Okay, so it's a rather old story. However, now we can
understand it in a new light. Nothing like a new twist after
2,000 years. It is difficult to discuss noir writing without
sooner or later touching on the theme of betrayal. That is,
dealing with Judas. We now learn that it is possible that
Judas was a good guy, Jesus' most loyal disciple, the
betrayal orchestrated by Jesus himself. There are even hints
of the tradition gospels that suggest this: that the
crucifixion was part of some divine plan. Think about it for
a moment. If we are to accept for the moment the Christian
concept that Jesus was the son of God then when the Gospel of
Judas says "For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me"
Jesus is expressing a determination to free himself of his
human characteristics. Now that is a rather noir comment on
the human condition. He was relieved to be done with being
like us. If, on the other hand, Jesus was a mortal, then this
casts him in a rather dark light. That is he wished to be
martyred in order to be remembered as such. Sort of like
Moussaoui.
I am not testifying to the accuracy of the Gospel of Judas,
nor trying to say anything about religious belief as such. I
am trying to say something about story. To see Judas as a
good guy does not put a period to the story of betrayal. One
way or another betrayal is part of the broader human
narrative along with salvation. We live now and always have
in a manichaean world. The noir tale feeds on this and
explores, so to speak, one side, the dark side, of this
larger story. The Gospel of Spade.
Tim Wohlforth
tim@timwohlforth.com www.timwohlforth.com
RARA-AVIS home page: http://www.miskatonic.org/rara-avis/
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