Critical Stylistic Analysis of Self-Conflict in Kazantzakis’ The Last Temptation of Christ

Abstract

The current study investigates the concept of self- conflict in Kazantzakis’ movie version of the novel The Last Temptation of Christ from a critical stylistic perspective. The Last Temptation of Christ is selected as a sample of analysis since it clearly portrays the life of Jesus Christ who struggles with various forms of temptation including fear, doubt, depression, reluctance and lust. Assuming and implying, being one of stylistic tools listed in Jeffries’ (2010) framework, is the only tool examined in this study. Thus, the study aims at showing how such tool is employed by the writer to uncover Christ’s self-conflict. Additionally, the linguistic triggers through which this tool appears are identified to explain further the way linguistic realizations aid to echo the writer’s ideologies to the concept of inner conflict. The study finds out that assuming and implying tool is utilized successfully in this movie as it helps a lot in revealing Christ’s inner conflict in order to live out God’s plan for him while trying to avoid sins. In other words, the linguistic triggers involved in assuming and implying obviously mirror how Christ is challenging to be divine and human.