Line #33 Literature/TheLettersFromNicodemus


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_letters_of_nicodemus.png]]
2
3	''The letters from Nicodemus'' (''Listy Nikodema'') is one of several novels that Jan Dobraczyński set in [[BibleTimes biblical times]], dealing with "taking up the cross" and what it really means. It was published in 1951.
4
5	Rabbi Nicodemus ben Nicodemus is a wealthy, respected writer of haggadas (parables), who would be perfectly happy with his quiet life and work, if only his beloved Ruth was healthy. Her illness, though, is wearing at them both, as he confesses in [[EpistolaryNovel writing]] to his old teacher, Justus.
6
7	The times, however, are tumultous - a new prophet is said to have shown up at the shores of Jordan, a new prophet who baptises and chastises the people, claiming Someone else is near - and he's unworthy of unlacing His sandals...
8
9	The year is 3788, or, as Romans call it, year of the consulship of Piso and Frugi.
10
11	----
12	!! Tropes that have taken the leap of faith:
13	* AnachronismStew: Served at Herod's party in the form of turkeys and maize alkohol.
14	* BadassPreacher: How John the Baptist appears (until his imprisonment).
15	* BeenThereShapedHistory: From the very first letter we learn Nicodemus is good friends with Joseph of Arimathea. Then he personally meets John the Baptist, several disciples, and then UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} Himself. He also knows many of the bad guys and is a witness to several miracles, as well as Salome's dance. [[spoiler: And owns the house where they had the Last Supper]].
16	* BittersweetEnding: After twenty four letters worth of {{angst}}, Nicodemus [[spoiler: sells what he owns and goes forth to spread the Word]].
17	* CallARabbitASmeerp: Some things are called the way they were back in the day, like simlah (a cape).
18	* TheCaretaker: Is the point of view character, so we're shown several facets of this.
19	* CompositeCharacter: Mary of Bethany (Lazarus and Martha's sister) somehow got traits of Mary Magdalene. She's also the one to bring the fragrant oils that Judas deemed so wasteful.
20	* CreepyChild: Nicodemus finds young Salome weird to the point of being scary.
21	* CrisisOfFaith: Nicodemus doubts God for most of the story, overcoming his doubts at the end.
22	%%* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler: Joseph of Arimathea]].
23	* DenOfIniquity: Herod's birthday party.
24	* DescriptionPorn: Nicodemus's work is [[MostWritersAreWriters writing parables]]. It shows in the [[PurpleProse sheer complexity]] of his descriptions.
25	* DueToTheDead: True to the source material, delivered by Joseph and Nicodemus.
26	* EgocentricallyReligious: Nicodemus is slowly, over months and years, [[CharacterDevelopment overcoming this]] attitude. [[spoiler: Judas, however, is too consumed by his thirst for revenge]]. Also, most people think of Messiah in terms of what He could give them (mostly politically).
27	* EpistolaryNovel: Twenty five letters sent by Nicodemus to his mentor.
28	* FiveStagesOfGrief: Nicodemus, over Ruth's illness and eventual death - he starts in mild anger, then goes on to try bargaining, until she dies and he slips into black depression. [[spoiler: Then finally finds acceptance and peace in his new faith]].
29	* {{Foreshadowing}}: UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} speaks about crosses several times, creeping Nicodemus out.
30	* GodBeforeDogma: This angers the hell out of the pharisee.
31	* GodTest: People keep ''demanding'' miracles from UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}}, true to the [[Literature/TheFourGospels source material]].
32	* HeroicBSOD: Nicodemus is a bit disgusted with himself when his breakdown after Ruth's death dissolves. He ''thinks he should'' be depressed.
33	* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: Pontius Pilate probably wasn't ''that'' greedy and sleazy.
34	* HolierThanThou: In many flavours - Nicodemus himself has increasing doubts, but the [[TheFundamentalist pharisees]] in general are [[CulturalPosturing holier than anyone]].
35	* IncrediblyInconvenientDeity: The general publics' idea of the Messiah is a war leader in shining armour, and they get a former carpenter from Nazareth (and [[ArcWords nothing good ever came from Nazareth]]) who speaks in riddles of varying weirdness. Nicodemus, though, feels there might be some unpleasant duty waiting for him specifically.
36	* InMysteriousWays: Some people (like Peter) learn to accept this, some (Judas) reject it violently. But this is the entire point.
37	* IShouldHaveBeenBetter: Nicodemus thinks so after Ruth's death, then after UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}}'s death.
38	* JesusWasCrazy: Or at least very weird from Nicodemus's point of view. Also Judas tends towards this opinion in his more resentful moments.
39	* JesusTheEarlyYears: Nicodemus visits Betlehem to learn about them. First he's told a story blatantly made up for tourists, then the young storyteller gets chastised by an old woman who actually was there at UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}}'s birth and tells it like it was - Nicodemus for the life of him can't believe in such an ignoble birth of the Messiah.
40	* JesusWasWayCool: Several times (Nicodemus witnesses Him calming the storm).
41	* KangarooCourt: The only people who speak in UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}}'s defense are: Joseph of Arimathea (who points out the procedural problems), Nicodemus and a young man who soon afterwards becomes Christian.
42	* ManlyTears: Nicodemus notes that UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} weeps quite often.
43	* NeverAcceptedInHisHometown: People of Nazareth ''hate'' Him viciously.
44	* OccupiersOutOfOurCountry: Some Jews are very, very tired of the roman rule...
45	* OlderThanTheyLook: Mary looks no older than she did when giving birth thirty years prior.
46	%%* PhilosophicalNovel
47	%%* PrettyBoy: John (the Evangelist).
48	* RestoredMyFaithInHumanity: Nicodemus starts out somewhat [[TroubledSympatheticBigot bigoted]] (not nearly as bigoted as his colleagues), but in the last letter finally admits that he's came to regard Peter and the other disciples (galileean fishermen, mind) as better than he himself is.
49	* StoicWoobie: John the Baptist after his imprisonment.
50	%%* SwordAndSandal
51	* TurbulentPriest: John, having fulfilled his path-straightening purpose, goes on to yell at Herod about his incestuous and adulterous relationship. You all know how this ends.
52	* WalkOnWater: Nicodemus wasn't there for once, but he was told the story by Judas.
53

Context Literature / TheLettersFromNicodemus