An Analysis Characters in Redeeming Love

Abstract

This article will deal with the characters of the novel Redeeming Love, by analyzing the characters I will use the versions of the movie and the novel. A novel based on a biblical story gives each a different perspective of each character. I found out that Redeeming Love characters has different behaviors, ways of thinking and even beliefs.

Key word : Redeeming Love, characters and biblical

Introduction

I chose this because it is based on a very memorable story in the Bible, also look at how the main character, Michael Hosea, never leaves God.  Michael Hosea, interpreted by Tom Lewis, received much praise for his character features which were no different from the novels. Here’s why Michael became faithful, Michael was brought up in a wealthy plantation family, however, it was clear to him that he did not share the same views as his father when he was young. One day, when Michael told his father that he would sell their slaves when he died, he was beaten and sent to live with the slaves. It might have been awful without some old slave named Ezra. It was Ezra’s responsibility to teach and assist Michael in finding his faith. Instead of blaming his father, Michael, was very grateful that this event had taken place, because without him he might not have known the Lord. Then Michael got deeper and believed in God.

This is a summary about Redeeming Love. Based on the Biblical chapter of Hosea, in which God tells his prophet, Hosea, to marry the prostitute, Gomer, to illustrate God’s faithfulness to Israel despite Israel’s sin. The novel was set in the 19th century, and tells especially from the point of view of the prostitute, Angel. Her birth name is Sarah, but she did not tell anyone that she was prostituting herself at the age of eight. When God told Michael Hosea to marry her, he obeyed, but this commandment proved more challenging for him than what he had negotiated. Angel continuously runs away from him, first in search of freedom, then to escape the love she begins to feel for Michael. However, Michael’s steadfast love and God’s faithfulness and protection eventually prove to Angel that she is worth loving, and she is able to give in to the love of her husband and of her God.

Analysis

Before analyzing the characters in Redeeming Love, here are a few kinds of characters that will make the analysis easier.

Protagonist, many people think the protagonist is a “good” figure in a story.  Actually, look at the definition, protagonist means the main character or a character that leads the story.  Usually this protagonist is projected as a hero character, but it is possible that the protagonist is an ‘evil’ character.

Antagonist, by definition, the antagonist of a character who is opposite to the protagonist.  The antagonist’s goal is only one;  gives the protagonist challenges, obstacles, trials and tests in realizing his desires and goals.  Because the antagonist itself is formed from the ancient Greek word ‘antagonists’’ which means ‘opponent’, ‘competitor’, or ‘rival’.  In some stories, the role of the antagonist can emerge from the role of the protagonist due to the inner conflict that occurs within him.

Foil, a foil character is a character whose job it is to highlight certain qualities of another character, be it protagonist or antagonist.  Foil characters are used to make it easier for the audience to understand the nature and motivations of a character, distinguish between good and bad, smart and stupid, strong and weak.

Catalyst, a catalytic character is a character whose role is to encourage the protagonist to ‘start’ a story at the beginning of the film.  This character will usually tell or ask the protagonist to do something, which will later become an important part of the overall story in the film.

Archetypes, archetypes are typical character roles that are ingrained in the general audience and are universally accepted.  For example, hero characters must have courageous traits, mentor characters must have wise traits, and sidekicks characters have loyal roles and traits.

Redeeming Love characters will be analyzed regardless of whether they are included in the character roles above.

Michael Hosea

“He was strong and beautiful without being threatening.”. That is how Angel describes Michael Hosea in the novel Redeeming love. Aside from his good looks Michael is also a religious, hard working, and an honest man. As I wrote previously, Michael grew up in a rich plantation family, but after living with the slave and earning his faith. Michael decided to leave. His sister, Tessie, and her husband, Paul, have joined him. In spite of Michael’s physical strength, his heart is sweet and gentle. Michael has a great love for Angel. He knew this love for her from the moment he saw Angel. Even though at the beginning Angel is cold and cynical toward Michael, he remains patient and understanding. He is able to see in Angel and see the potential in herself, which even she cannot see. Michael remains compassionate even when he is lied to and hurt by others.  Michael’s Kindness is shown when he takes in the Altman family, when they were stranded on the road. Michael is very good with kids in the Altman family. He grows very close to Miriam and her siblings. Michael sings with them and teaches them stories from the bible.  Michael is one of those characters that every girl wishes they could marry.

Hounded Pleasant Person: Michael’s endeavors to get Angel to wed him, as well as his later endeavors to inspire her to remain with him.

House Spouse: He has been a single man residing alone very much into his twenties, and Angel mastered close to no homegrown abilities during her life as a whore.

Love at First Sight: Whenever Michael first sees Angel, he realizes she’s the lady he will wed, yet it’s its far into their relationship before affection (in the heartfelt sense) enters the image. Has shades of Affection Before First Sight, since he just impressions Angel momentarily, she has not seen him, and he has no clue about what her identity is.

Significant Name: Hosea is the name of a Scriptural prophet who is instructed by God to wed a whore, and afterward take her back even after she is untrustworthy to him. This is lampshade in the book. (Hosea likewise signifies “God Saves”, which is somewhat the mark of the entire story.)

Messianic Paradigm: He is an honorable man who gets through very an enduring to save Angel’s lost soul.

Wouldn’t Hit a Young Lady: Michael is the model of gallantry, yet while bringing Angel back from the house of ill-repute to which she pursued away their wedding, he cautions her not to talk returning in light of the fact that he’s so furious he probably won’t have the option to keep himself away from harming her.

Angel (Sarah)

Angel is a magnificent, self-assured, independent, sarcastic woman. In the book Michael depicts Angel, “a porcelain doll with impeccable blue eyes with pale skin and golden hair.” (62). Thought the book Angel consistently makes sarcastic remarks. An example of this is on the line, “Do you live in this room when you’re not working?”

“Yes.” She tilted his head. Where was I supposed to live? In a little white cottage at the end of your road somewhere? “ She smiled to take the bite from her words.” (62). However, Angel is a woman who was in hell and returned.  Angel’s difficult journey began when his dad left his mom because he had conceived Angel. A short time later, Angel’s mother died and was sold to prostitute herself. Although Angel has been through a huge amount of horrible events, she always keeps her head up. This is clear in the line: “She moved with simple and fluid grace, her shoulders straight, her head held high.” (53). This hard and confident exterior masks the true insecurities and breakdowns found in Angel. When Angel meets Michael, her mind is full of confusion and frustration. She only knew men as violent, sexually motivated creatures, but Michael’s not like that. As time passes, she becomes softly in love with Michael. It only increases her guilt, because she senses that she is not worthy of Michael’s love. Imperfection through imperfection, it realizes the truth about love, God and the world. Angel is one of those characters that anybody can connect because of her honesty about life and faith, and the struggles that come with them.

Break the Sweetie: Sarah in the primary parts is a sweet young lady. Then, at that point, she figures out her dad never needed her and chooses she’s the reason for her mom’s hopelessness. Her mom gets kicked out of her home, turns into a whore, and passes on. Sarah then, at that point, witnesses a man being choked to death and gets assaulted herself. She spends the following decade as slave, and her break endeavors just wind up aggravating her life. In light of this all, she turns into a cool, critical lady who accepts individuals will just involve her for their pleasure and there’s no way to work on her life.

The Lady with a Past: When Michael brings Angel home promptly following their marriage, his sibling Paul perceives Angel a whore and, accepting Angel maneuvered his dumbfounded sibling toward the match without enlightening him concerning her exchange, sets off in a fury to tell Michael. The resulting battle they have uncovers the siblings’ huge contrasts in way of thinking which take practically the whole novel to determine.

Broken Bird: Angel is cold and exceptionally negative because of her past maltreatment.

Merciless Genuineness: When she meets the Altmans, she lets them know Michael has tracked down her in a massage parlor, so they wouldn’t have any stunning shocks not too far off and wouldn’t see her as a decent individual she thinks she isn’t. To adapt to her hopeless life and incite individuals, Angel fosters a snide streak.

Polluted For eternity: After her experience as a Slave, Angel feels like she’s disgusting, “her entire body was fouled, all around.” After she goes gaga for Michael, she wishes she’d come to him entire and unadulterated rather than how she is.

Thawing out the Ice Sovereign: Michael’s endeavors on this front it are out and out chivalrous to respect Angel.

Could do without Men: Angel loathes them-generally advocated since the main men she knew all around deserted her, assaulted her, and sold her into prostitution, and pretty much every man she’s met since has just generalized her. In one of her experiences with Michael, she likewise remarks that she’s generally tracked down men’s bodies “terrible”- again advocated by the way that basically every male body she’s consistently seen very close has been presently practically assaulting her. In spite of that she is entirely miserable as a whore, Angel violently brushes off Michael’s endeavors to offer compassion and grace, accepting it as a sign that he thinks she is frail.

Femme Fatale: Angel isn’t at all bashful about utilizing her magnificence to get what she needs. Since this is the main way she knows how to get what she needs, be that as it may, it uncovers the amount of a Wrecked Bird she is. It’s an indication of youthfulness and franticness as opposed to self-assurance or complexity.

Culpability Complex: Angel faults her mom’s separation with her dad and her mom’s ensuing demise on herself. Then, at that point, she faults herself for being sold into prostitution and for everything done to her ever since. Insecure Love Interest: Part of the way through the novel, Angel comes to cherish Michael however she’s persuaded she’s undeserving of his adoration since she’s Polluted Perpetually and can’t have youngsters.

Assimilated Categorist: Angel accepts each awful thing individuals say about her to be valid: certain, she’s Contaminated Everlastingly, her lovely face just conceals how monstrous she is within, she’ll just make’s Michael extremely upset, and when a whore, generally a prostitute.

Parental Deserting: Angel’s mom kicks the bucket when she is eight, and preceding this her dad didn’t recognize her as his girl, since she was illegitimate.

Stepford Smiler: During the early piece of the novel, Angel continually behaves like her comfortable life as the most wonderful whore around is everything she might at any point need, when truth be told she’s profoundly desolate and detests the entire work.

Used to Be a Sweet Child: Sarah in the primary sections is a sweet, empathetic young lady who cherishes her mom profoundly. Then, the sweetie gets broken and develops into a cold and negative lady.

Paul

Paul is Michael’s brother by marriage. Him and his wife, Tessie, moved with Michael when he left their family estate. Sadly, on their excursion out west Tessie passed on from fever. Michael depicts what this awful occasion meant for Paul in the line, “His affection for Tess had kept him strolling a straight street for some time yet when she kicked the bucket, he had gone wild once more.” (18). With out Tessie Paul had returned to searching for gold. Like most men searching for gold he had advanced toward the house of ill-repute. This inescapable caused significant struggle among him and Angel when he met her. Since Paul knew about Angel’s previous he chided her and accepted she was not deserving of Michael’s adoration. The pressure possibly develops when Angel runs way from Michael interestingly and winds up taking care of Paul for a ride to town in the main manner she knows how. Despite the fact that Paul may just appear as though an unpleasant and unfeeling man his heart is changed when he meets Miriam. Paul is insane for Miriam however has wavering since she is just 16. With Miriam the brokenness of his better half’s passing is gradually being repaired. Miriam likewise assists Paul with coming to understand the issue in his persevering disdain of Angel. Paul should figure out how to look past the blemishes of Angel and see what Michael and Miriam have found in her from the start. Paul shows a vital illustration of not making a decision about somebody in light of their past and getting to know the genuine them.

Jerks to One: Paul is definitely not an awful man however he immovably accepts Angel is deluding Michael and will make him extremely upset, so he badgers and put-downs her at whatever point he can.

Love Makes You Evil: Made light of dispassionate variant. He thinks often about Michael profoundly and accepts Angel will make him extremely upset, and this is one reason why he’s such a jerk to her.

Never My Issue: Paul faults Angel for separating him and his cash on the grounds that whenever he had discarded his gold trying to get her in the Royal residence. Then, he faults her for interfering with him and Michael, then, at that point, for dividing him and Mariam on the grounds that they love Angel while Paul’s unyielding on being a jerk to her.

You Disdain: Paul detests Angel since she lays down with individuals beyond wedlock you. He’s visited whorehouses himself and pulls Sexual Blackmail on her while realizing Michael is hitched to her. He has a Jerks Acknowledgment eventually.

Miriam

Miriam is the most established young lady in the Altman family, which is the family Michael welcomes into his home. Miriam is astute past her age. She is portrayed as having an aggravation face, dim hair and eyes, and being wonderful. Whenever her mom becomes ill with the fever she quickly assumes control over the nurturing liabilities. She cooks, cleans, sews, and deals with the children. Most Miriam has a sort and understanding heart that is difficult to find. Whenever Angel first delights her prostitution past to Miriam she just acknowledges it and says she needs to be Angel’s companion. Miriam and Angel develop exceptionally close in their time living respectively. She comprehends Angel better than any other individual and never causes her to feel embarrassed about her past. Whenever Miriam revels her intriguing in Paul, Angel was extremely frightened. Angel sees Paul as a lewd and disdain filled man that isn’t deserving of Miriam. Despite the fact that Angel cautions her there is no halting Miriam’s forthcoming adoration for Paul. Towards the finish of the book Paul portrays their affection in the statement, “She adores me. She let me know she knew whenever we first met me she planned to wed me.” Discussing Miriam made the glow come streaming back. “I’d watch her and need her so much and observe each sort of justification for why I was not adequate to kiss the sew of her skirt” (451). Miriam’s unequivocal love is fundamental for Paul and Angel’s relationship to be patched. Her heart and amazing graciousness make her a person everybody endeavors to be like. Miriam pulls this in a less clear way when she maintains that Paul should propose, in a scene rather like the account of Ruth and Boaz in The Book of scriptures.

The Altmans are an entire group of kind, mindful, and adoring individuals. To her gigantic astonishment, they acknowledge and regard Angel disregarding realizing she used to be a whore.

Alex Stafford

Angel’s dad, says she ought to have never been conceived and forsakes her mom who has no place to do without him.

Mae

Toward the start of the novel, Sarah’s mom Mae turns into a casualty of this disposition. She is enamored with a wedded man and has a youngster by him, then, at that point, he dumps her, and she has no place to go in light of the fact that her folks won’t take her back. She winds up turning into a whore and bites the dust in only a year.

Duke

Duke is a pimp, a pedophile, and a twisted person. Both are portrayed as Tall, Dim, and Handsome. Duke never gets his just reward. At the point when the horde of men understand that he’s a pimp, however keeping a young lady as his sex slave, he escapes, and it’s obscure assuming they at any point observe him. Duke assaults young ladies.

Duchess

The Duchess, lady of the Royal residence, is never expressed to get her just reward.

Lucky

Toward the start, Angel was cold and unapproachable towards everybody except Fortunate, one of the whores in the Castle. Fortunate attempts to encourage Angel, kills at different whores when they are unkind to Angel, and begs her to watch out. Angel, as far as it matters for her, is still somewhat deterred however with Fortunate, she is essentially as amicable as she gets; she even asks her not to drink so a lot, showing that she wants to think about it, as well. Whenever Angel gets beaten inside the inch of death, Fortunate sorts out that Angel needed to bite the dust and carries Michael to her as she probably is aware he needed to give Angel a superior life.

Fortunate is fast with a joke when quarreling with different whores in the Duchess’ brothel. Averted for the majority of Angel’s “colleagues” who are depicted as rather mean and sad ladies. Towards the finish of the novel, notwithstanding, somewhere around one of them, Lucky, is depicted as a Messed up Bird, very much like Angel herself.

Played straight with Fortunate, Angel’s mindful, steady, and sympathetic Just Companion. Angel’s Just Companion in the house of ill-repute she’s fairly preferred changed over Angel yet is as yet a Sex Slave and a drunk head. She winds up consuming alive in the fire in the Castle.

Conclusion 

That is the examination of the person in Redeeming Love, it tends to be seen that each character has an alternate past and conduct however every one of them are not recognized by God since God sees individuals who have never been by conduct. The Christian sentiment kind is much of the time decided to be the object of light perusing by the overall peruses since it contains engaging substance and it very well may be perused by everybody. In actuality the Heavenly Book of scriptures, is considered as a hallowed book loaded up with edicts on how people ought to carry on with their lives. Accordingly, it’s rare viewed as the object of light perusing like the Christian sentiment kind. In any case, by embedding the Christian lessons or book of scriptures sections into the sentiment class, a well known fiction can be utilized as a device to spread Christian lessons to a more extensive market. Subsequently, the solid lessons of the Sacred Book of scriptures can be gotten and consumed by the overall peruses.

References

Rivers Francine. 1991. Redeeming Love. United States : Bantam (first edition) Multnomah Publishers.

Cindy Bond (Producer) & D. J. Caruso (Director). 2022. Redeeming Love. United States : Universal Pictures.