I just watched the scene where Adam turned down Cal's money. It absolutely broke my heart. Cal just tries so hard, and his father doesn't even see it. And Aron. He should be content being the good son his entire life and give Cal a chance to win Adam's affection for once.
Aaron is supposed to be good, but I don't see it. I see someone who is cruel, self-important, and haughty.
Well that's the whole point, isn't it?
Aaron was considered the good one in his Fathers eyes, because he did what his father expected of him. He was the incarnation of good in his fathers eyes. Although those who are able to see it from Cals eyes, would view it differently.
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They blew up Congress!!! HAHAHA!
It broke my heart too and it made me cry so many times....
The positive character is marvelous Julie Harris' Abra
That was a crazy scene. I could hardly stand it, it was so sad.
--celebrating my 9th year on imdb. woohoo!--
Congrats - you got the point. Now add to that the parallel reference to Adam, Eve, Caine and Abel, and you see that we are meant to understand that 'bad' people aren't necessarily so by nature, but may be created by the depravation of love and respect. Taa-daa! There's the moral of the story.
"Lots of FAMOUS people can't read!"
I could never see Cal as "bad". He lived in the real world, Adam and Aron lived in a fantasy world. As Kate said to Cal, "Is he (Adam) still living in the Bible?" The first time Aron had to face reality, he fell apart. For the same reason, Adam had a stroke. Cal came out of it all a stronger and better man.
shareCongrats - you got the point. Now add to that the parallel reference to Adam, Eve, Caine and Abel, and you see that we are meant to understand that 'bad' people aren't necessarily so by nature, but may be created by the depravation of love and respect. Taa-daa! There's the moral of the story.
It was Abel the shepherd offering God one of his newborn lambs as opposed to Cain the farmer who offered some of his harvest. I have never understood why God accepted Abel's offer but not Cain's.
Cal offering his father the money is similar to Cain offering his harvets to God, as is Aron telling his father about his engagement. You can to some extent compare the frustrations here. Cal, like Cain, worked for this, whereas Aron is not seen REALLY caring for Abra and sheep dop lambs as long as you look after them.
Obi-Wan is my hero!
It was Abel the shepherd offering God one of his newborn lambs as opposed to Cain the farmer who offered some of his harvest. I have never understood why God accepted Abel's offer but not Cain's.
I'm at work, and don't have a Bible handy (though I wouldn't quote overmuch scripture here, in any case), so I will probably come back later to re-edit some of my responses.
The theme of blood sacrifice, and the innocent taking on the sins of the guilty run throughout both the Old Testament (the Torah, to adherants of Judaism) and the New Testament.
From at least the time of Abel's day (and probably that of his father, Adam, before him), to probably around the time of the Roman seige of Jerusalem (circa A.D. 70), the idea of animal sacrifices is that the follower of God, under such a doctrine, can be forgiven of all of his past transgressions and reconciled with his God and Creator. The narrative of the early chapters of Genesis does not cover the territory where the early human family are divinely taught to offer up animal/blood sacrifices; however, the further narrative and doctrinal passages of the Old Testament/Torah both command it and explain the reasons and principles behind the offering of lambs (NOT generally newborn, though of course quite young) and other animals as blood sacrifices; it can be argued, therefore, that the Adamic family received instructions from their God on this and on many other things that aren't recorded.
As for Cain's rejection, he failed for various reasons, but, as the narrative bears out, mostly for his selfishness and other lackings in character. It could be argued that, because God approached him (prior to Cain's murder of Abel) and said, "If thou doest well, shalt thou not also be accepted?" Cain must have deviated from whatever divine instructions had already been provided, e.g., Cain offered up a different kind of sacrifice than what God (the same God throughout the entirety of the Old Testament) must have asked for: the kind of sacrifice offered by Abel. Had Cain "done well," as Abel had, then he, too, would have been "accepted" in the sight of his God and perhaps the end of the tale of Cain (or a version of Cain who WASN'T murderously envious of others' successes in the face of his own failures) and Abel would not have turned out so tragically.
Secret Message, HERE!-->CONGRATULATIONS!!! You've discovered the Secret Message!
God does not accept independent thought or planning. The end results are not as important as the obedience. The long term good for civilization is not anywhere near as important as the blind ignorance of becoming a follower of The Word. You can sacrifice plenty of animals and slaughter thousands of humans, if you have already approved it and been told by God that it is okay. While you are not allowed to do evil 'in God's name', you are welcome to bring destruction to all with His guiding hand. Intelligent thought, rational curiosity and cognitive reasoning are unacceptable to God.
shareCal just tries so hard, and his father doesn't even see it.
It shows the extent of Adam's self - righteous attitude that almost cost him Cal's love. As Abra told Adam on his death bed, "Maybe you didn't mean it that way - but it's true. You never gave him your love". Although Adam felt that his way of parenting was right, it resulted in difficult relations between Father and Son. Abra's speech helped Adam realise this and indicates that He and Cal may be able to mend their relationship before his death.
"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".
I haven't read the book, yet, but that scene made me so bad.
I threw a pillow at the TV screen.
"The only exercise I take is walking behind the coffins of friends who took exercise."