*NOTE* As this topic is likely to be controversial, I wanted to clarify that this was written from the lens of looking at Rameses as a character within the movie itself, removed from the context of his role in The Book of Exodus (the Pharaoh actually remains unnamed in the book). The point of this post was neither to condemn nor praise religion, but rather to comment on how the movie does a little too good of a job creating sympathy for Rameses, a character who is meant to be an oppressive villain.
I remember watching Pocahontas recently and telling my friend that I liked it more than I thought I would. He said he hadn't seen it, but "heard that it was kind of preachy." This was true - you can only be so subtle when you talk about "the white man's greed". But it's Disney, and they're known for shipping an idealistic and harmonious world. Throw in those trademark Disney songs, and how could you not enjoy it?
I remember watching Pocahontas recently and telling my friend that I liked it more than I thought I would. He said he hadn't seen it, but "heard that it was kind of preachy." This was true - you can only be so subtle when you talk about "the white man's greed". But it's Disney, and they're known for shipping an idealistic and harmonious world. Throw in those trademark Disney songs, and how could you not enjoy it?
Hot off my Disney spree, I decided to check out The Prince of Egypt. Yeesh, and I thought Pocahontas was preachy.
In case you've never heard of the movie, it's a retelling of the story of Moses. The clips I had seen online were pretty good, so I was excited to finally see the whole thing. And I loved it!.. But the thing was, by the end of the movie, I felt more sorry for Pharoah Rameses than I felt happy for Moses. Here are some reasons why:
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| Oh Rameses |
# 1 Rameses Was A Pretty Nice Guy
Rameses, Moses's adoptive brother and future Pharoah, was actually real nice. Every scene with him and Moses portrays Rameses as a loving older brother. Any time Moses got in trouble, Rameses would take the blame for it. When Moses finds out about being a Jew, he abandons his family without a word, only returning years later to free the slaves. The first thing Rameses does when he sees Moses? Pardons forever all crimes of which Moses stands accused and declares him the prince of Egypt. Even after Moses brings down the plagues of Egypt and ruins his kingdom, Rameses still has the patience to speak with Moses face-to-face. Only after the 10th plague comes and kills his son does Rameses finally flip out and go after Moses. But at that point, can you blame him?
#2 Moses Barely Tries To Persuade Pharaoh
Only once does Moses try to actually reason with Rameses and appeal to his love for his brother. Moses's best argument - the fact that Moses himself is a Jew - only gets brought up once and then quickly swept aside. The rest of the time it's just, "Let my people go. Let them go, Rameses. Let my people go. C'mon, man, let them go."
Earlier in the movie, their father, Seti, warns Rameses about being the weak link in a royal dynasty. With those stern words and the burden of ruling an empire, how could Moses expect Rameses to give in so easily? I get it that Moses was just doing what God had commanded him to, but couldn't he have tried to be a little more persuasive? No extra one-on-one talks? No heads up about the sky raining fire or God coming down to murder all their children?
#3 Moses's Siblings Suck
The movie paints a sympathetic picture of the Jews. They've been enslaved for generations, the Pharaoh murdered their children to prevent future uprisings, and they're constantly shown being put to work - you'd have to be heartless not to root for them.
But the first time you meet Miriam, Moses's biological sister, she just comes off as... annoying. When she meets Moses for the first time in 20 years, she immediately addresses him as her brother. She continues on about how he's not really a prince and how he's supposed to free the slaves, calling him their deliverer. When Moses thinks it's all bullshit (like any reasonable person would) she gets angry and indignant, eventually landing herself in trouble. And you only really see Aaron, Moses's biological brother, twice. Once when Miriam meets Moses, and the other when he bullies and taunts Moses for failing to convince Rameses to let the Jews go.
Again, the movie does a good job of building sympathy for the Jews, but Moses's siblings are just so irritating. Why would the movie make the only two important Jewish characters you meet so unlikable?
#4 Rameses Was voiced by Ralph Fiennes aka The Guy Who Played Voldemort
Don't need to say any more about this one.
#5 God Forces the Plagues Upon Egypt
This part wasn't in the movie, but rather something I found out after some more research about the Biblical story.
Exodus 9:12And the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.
Exodus 10:1Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine..."
Exodus 10:20But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go.
Exodus 10:27But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go.
Every time Rameses saw the suffering that the plagues brought, he would relent and consider letting the slaves go, only to have God make him change his mind at the last moment. It's a bit unfair when the creator of the universe is making sure that you can't learn your lesson and mend your ways.
In the end it's still pretty hard to ignore Rameses's role in the suffering of the Jews. There's no way I can spin it to have Rameses come out as the "good" guy here. But looking at him as a brother instead of a Pharaoh, I can't help but feel sorry for him.
Well...
In the end it's still pretty hard to ignore Rameses's role in the suffering of the Jews. There's no way I can spin it to have Rameses come out as the "good" guy here. But looking at him as a brother instead of a Pharaoh, I can't help but feel sorry for him.
