his brother and the woman he loved he would have continued being a slave trader. I'd like to think, that the death of his brother helped him value the importance of human life over material possessions or the need to climb the social ladder.
RESPONSE TO QUESTION 1
ReplyDeleteRodrigo Mendoza spent a great part of his life living a way he thought would bring him prosperity and everything he thought a man should have. Mendoza was initially a mercenary sent to the falls to enslave Guaraní from their homes and trade them. Thus he had a woman with a prominent social status, and change in his pockets, all consisting of the good life. However he had to suffer immensely and be put through what he thought was the worse to obtain a more healthy mentality.
When Mendoza saw that the women he loved, loved his own brother rather than himself, which seemed more like his breaking point, brought him confusion about his life; disconnected from the good life. Thereafter Mendoza finds himself savagely killing his brother in a fair dual that was demanded upon him. Upon the death of his brother, Mendoza could no longer lead the life of the “privileged,” he felt he had no life, so he locked himself in isolation to basically die. A priest: Father Gabriel, was the only being that could make Mendoza see that there are other ways out of the imprisonment that he was holding himself to. That just because he felt there was no redemption does not mean he could not in fact redeem himself. Father Gabriel challenged Mendoza to choose his own penance, although Mendoza too challenged Father Gabriel to watch him fail at it.
He struggled tremendously with his personal penance (I don’t know what to call it... hauling an unimaginable weight of steel?), almost failing numerous times, but he never gave up. Mendoza began to value his life again. He no longer came across person gain from others, but himself. Life was precious again in a whole different outlook. People were more important than anything else. Ones livelihood is the essence life and Mendoza was taught to see that through the Jesuits. He began to put livelihood as a whole into prospective. Ultimately it says we need to value each other and bring love to the table; there is no such thing as personal gain without helping another.
Shanise K.
YOU SAID I CAN POST LATE & RECEIVE FULL CREDIT
J. Madison
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with everything you’re saying. I feel as if almost everyone displayed a great amount of courage throughout this entire film. Although some acts may not be inclined as practical, it still is an act of courage. These natives refused to back down when their home was being threatened. Even with the knowledge that they were outnumbered, if they were going to lose, they were going down battling it out. The Jesuits would have been hypocrites to not fight back with them. One of their own brought all this hostility into place, so it would have been incredibly wrong to not protect them. These people all acted out of their hearts, and they did all risk their lives for the sake of others, and I feel if we have to live and abide by any circle of life, it should be sacrifice. Even with the fatality of the Guaraní and Jesuits, in a way they still conquered with mad courage.
Shanise K.
2)Do you think all, or only some, or none of the people in the film exhibited courage? Why do you think so? Everyone in this Mission certainly meant to be courageous - how would you describe each person's view of courage?
ReplyDeleteI believe everyone in the movie showed courage and that they believed strongly in their ideals and beliefs. They attempted to fight for what was originally theirs and stand their ground. The question about being all of gods children was apparent to me, as it seemed as though it was almost thrown out of the window when the fighting started. They stood by their families and did everything they possibly could, as they didn't give up against the unstoppable force of the army of men. I found it moving that the guarani took the priests in despite the fact that everything was still occurring and going on during this time. Even though fighting is not part of their religion their courage never ceased to come short, their determination and will power showed a bigger picture that perhaps courage means more than just the ability to do something that freightens one. They showed that someone under the love of god can-not only have bravery and a dauntless spirit, but it exploits its possible to obtain the ability to endure in times of adversity despite the fact of your moral position or ideals
Mahak,
ReplyDeleteI like how you implied his life began to represent the good life he so longed for with all of the material luxuries he had. I love how you exploited mendoza's lady situation. most individuals find themselves longing for another individual to complete their lives as a 'whole' I like that you pointed this fact out, as it proves mendoza is more normal then some may have intially thought. I find it so true and I feel as though this situation happens so frequently in the real world. Unfortunately these types of dillemnas do exist today. Its funny seeing it happen in a time like the movie. But anyways I love that your opinion expresses exactly what I was thinking. And thats embracing yourself & being content within yourself before you can be content with others . Overall a very good response to the question.
I am responding to question # 2) Do you think all, or only some, or none of the people in the film exhibited courage? Why do you think so? Everyone in this Mission certainly meant to be courageous - how would you describe each person's view of courage?
ReplyDeleteI believe that anyone who fights for what they believe in exhibits courage. I know this brings up a lot of controversy because both sides were “fighting for what they believed in. Now I didn’t get to see much of the beginning of the movie but from what I seen, it all depends on which side you agree with to determine who had more courage. However from what I was able to see and understand everyone in this movie in one way or another exhibited some sort of courage. They all understood what they were fighting for and understood the consequences that came with it!
I think the wide majority of the people in the film exhibited courage, but there where a few that truly stood out to me. The three main characters that I feel exhibited courage are Rodrigo, Father Gabriel, and the Chief of the tribe (Asuncion). In the beginning of the movie, when Rodrigo had to drag the sack of armor and up the mountain to the mission, thought that was exceedingly courageous of him considering he didn’t have to. He could have stayed in his jail sell and did nothing until he died but he chose the religios way and made the trek to rid of his sins. I thought that was the most courageous act of the movie but at the end when he fought with the tribe to save the mission, I was astonished of the bravery he exhibited mainly because the life he had just left was calling him back but instead this time was for the grace of God. He didn’t have to but he believed God wanted him to so he helped the tribe save the mission. The next person I felt exhibited a great amount of courage is Father Gabriel. The reason I felt he was courageous is because in the very beginning of the movie, he didn’t have to climb the waterfall to the tribe and convert them but he felt if was his job sent from God to do so. Even knowing the last Priest to try to convert them was killed and sent down the river, he still went and converted them. There were very courageous things he did throughout the movie like standing up for people and his mission, working with Rodrigo to rid of his sins, and asking the judge to come to the mission to see what kind of work he has gone through to convert the tribe. The most courageous thing I think Father Gabriel did though is walking in front of the tribe knowing he was going to be shot to death. This is courageous in ways people cant even describe but he felt that dieing with “his people” was the right thing to do other than fight back. He could have easily ran away and tried to convert other tribes but he stayed and died because of it. The last person I feel that was courageous is the Chief (Asuncion) because he could have easily killed Father Gabriel when he saw him but he didn’t. Instead he learned a way of life that he felt was better not only for him but his people also. It takes a great amount of courage to change what you and your ancestors have been doing for generations, but he did and for that he is courageous.
ReplyDeleteI think Mendoza views changed tremendously, and I think they changed for a good reason. After loosing the love of his life and his brother Mendoza just was not the same person, he was living for nothing, and in the past was living doing what others probably thought would be best. Living for the rich and not even worrying about all the other stuff and wrong doings that was going on at that time. I think the movie and Mendoza was saying that there is so many ways to live life and so many ways to do certain things. Mendoza switching over was big to me. I would of never expected him to become a priest, and he did and was happy with it. I think living good life is all about happiness and growing through some rough things to find that one true happiness.
ReplyDeletein response to Nina I agree with you especially with what you said by him bein at piece with his self I feel that his change made him much stronger then what he already was, but then again I go back and think, like do we really think he is a peace? I mean he hurt the two people he love, so how is that really peace? I guess him switching over maybe he asked to be forgiving and understood from then on whats right is right and whats wrong is wrong. And how do you feel that the people under him is more superior? do you think it was good or bad? do u think mendoza learned alot from everybody and everything he put his self through?
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