MovieChat Forums > DragonHeart (1996) Discussion > Religion/Philosophy in Dragonheart

Religion/Philosophy in Dragonheart


There is all kind of religious overtones going on in this movie and I still haven't figured them all out. Here's what I got so far.
1. Dragons represent the "old code" in the movie, which seemed very close to paganism or druidism, representing a yearning for a pre-Christian past possibly
2. Converse to that Bowen also seems to equate King Arthur with the old code as well, when he's trying to find himself again towards the end there. They go to an old Arthurian ruins site. Arthur of course in most mythology crushes the pagan intruders and saves England for Christianity.
3. So the old code is perhaps a version of christianity more early to middle medieval times, emphasizing civalry and all that, Arthurian legends also center mostly at that timeas well. With Draco dying it is like England is entering a new age, leaving the middle ages for good. That would then be a yearning for a pre-modern past, early christianity is then seen as having a spark of magic in it still, so to speak, and as England progresses it is losing that magic. Magic seen as good and cooperative with christianity, not demonic would be elements of paganism left over in England maybe.
4.Brother Gilbert is a "good" character, so I'm thinking even more now that he is supposed to represent pure religion, untainted by heirarchy and dogma, an ascetic ideal, because he is a monk. This would be much more characteristic of earlier middle ages again.
5.What made me associate paganism with the dragons more than anything was the dragon hunters hired by Einen. They look like they come from the east, they speak an unknown language, and most important they are know dragons much better than local people as if dragons had been in their culutre much longer.
6.Einen is rebuilding a Roman castle. I cant quite figure out the meaning here. maybe they are suggesting Rome "forgot" religion as weel, or older religion at least. The Romans got caught up in a wave of technology, etc... that Englnad was warming up to as well getting ready to leave medieval times? But what was Rome's abandonment of religion, was it its conversion from polythesim to christianity? I dont think so b/c as i said christianity overall comes off good in the movie. It could be that the reference to Rome's focus on technology wasnt necessariliy a religious critique but a moral one instead.

Overall I think the movie is referencing a yearning for a early medieval christianity where all the magic of the world is not yet forgotten but salvation is still a possibility through christainity (in other word not complete paganism). The end of the dragon, which I guess did subside after the end of the middle ages, is sort of the first step towards a disenchanted world. Not only do the ppl in the film mourn the coming modernity but so does the audience who see what happened once the dragon was lost. What do ya'l think? Taht sound abut right? (plz escuse the type-os)

reply

[deleted]

Magic seen as good and cooperative with christianity, not demonic would be elements of paganism left over in England maybe.

Perhaps. Early Christianity had a fervor which inevitably declined when persecution ended, so miracles would have been much more prevalent and obvious in the old days than later on. Also, Christianity tends to become increasingly debased with politics and wealth over the centuries, so the story could be seen as a reformation.

maybe they are suggesting Rome "forgot" religion as weel, or older religion at least.

The Roman Republic (and early Empire) could be seen as admirable for its discipline and freedom. The Empire became corrupt in leadership and morality. Certainly, it is doubtful that most citizens earnestly concerned themselves with the gods by the first century A.D.

reply

[deleted]

Good post.

But we must add the fact that when christianism was taking over Europe, it merged with countless pagan traditions to get more strength.

This is something extremely noticeable in all legends like George and the Dragon and the Arthuric cycle.

I would recommend you to see that old (relatively speaking) movie called Merlin starring Sam Neill and Miranda Richardson, it was a movie made for TV, but it deals a lot with how these traditions merged with christianism until they were somehow forgotten, losing their true power.

That's the interesting point that the movie implies: A deity gets all his/her power ONLY when people believe on the deity, once it is forgotten, all the power becomes nothing.

And that's what has happened with countles religions throughout history which have been extinguished and have returned to their original state: Mythologies.

Perhaps the samw thing will happen to christianism in a future, and it will be replaced by something else.

Life is precious, and it’s our own - not any god’s.

reply