Follow TV Tropes

Following

History Film / TheFourthWiseMan

Go To

OR

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Crosswicking Pilgrimage

Added DiffLines:

* {{Pilgrimage}}: Artaban was to be the fourth Wise Man but while journeying to meet his companions he stopped to help an unfortunate traveler and they left without him. He traveled to Bethlehem by himself but arrived after Joseph had taken Mary and Jesus away to escape the slaughter of Herod. After this, the rest of his life becomes a pilgrimage seeking after the Lord, never meeting Him in person, but following in His footsteps as he offers kindness and assistance to those who cross his path.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ForWantOfANail: The one decision, to stop and help the sick man, radically changes the course of Artaban's life.

to:

* ForWantOfANail: ItBeganWithATwistOfFate: The one decision, to stop and help the sick man, radically changes the course of Artaban's life.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* SmugSnake: Tigranes, who drips superiority and condescension in every scene.

to:

* SmugSnake: Tigranes, who drips superiority and condescension in every scene.scene.
* SympatheticSlaveOwner: Artaban has a slave, Orontes, who gently bemoans his status, but is generally treated kindly by his master and eventually freed.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


For years, Artaban searches for Jesus, trading on his medicinal skills for food and shelter, and always missing him. In time, he stops at a leper colony outside Jerusalem where their is much need for his healing and organizing; he helps them dig a well, sow crops, and eventually settles into a leadership role, to the disgust of Orontes, who was promised his freedom should he return Artaban safely home.

to:

For years, Artaban searches for Jesus, trading on his medicinal skills for food and shelter, and always missing him. In time, he stops at a leper colony outside Jerusalem where their there is much need for his healing and organizing; he helps them dig a well, sow crops, and eventually settles into a leadership role, to the disgust of Orontes, who was promised his freedom should he return Artaban safely home.



* GodBeforeDogma: Artaban knows his God is compassionate, but doesn't really ''understand'' that until all his attempts to honor the king of kings in the traditional way- the earthly way- have "failed", and God appreciates them anyway. The Aesop isn't that dogma is bad (the three Magi also being sympathetic) but that a god who prioritizes it over actual virtue and love isn't worthy of being called God.

to:

* GodBeforeDogma: Artaban knows his God is compassionate, but doesn't really ''understand'' that until all his attempts to honor the king of kings in the traditional way- the way-the earthly way- have way-have "failed", and God appreciates them anyway. The Aesop isn't that dogma is bad (the three Magi also being sympathetic) but that a god who prioritizes it over actual virtue and love isn't worthy of being called God.

Added: 405

Changed: 17

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


For years, Artaban searches for Jesus, trading on his medicinal skills for food and shelter, and always missing him. In time, he stops at a leper colony outside Jerusalem where this is much need for his healing, and organizing as he helps them dig a well, begin crops, and eventually settles into a leadership role, to the disgust of Orontes, who was promised his freedom should he return Artaban safely home.

to:

For years, Artaban searches for Jesus, trading on his medicinal skills for food and shelter, and always missing him. In time, he stops at a leper colony outside Jerusalem where this their is much need for his healing, healing and organizing as organizing; he helps them dig a well, begin sow crops, and eventually settles into a leadership role, to the disgust of Orontes, who was promised his freedom should he return Artaban safely home.



* AllLovingHero: Artban, who is driven by a deep need to meet the promised king, but cannot turn his back to anyone in need.

to:

* AllLovingHero: Artban, Artaban, who is driven by a deep need to meet the promised king, but cannot turn his back to anyone in need.


Added DiffLines:

* GodBeforeDogma: Artaban knows his God is compassionate, but doesn't really ''understand'' that until all his attempts to honor the king of kings in the traditional way- the earthly way- have "failed", and God appreciates them anyway. The Aesop isn't that dogma is bad (the three Magi also being sympathetic) but that a god who prioritizes it over actual virtue and love isn't worthy of being called God.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* ForWantOfANail: The one decision, to stop and help the sick man, radically changes the course of Artaban's life.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ChristianFiction: Being the adaptation of a short story based on a Biblical tale, with an explicit message about helping others.



* DespairEventHorizon: Artaban gets one when the townsfolk burn down the leper colony, their crops, all that he's built in the night, and in the morning an old friend/rival appears to tell him his father died alone in wretched circumstances and mock him for never finding his king.

to:

* DespairEventHorizon: Artaban gets one when the townsfolk burn down the leper colony, their crops, all that he's built in the night, and in the morning an old friend/rival appears to tell him his father died alone in wretched circumstances and mock him for never finding his king.king.
* SmugSnake: Tigranes, who drips superiority and condescension in every scene.

Changed: 1

Removed: 353

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
So, what you're saying is that the character in the film actually lives longer than in the original story? That's not playing, that's just straight up Not An Example.


->''Whenever you did these things for the least of my brothers, you did them for me.''

to:

->''Whenever -->''Whenever you did these things for the least of my brothers, you did them for me.''



* DeathByAdaptation: Played with. Artaban dies in every version of the story, but the cause, circumstances and timing of his death are changed. In the short story, a roofing tile falls on his head moments after he gives up the pearl. In the film, he makes it all the way back to the leper colony before succumbing to a previously set-up heart condition.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

[[quoteright:343:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4th_wiseman.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:343:Whenever you did these things for the least of my brothers, you did them for me]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


A 1985 film adaptation of the 1895 short story "The Other Wise Man" by Creator/HenryVanDyke, starring Martin Sheen.

to:

A 1985 film adaptation of the 1895 short story "The Other Wise Man" by Creator/HenryVanDyke, Henry Van Dyke, starring Martin Sheen.
Creator/MartinSheen.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

A 1985 film adaptation of the 1895 short story "The Other Wise Man" by Creator/HenryVanDyke, starring Martin Sheen.

Artaban, a Magi, astrologer and physician, sees the heavenly signs proclaiming the birth of the King of Kings, and with three others plans to journey to Bethlehem and pay homage and offer gifts, certain that this meeting will give his life new purpose. He sells all he owns to obtain three gems of immense worth, a sapphire, a ruby and above all, a flawless pearl.

He sets out with his slave, Orontes, but is held up tending to a man who would have surely died without his help, and so the other three Magi leave without him and he must barter away the sapphire for camels and supplies to cross the desert.

In Bethlehem, Artaban is too late again, Mary and Joseph have already fled and Herod has ordered the deaths of every male infant in the town. The ruby goes as a bribe to a captain to move on, sparing a child's life.

For years, Artaban searches for Jesus, trading on his medicinal skills for food and shelter, and always missing him. In time, he stops at a leper colony outside Jerusalem where this is much need for his healing, and organizing as he helps them dig a well, begin crops, and eventually settles into a leadership role, to the disgust of Orontes, who was promised his freedom should he return Artaban safely home.

Finally, he gives up on his dream of meeting the King, and goes to sell the pearl for much-needed supplies for his community. He arrives in Jerusalem just in time for the crucifixion of Jesus. He goes to use the pearl to buy Jesus' life, but is again diverted and instead buys a young woman's freedom from slavery. Artaban dies but slightly after Jesus, in despair for never giving him so much as one part of his gift. He hears a voice telling him that his many kindnesses and good works over the years are all the gift that was ever wanted.

----
!! The Fourth Wise Man contains examples of:

* AllLovingHero: Artban, who is driven by a deep need to meet the promised king, but cannot turn his back to anyone in need.
* AsTheGoodBookSays: As in the short story, Artaban's one, dying, conversation with Jesus is almost word-for-word Matthew 25:35-40.
->''Whenever you did these things for the least of my brothers, you did them for me.''
* CondescendingCompassion: Tigranes almost drips smugness and false sympathy when telling Artaban how his father died.
* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: Orontes never misses a chance to bemoan his fate, especially in the leper colony. But Artaban is vindicated in his compassion by the literal Word of God, and when freed Orontes nevertheless returns to help his old master.
* DeathByAdaptation: Played with. Artaban dies in every version of the story, but the cause, circumstances and timing of his death are changed. In the short story, a roofing tile falls on his head moments after he gives up the pearl. In the film, he makes it all the way back to the leper colony before succumbing to a previously set-up heart condition.
* DespairEventHorizon: Artaban gets one when the townsfolk burn down the leper colony, their crops, all that he's built in the night, and in the morning an old friend/rival appears to tell him his father died alone in wretched circumstances and mock him for never finding his king.

Top