Hank Morgan acts as a false god or prophet through his actions at the well. His performances during the restoration of the well have a messianic quality. There are a number of reasons for this. First, he performs a “miracle.” Hank seems to have a great desire to use his knowledge of technology to do things that others consider miraculous. The washing rituals performed by the religious men at the well also are reminiscent of scenes that appear in the New Testament of the bible. Hank Morgan creates their ability to bathe… I propose that this can be seen as a form of baptism.
Hank can be described as a prophet, the bringer of good news, of a new life. His knowledge gives him power over others, and the method in which he reveals it to others causes those people to fear or follow him. He becomes the proponent of a new religion- his 19th century beliefs. This includes ideas of democracy as well as innovations in technology. He brings these ideas to the people, much like a modern (or 6th century lol) Jesus, Muhammad, Moses…. Etc.
However, he is a false god in that his cause is self-serving. He does seem to wish to improve the quality of life of the people he finds through science and equality. Hank believes that the masses will be better off through his leadership. But he wants to be the leader. This is what makes him lack integrity. He wishes to improve his own status by using his knowledge to allow him to rule over others. He is in it for his own personal gain, his true motives are self-serving.
Hank’s role as a leader of this new “religion” is interesting. First, it portrays his views of technology and democracy as a religious institution that must be spread among the people. There is a resemblance of Christian Crusaders in his knights that he sends to spread his ideas. In addition, this type of undertaking is interesting as one of his greatest enemies is the Church. He disapproves of the leadership of the Church, yet many of his own actions reflect those of the hypocritical religious leaders.
The correlations between Hank Morgan and popular religious figures provides interesting insight about his character. He is working against the hypocrisy of the Church, yet he also uses his power to his own advantage. He is bringing “enlightenment” to the masses- as a traveler from the future he feels he knows what is best for society. Yet this rationalization is also used by the Church, who also poses as a benevolent entity acting only out of concern for its people. So… is Hank just as bad as the Church? Does power always corrupt those that have it? Or is he truly looking to improve the lives of the common people in King Arthur’s kingdom? We see his appreciation for human-like qualities when he admires Arthur when he helps the smallpox infected woman in the hut. But does he really care about others? His actions display selfishness and a desire to further himself at the expense of others. Rather than a savior, he is a false prophet, playing at being god.
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For the most part I really like this post. I can get behind the whole messianic interpretation of the well, and of Hank Morgan's character as a whole. He certainly does want to be the leader...however does this necessarily make him a FALSE prophet? For the people who we consider true prophets, is the assumption of total selflessness a necessary requirement?
ReplyDeleteWhen you say
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So… is Hank just as bad as the Church? Does power always corrupt those that have it? Or is he truly looking to improve the lives of the common people in King Arthur’s kingdom?
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I think you create a false dichotomy. Why can't both be true? Yes, Hank is hypocritical and corrupt, but no more than any other ideology in history. Every prophet plays at being God. Every prophet displays selfishness because every prophet is still human. Why is this mutually exclusive with being a savior?
In my opinion, the hypocrisy of Hank Morgan lies solely in the fact that he believes he's any better than the Church. His selfishness is permissible in my eyes...he seems no worse than the average human. It's the self-righteous tone that costs him his integrity.
I think you bring up some really interesting points and a view that I never really thought of. Another point you might want to think about is how Hank Morgan believes that power resides in education, and whether his attempts at educating the masses and the church's attempts correlate. Does Hank despise the Church because he wants the ultimate power over the people?
ReplyDeleteOn another point, I'm not one hundred percent convinced that he acts as a religious figure, though your point about the seeming baptism is a very good one. I think his motives are more selfish than any "typical" leader of a religious party is supposed to be (as your examples of Moses and Jesus are two men who commit selfless acts to help the common good). He also is not working on behalf of a divinity but uses his own morals and conscience as arbitrary judgment for his actions.
I definitely love this argument and I really want to see what you come up with!
I think you bring up some really interesting points with regards to the position and power that Hank Morgan both possesses and pursues. It is interesting to consider the fact that he goes by the title of The Boss. The concept of a boss is definitely a futuristic concept for the people of Camelot, but Hank comes from a time and place where industrialism and invention were thriving. He truly does perceive his position in Arthur’s Court to be congruous to the relationship between a boss and his employees.
ReplyDeleteI especially agree with the point you make in saying that “His knowledge gives him power over others, and the method in which he reveals it to others causes those people to fear or follow him.” In the framework of Hank as a religious figure (whether revered or not by the people of Camelot or the reader), it is interesting to consider the fact that it is knowledge from another time and context of the universe entirely that really provides Hank with the power he has as The Boss. His extensive knowledge of history, technology, science, and business are what provide him with the tools necessary to gain power and access in society. The people of Camelot mistake his knowledge for supernatural powers, and Hank takes advantage of their fear and reverence to gain power.
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ReplyDelete(found a typo)
ReplyDeleteI just want to throw in the mix the idea that Hank may be utterly opposed to the Catholic Church and its hierarchical authority, to a "united Church" as he puts it (102), and may also see his work as generally secular in nature, but he is a also a self-avowed Protestant, a Presbyterian in fact (102). He insists that while he could have made everyone one of his own sect, however, he believes in variety:
"spiritual wants and instincts are as various in the human family as are physical appetites, complexions, and features, and a man is only at his best, morally, when he is equipped with the religious garment whose colour and shape and size most nicely accommodate themselves to the spiritual complexion, angularities, and stature of the individual who wears it" (102).
Now there's a passage ripe for a little close reading... (esp. given other discussions here about disguises...)