Barabbas

This short novel by Scandinavian Nobel Prize winner Par Lagerkvist fills in a little hole left open by the Bible; specifically, what happens to Barabbas after the crowd chooses to crucify Jesus and spare his life. The book begins with Barabbas being freed. He is in a state of bewilderment, and something within him leads him to follow Christ to the cross, where he witnesses the death. Afterwards, he tries to pick up the pieces of his life and wanders through town. By coincidence, he encounters some of the 12 apostles at a small cafe without knowing who they are, though they know who he is. When he discovers their identities, he is somewhat drawn to them yet repulsed by their poorly-concealed anger. In quick succession, he witnesses the stoning of a female friend, works as a laborer on a wealthy estate, and travels to Rome. There he sees Rome burn down around him, discovers that this was done on orders of the emperor to be blamed on the Jews. He is captured along with some Jews (some of whom he recognizes from Golgotha) and killed. The story is easy to read, yet delivers a very strong emotional impact. The different individuals Barabbas encounters are shown as very human, with faults and frailties that make the reader empathizes with them. The apostles that Barabbas meet are not Biblical heroes in any sense of the word, but grieving friends who wrench their hearts to try and not bear ill-will towards him. The various Roman soldiers and officials are shown as all too human; some cruel, some sympathetic towards the Jews and others apathetic. The theme of death is pervasive throughout the book, as it starts with the death of Christ and ends with the death of Barabbas. Death seems to follow Barabbas at every step. He somehow feels this, but does not try to run; he has nowhere and noone to run to. Nearly all the people he meets end up dying; often at the hand of others. As such, the book not only portrays a man, but a society that places little value on life, less than that placed on money, law, order, revenge, honor, etc... Death is truly inescapable in the life of Barabbas, and he comes to realize near the end of the book that it is not how or when you die, but what you die for, something Christ tried to show him and everyone else at the beginning of the book. In all, one of the best books by this Nobel Prize-winning author. This English translation is easy to understand; the story flows smoothly, the dialogue is simple, and human emotions are conveyed but with strength and subtlety. I highly recommend this book.

While this novel delivers, as the title suggests, the story of the convict in the New Testament who is freed instead of Jesus, it is unlike most novels set in biblical times. The author has no interest in dazzling us with detail. It is a short novel and an understated one. Written just after World War Two, it is clearly about modern man, but the author doesn't trumpet this. Because it's so uncluttered, it sticks in your mind. It's an archetypal example of naturalism. A cinematic equivalent would be Ingmar Bergmann's THE SEVENTH SEAL.

Barabbas, the ultimate sinner, the one human being Jesus literally died for on the cross. Magnificently portrayed by Lagerkvist, true to the biblical story and still very subtly questioning every truth, including the great truth of the Bible. Lagerkvist shows humanity's need and search for belief. Barabbas wants to believe. Others do believe and have their own truth, their own morals. They are self-claimed Christians but often hypocrites and not necessarily very good people. A story in the story, the unfortunate looking girl with the hare-lip, but with a good heart, being loathed and condemned. And at the same time the blind man condemning the "bad" people, but not accepting any responsibility for whatever happens, because "he is blind, he can't see anything, he only say what he hears..." I wondered whether I should give the book four or five stars, and easily decided on five, because Lagerkvist handles the subject with such care and respect, without making some sensational fairy tale out of this biblical event, which might have tempted others. Instead we accept it as a very genuine story and happily believe that this is Barabbas' story, and could just as well have been a part of the Bible. The capturing of the atmosphere in Jerusalem after the crucifixion is totally convincing. Also, in showing these very fine but simple portraits of humanity, Lagerkvist proved a very rare and deep understanding of human beings. Highly recommended!

The Bible mentions how Barabbas was released when he was scheduled to be crucified, when the people could have chosen for Christ to be set free. What the Bible doesn't talk about is what Barabbas did and how the experiece of being set free as opposed to Christ affected him. This book makes that speculation. It also shows that Christ was thought a fraud by many--most were just plain scared of someone with the audacity to walk around claiming to be God's son. The book reveals the complications in having faith in the Christian religion and questions the judgement of those with faith.