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Essay on The Prince of Egypt Movie: Animation, Themes, and Cultural Impact

“The Prince of Egypt” is an animated film that has left an indelible mark on the world of cinema. Released in 1998, this epic musical tells the story of Moses, a figure of immense significance in both religious and historical contexts. With its stunning animation, powerful storytelling, and memorable music, the film has captivated audiences of all ages and backgrounds. In this essay, we will delve into the various aspects that make “The Prince of Egypt” a cinematic masterpiece, including its historical and cultural significance , animation and visual design, musical score, and the enduring themes it explores.

Historical and Cultural Significance

The Biblical Tale Reimagined

“The Prince of Egypt” is based on the biblical story of Moses, as recounted in the Book of Exodus. This narrative holds great significance in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, making it an important cultural and religious touchstone. The film, however, takes creative liberties in reimagining the tale, allowing it to appeal to a broader audience while maintaining its core themes and messages.

Cross-Cultural Appeal

One of the film’s notable achievements is its ability to bridge cultural gaps. By presenting a well-known religious story in an accessible and engaging way, “The Prince of Egypt” has reached audiences of various faiths and backgrounds. This cross-cultural appeal is crucial in fostering understanding and empathy among people of different beliefs.

Animation and Visual Design

Breathtaking Animation

The Prince of Egypt” is celebrated for its groundbreaking animation , which was a technological marvel at the time of its release. The film features stunning visuals, including intricately detailed character designs, breathtaking landscapes, and mesmerizing special effects. The parting of the Red Sea, in particular, remains a visual spectacle that is remembered by audiences to this day.

Character Design and Expression

The character design in the film is both expressive and culturally sensitive. Characters are given distinct appearances that reflect their historical and cultural backgrounds, aiding in the storytelling process. The animators paid careful attention to facial expressions and body language, enabling the characters to convey a wide range of emotions, further immersing the audience in the narrative.

The Musical Score

Elevating Emotion Through Music

Music plays a pivotal role in “The Prince of Egypt.” The film features a remarkable score composed by Hans Zimmer, complemented by songs written by Stephen Schwartz. This combination of talent results in a musical experience that not only enhances the storytelling but also elevates the emotional impact of the film.

Memorable Songs

The soundtrack of “The Prince of Egypt” includes iconic songs such as “When You Believe,” performed by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, and “Deliver Us,” sung by the characters as they toil as slaves in Egypt. These songs have become synonymous with the film and have been embraced by audiences worldwide. The lyrics, accompanied by powerful vocal performances, convey the characters’ struggles, hopes, and triumphs, making the music an integral part of the film’s emotional journey.

Enduring Themes

The Journey of Self-Discovery

At its core, “The Prince of Egypt” is a story about self-discovery and the search for one’s true identity. Moses embarks on a profound journey of self-awareness, transitioning from a privileged prince of Egypt to a humble shepherd who confronts his destiny. This theme of self-discovery resonates with audiences of all ages, as many can relate to the process of finding their purpose in life.

Freedom and Justice

The film also delves into themes of freedom and justice. The plight of the Hebrew slaves in Egypt and their yearning for liberation is a powerful allegory for any group that has faced oppression throughout history. “The Prince of Egypt” reminds viewers of the importance of fighting for justice and the fundamental human right to be free from oppression.

Family and Brotherhood

The relationship between Moses and his brother Ramses is central to the film’s narrative. Their bond, strained by circumstances and conflicting duties, explores themes of family, loyalty, and forgiveness. The emotional complexity of their relationship adds depth to the story and underscores the film’s exploration of human connections.

Religious and Historical Accuracy

“The Prince of Egypt” has garnered attention for its attempt to balance artistic creativity with religious and historical accuracy. While the film takes creative liberties to make the narrative more engaging and relatable to a broader audience, it also strives to remain respectful to the source material. The filmmakers consulted with religious scholars and experts to ensure that the film captured the essence of the biblical story. This commitment to accuracy is reflected in the attention to detail in depicting the ancient Egyptian setting, the customs of the time, and the portrayal of key events and characters.

The film’s portrayal of Moses’ life from his infancy to his eventual role as the leader of the Hebrew people is both faithful to the biblical account and emotionally resonant. The character development of Moses, from a conflicted young man to a charismatic and determined leader, is a testament to the filmmakers’ dedication to portraying the complexity of his journey.

Universal Themes of Faith and Redemption

At its core, “The Prince of Egypt” explores universal themes of faith and redemption. These themes transcend religious boundaries and resonate with viewers of all backgrounds. The film invites viewers to contemplate the nature of faith, not just in a religious context, but also as a guiding force in one’s life.

Moses’ initial disbelief in his destiny and his eventual acceptance of his role as the deliverer of the Hebrews provide a powerful narrative arc. This transformation is a testament to the enduring theme of redemption. Moses’ journey from a place of doubt and inner conflict to one of self-assured purpose is a narrative that speaks to the human experience of overcoming obstacles and finding a sense of purpose.

Cultural Representation and Diversity

“The Prince of Egypt” also stands out for its efforts to represent a diverse array of characters and cultures. The film features a cast of characters from different backgrounds, including Hebrews, Egyptians, and Midianites. This diversity is reflective of the cultural mosaic of the ancient Near East and adds depth to the storytelling.

Moreover, the film’s portrayal of relationships between characters from different backgrounds promotes themes of empathy and understanding. For example, Moses’ bond with his Midianite wife, Tzipporah, and his interactions with characters like Jethro demonstrate the potential for positive cross-cultural relationships.

The Legacy of “The Prince of Egypt”

“The Prince of Egypt” has left a lasting legacy in the world of animation and filmmaking. It paved the way for subsequent animated films to tackle complex and mature themes, expanding the possibilities of the medium. The film’s success also contributed to the resurgence of animated musicals in the late 1990s and early 2000s, influencing other animated classics like “The Lion King” and “Mulan.”

Furthermore, “The Prince of Egypt” has become a cultural touchstone, especially during religious holidays such as Passover and Easter. Families around the world incorporate the film into their holiday traditions, using it as a tool for teaching and reflection.

In conclusion, “The Prince of Egypt” stands as a cinematic achievement that transcends the boundaries of religion, culture, and time. Its commitment to historical and cultural accuracy, exploration of universal themes, representation of diverse characters, and lasting legacy in animation all contribute to its enduring appeal. Whether viewed as a religious narrative or a powerful story of faith and redemption, “The Prince of Egypt” continues to inspire and captivate audiences, reminding us of the enduring power of storytelling through animation.

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The Prince of Egypt: a bratty Moses in a whale of a tale

Directors: Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, Simon Wells Entertainment grade: A– History grade: D

According to the Book of Exodus, the Hebrew people were enslaved in Egypt by a pharaoh.

There is historical debate over whether Exodus records history, myth, or a mixture of both.

To save her son from an Egyptian cull of Hebrew baby boys, Moses's mother seals him in a basket and floats him off down the Nile. The pharaoh's queen plucks him out of the waters and adopts him. The film's story bears a glancing similarity to the legend of Sargon of Akkad, a Sumerian king of the 24th century BC (around a millennium before Moses). Sargon was sealed in a basket by his mother and floated off down the Euphrates, arrived at the palace of the goddess Ishtar, was adopted, and grew up to become king. Of course, this doesn't prove it's a myth.

Moses is brought up thinking he's an Egyptian. This isn't obvious from Exodus, but it does create a satisfying character arc for him, going from spoilt brat to a leader of humanity. The film invents a daredevil race through the city, with Moses and his brother Rameses sending slaves scuttling into doorways as they gallop around in their shiny gold chariots, guffawing with princely entitlement. At one point, they even knock the nose off the Great Sphinx of Giza, which appears to be under construction. In real life, the Sphinx was built at around the time of Sargon of Akkad. Its nose probably wasn't knocked off until around three millennia after Moses, possibly by British or French troops.

Moses has a dream which reveals he is really a Hebrew. This isn't in Exodus either, but it looks fantastic on film, told through a beautiful piece of animation based on Egyptian frescoes. The ancient Egyptians may have been portrayed in the Bible as a bunch of imperialist slave-driving genocidal maniacs, but they really did have a delightful artistic sensibility. In Exodus, Moses murders an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave and hides his body in the sand. In the film, it's more of an accident. It's not the only time Prince of Egypt sanitises the biblical story. Admittedly, it's hard to see how you'd get Exodus 4:24-26 into a kids' film without sending the entire audience into permanent psychological trauma.

Pharaoh won't free the slaves, so God sends plagues. There are lice, locusts, frogs, hail (upgraded dramatically to massive bolts of fire plummeting out of the sky), dead cows, boils, and a new and horrifying 11th plague of people bursting into song. Or maybe that's just because this is a musical. As is the Book of Exodus: there's a song in chapter 15. The plagues were not recorded in Egyptian texts, but this doesn't mean they didn't happen. Egyptian royal inscriptions tended to stick to the positive stories.

Moses leads the Hebrews to the Red Sea, which whooshes back to allow them through. Again, it's superbly done – the shadow of a whale shark looming through the parted sea is a nice touch – but not particularly accurate. Scholars have pointed out that the Hebrew text of Exodus refers not to the Red Sea but to yam sûf , the "Reed Sea", possibly a marsh or lake. Unlikely, therefore, to accommodate a whale shark.

Interpretation

There's a triumphal final shot of Moses's face as he comes down from the mountain with the 10 commandments. In Exodus, after meeting God, Moses's face radiated light, forcing him to wear a veil. Owing to another mistranslation, "radiated light" appeared in the Latin Bible for centuries as "grew horns". There's even a statue of Moses by Michelangelo complete with a lovely set of horns. Disappointingly, the film's Moses has a face that is neither glowing nor horned. There's a bit of light spiralling around half-heartedly behind him, but this won't do at all.

Even assuming that the Book of Exodus is a reliable historical source, Prince of Egypt takes some major liberties. Nonetheless, it's a stunning film.

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Joseph Campbell’s Theme of the Hero’s Journey in The Prince of Egypt

The Hero’s Journey is a narrative pattern that can be found in novels, storytelling, myth, and religious rituals. Joseph Campbell first identified this pattern in his book A Hero with Thousand Faces (Campbell, 1972, p. 73). The Hero’s Journey pattern describes the typical adventure of the archetype known as The Hero who embarks on a quest to accomplish extraordinary feats. While Campbell outlined multiple stages within the Hero’s Journey, he also condensed the pattern into three main stages: departure, initiation, and return. These stages are universal for all heroes regardless of their sex, age, culture, or religion as they strive to achieve their ultimate objective.

The movie The Prince of Egypt exemplifies the Hero’s Journey, recounting the story of Exodus through animation and music. Taking place in the Egyptian desert, Hebrew slaves escape the Pharaoh’s oppressive rule with Moses as their courageous leader. This narrative highlights a common theme of an unlikely hero freeing people from harsh oppression.

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The quest of Moses follows a similar structure to Joseph Campbell’s concept of the spiritual hero’s journey, as discussed in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. This journey consists of three stages: departure, initiation, and return. In this essay, Moses’ journey will be examined as he is taken away from his familiar surroundings and separated from the life he believed to be real, in order to fulfill the tasks commanded by God. The first stage of the Hero’s Journey is departure, which is comprised of various sub-stages including the call to adventure, refusal of the call, supernatural aid, crossing the threshold, and belly of the whale. During the call to adventure, the hero lives a comfortable but unsatisfying life and is presented with a glimpse of an unknown world, typically through the guidance of a mentor or herald. Ultimately, destiny calls the hero to embark on their own journey (Campbell, 1972, p. 78).

The film depicts the Pharaoh’s supreme power and control over the people, as well as the significant rise in the number of Hebrew slaves in Egypt. To ensure continued domination over the land, the Pharaoh decides it is necessary to suppress the perceived future threat posed by the growing Hebrew population. As a result, he commands that all newborn Hebrew children be thrown into the Nile. Remarkably, baby Moses manages to float to the Pharaoh’s castle and is raised as a prince of Egypt. In his adulthood, while attending a banquet, Moses rescues a Midianite woman who was given to him as a slave.

While following her, he encountered his Hebrew sister and brother, and discovered the truth about his heritage. This revelation left him deeply conflicted upon returning to the castle. One day, Moses witnessed the Egyptians’ violent acts towards the Hebrews, leading him to impulsively kill one of the guards. This internal struggle serves as compelling evidence of what Campbell refers to as the “Call to Adventure.” Campbell suggests that a seemingly insignificant mistake can expose an unforeseen world, pulling an individual into a relationship with forces that they do not fully comprehend (Campbell, 1972, p. 78).

Campbell (1972, p.89) argues that according to Sigmund Freud’s theory, blunders are not merely by chance, but rather they stem from repressed conflicts and desires. In the case of Moses, his ongoing conflict over the treatment of slaves leads him to kill an Egyptian and subsequently feel ashamed and confused. As a result, Moses flees to Midian, a foreign land, which marks his crossing of the First Threshold according to Campbell. In order to integrate into this new culture, Moses must adapt and assimilate. It is in Midian that Moses befriends and eventually marries Jethro’s daughter, whom he had previously saved from slavery in the Egyptian palace.

Moses experienced a drastic change in his life. He went from being an Egyptian prince to a shepherd in Midian. However, he never forgot about the struggles faced by the Hebrew slaves. One day, while chasing a stray lamb, Moses encounters God in a burning bush. God instructs him to return to Egypt and lead the Hebrew slaves to freedom. This call to adventure forces Moses to reconsider his purpose in life and determine whether or not he is willing to embark on the Hero’s Journey. Despite feeling uncertain about his abilities, God reassures Moses that He will be by his side. Moses’ hesitation and lack of enthusiasm are characteristic of the hero archetype.

According to Campbell (1972, p. 94), every hero story features the theme of “Refusal of the Call”. In an effort to convince Moses, God imbues his shepherding staff with divine power and assures him of assistance. Similar to other supernatural aids received by heroes, this enchanted staff proves instrumental throughout Moses’ journey (Campbell, 1972, p. 80). The most notable instance of this is when Moses employs it to part the Red Sea and facilitate the escape of the Hebrews. Without the aid of this supernatural power, Moses would not have successfully completed his journey.

Moses and Tzipporah arrive back in Egypt, where Moses is warmly received by Rameses, now the Pharaoh. Moses goes to the palace to speak with Rameses, despite his own doubts. However, God grants Moses a miraculous sign to perform, transforming a rod into a snake. This event exemplifies what Campbell refers to as supernatural aid. Such aid typically strengthens the hero to endure and conquer the challenges of their journey. (Campbell, 1972, p.80) Instead of being convinced, Rameses increases the Hebrews’ workload, leading them to become angered with Moses for his role in this situation. This moment of frustration is referred to as the Belly of the Whale. The Belly of the Whale signifies the ultimate separation from the hero’s familiar world and self. By entering this phase, the individual demonstrates their willingness to undergo a significant change. Initially, the hero may face minor setbacks or dangers in this stage. (Campbell, 1972, p. 82)

Moses experienced pain and doubt in his ability to lead during his journey. The Initiation stage of the Hero’s adventure in the film included The Road of Trials and The Ultimate Boon. In response to Pharaoh’s rejection, Moses brought upon nine Plagues of Egypt, each one more severe than the previous, but Rameses remained stubborn and refused to give in. God purposely made it harder for Moses by “hardening” Pharaoh’s heart. Moses delivered a final warning to Rameses at the palace, and it was only when the tenth plague struck that Rameses finally recognized the power of God.

Moses prepares the Hebrews and tells them to sacrifice a lamb and use its blood to mark their doors. During that night, the final plague kills all the firstborn of Egypt, including Rameses’ son, but spares the firstborn of the Hebrews. These plagues form Moses’ Road of Trials, as they are challenging obstacles he must overcome in order to successfully liberate the Hebrews.

The Road of Trials is a series of tests that the person must go through to start the Hero transformation. The Pharaoh in the movie constantly rejects Moses, making his journey difficult. However, after enduring ten devastating plagues and grieving for his son’s death, Rameses finally grants permission to free the Hebrews. Led by Moses, the Hebrews leave Egypt the following morning. As they reach the Red Sea, they discover that Rameses and his army are closely trailing them. When they arrive, Moses uses his Supernatural Aid – a magical staff – to part the sea, creating a barrier for the army with a fire.

The Hebrews cross the open sea bottom and when the fire vanishes and the army follows, the water drowns all the Egyptian soldiers. The Ultimate Boon is the achievement of the goal of the quest. It is what the person went on the journey to get. All previous steps serve to prepare and purify for this step (Campbell, 1972, p. 91). Thereafter, Moses leads them to Mount Sinai where he receives Ten Commandments from God at its peak and brings them back.

In the Hero’s Journey, the hero reaches the final stage by returning to the Threshold. At this point, he shares his knowledge and experiences with God to enlighten his people and guide them morally. By accomplishing this task, Moses demonstrates his dependability and strength as a leader to both God and the Hebrews. As he transitions from being a hero, Moses resumes his previous role as a shepherd while carrying the wisdom gained from his journey. It is customary for heroes to bring back significant information or lessons when they return home to their people (Campbell, 1972, p. 97).

“The Ten Commandments” movie teaches Moses a valuable lesson. In conclusion, “The Prince of Egypt” perfectly embodies Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey by following the monomyth. The film follows the Departure stage, with Moses’ Call to Adventure as he becomes a shepherd and his initial refusal due to self-doubt. He also encounters and uses a Supernatural Aid and crosses the First Threshold through assimilation into a new culture. Additionally, the film shows Moses facing the Belly of the Whale when he fails to convince Pharaoh. Moreover, it adheres to the Initiation stage by presenting Moses’ Road of Trials leading him to obtain his Ultimate Boon through plagues and Pharaoh’s stubbornness caused by God. Finally, it exhibits the Return stage when Moses carries God’s Ten Commandments as guidance for his people.

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