History Literature / TheLastTemptationOfChrist

The 1955 novel by Nikos Kazantzakis is an alternative interpretation of the story of Jesus' life and death in the [[Literature/TheBible four Gospels]]. The novel was written in a stylistic modern Greek called Demotic, which was the common language of the Greek peasantry, rather than the elitist literary language. The English translation was published in 1960.

The novel presents Jesus as being subject to the same weaknesses, flaws, and desires as other humans, and a charge to die and suffer all the sins of the world on top of it. Unlike the movie, the novel spends quite a lot of time on the equally flawed lives of the Apostles, Jesus' family, and others. And all the while, Jewish resentment of Roman rule simmers in the background and shadows Jesus' life.

** Matthew is seen writing the first Gospel while following Jesus around. The Gospel of Matthew, however, was certainly not written by an Apostle, since it uses the Gospel of Mark (who was also not an Apostle) as a source.
*** Believe it or not, the trope is discussed by Jesus Himself, who accuses Matthew of making up a bunch of stuff about Him (it was actually an angel dictating the made-up stuff). This is also a subversion, since the material Jesus objects to (such as his birth in Bethlehem) is some of the same material historians themselves find dubious.
** The book mentions king Herod dying of a terrible disease after having John the Baptist executed, then it says "Herod the Great is dead". While the Bible mentions these events and the king in question is simply named Herod each time, in reality these are 3 different Herods: Herod the Great, who kills the children after Jesus' birth, Herod Antipas, who killed John the Baptist, and Herod Agrippa who died of the disease.

* MarketBasedTitle: The original title for the English-language edition was simply ''The Last Temptation''. Evidently ''of Christ'' was added in case anyone couldn't guess who was being tempted.
* MisplacedVegetation: Judas and an old woman ate corn, and some peasants ate sunflower seeds. Both plants are native to the Americas and thus were unknown in ancient Palestine.[[note]]In fairness, corn does not necessarily mean maize, the crop Americans refer to as corn. Outside of North America, the word corn can refer to other grains. But the description of Judas eating it suggests that it is, in fact, maize.[[/note]]

* PragmaticVillainy: Pilate doesn't want to kill Jesus because that would make him a martyr and make the resistance against Rome even more fierce. Also because he wants to piss off the Jews.

It was famously adapted into a [[TheFilmOfTheBook film]] by Martin Scorcese in 1983.

* UnresolvedSexualTension: Jesus and Mary Magdalene, to an agonizing degree. [[spoiler: Jesus finally shacking up with MM is largely what the last temptation is.]]

The 1953 novel by Nikos Kazantzakis is an alternative interpretation of the story of Jesus' life and death in the [[Literature/TheBible four Gospels]]. The novel was written in a stylistic modern Greek called Demotic, which was the common language of the Greek peasantry, rather than the elitist literary language. The English translation was published in 1960.

It was famously adapted into a [[TheFilmOfTheBook film]] by Martin Scorcese in 1983. Compared to the movie, the novel takes more time to follow the actions of the Apostles and Jesus' family.

*** Believe it or not, the trope is invoked by Jesus Himself, who accuses Matthew of making up a bunch of stuff about Him (it was actually an angel dictating the made-up stuff). This is also a subversion, since the material Jesus objects to (such as his birth in Bethlehem) is some of the same material historians themselves find dubious.

* DeathSeeker: [[spoiler: Jesus once he realizes that it is the only way to fulfill the prophecy.]]

* MisplacedVegetation: Judas and an old woman ate corn, and some peasants ate sunflower seeds. Both plants are native to the Americas and thus were unknown in ancient Palestine (in fairness, "corn" can refer to other grains, but the description of Judas eating it suggests that it is, in fact, maize).

* LaResistance: A group of zealots, concerned that Jesus might antagonize the Romans, track His movements throughout the novel. [[spoiler: Judas is their inside man.]]

* IJustWantToBeNormal: Jesus at the beginning. After he continuously gets punished by God for it, he finally gives it up [[until the temptation at the end]].

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Matthew is seen writing the first Gospel while following Jesus around. The Gospel of Matthew, however, was certainly not written by an Apostle, since it uses the Gospel of Mark (who was also not an Apostle) as a source.
** Believe it or not, the trope is invoked by Jesus Himself, who accuses Matthew of making up a bunch of stuff about Him (it was actually an angel dictating the made-up stuff). This is also a subversion, since the material Jesus objects to (such as his birth in Bethlehem) is some of the same material historians themselves find dubious.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Matthew is seen writing the first Gospel while following Jesus around. The Gospel of Matthew, however, was certainly not written by an Apostle, since it uses the Gospel of Mark (who was not an Apostle) as a source.
** Believe it or not, the trope is invoked by Jesus Himself, who accuses Matthew of making up a bunch of stuff about Him. (It was actually an angel dictating the made-up stuff.) This is also a subversion, since the material Jesus objects to (such as his birth in Bethlehem) is some of the same material historians find dubious.

* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: Judas, over the course of the novel]]

* MisplacedVegetation: Judas and an old woman ate corn, and some peasants ate sunflower seeds. Both plants are native to the Americas and thus were unknown in ancient Palestine. (In fairness, "corn" can refer to other grains, but the description of Judas eating it suggests that it is, in fact, maize.)

* TagalongChronicler: Matthew

* ChristmasCake: The sisters Martha and Mary

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: Judas and an old woman ate corn, and some peasants ate sunflower seeds. Both plants are native to the Americas and thus were unknown in ancient Palestine. (In fairness, "corn" can refer to other grains, but the description of Judas eating it suggests that it is, in fact, maize.)

* YouFailGeographyForever: Judas and an old woman ate corn, and some peasants ate sunflower seeds. Both plants are native to the Americas and thus were unknown in ancient Palestine. (In fairness, "corn" can refer to other grains, but the description of Judas eating it suggests that it is, in fact, maize.)

The 1953 novel by Nikos Kazantzakis is an alternative interpretation of the story of Jesus' life and death in the [[Literature/TheBible four Gospels]]. The novel was written in a stylistic modern Greek called Demotic, which was the common language of the Greek peasantry. The English translation was published in 1960.