MovieChat Forums > Cimarron (1931) Discussion > Sol Levy symbolism

Sol Levy symbolism

posted 16 years ago by TettiTatti
4 replies | jump to latest

Did anyone catch the scene where Sol Levy the Jewish merchant is being harassed by the town bullies? As they are roughing him up an chasing him around, he falls down against a short post with a cross beam and puts his arms up against the crossbeam - a not very subtle crucifiction reference. I missed it the first time I saw the film, but it really jumped out at me the second time. I'd be curious to know if it was intentional, and if so what message they were trying to get across.

[–] aahronheim 16 years ago

Yes, that scene just jumped out at me immediately. And it certainly seemed intentional (here is a Jew being persecuted, just like another Jew long ago), especially given all the movie's other comments on downtrodden minorities.

[–] maestro-45 16 years ago

of course it was intentional, heavy handed to be sure, but looking back almost eighty years ago there is a quaintness about this film, knowing that is produced close to when the actual events occured.

[–] jonchopwood 15 years ago

There's an underlying theme of racial tolerance (except when it comes to blacks, who are not allowed to go to church)..... Sol is allowed in the Church, and he even asks permission, and Yancey says it is the Church...and lists Protestant denominations, Catholics, and finally, Hebrews.

Sol is not supposed to be made into a Christian, but tolerance as a Christian virtue is being emphasized...no matter how heavy-handedly.

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"Why do people always laugh in the wrong places?"
--Luz Benedict II

[–] skat1140 7 years ago

Theres also a line (I forget the exact quote), where someone is praising christianity (or the Bible?) and Sol sticks up for Judaism (or the Old Testament?). Maybe it was someone referring to Jesus and he referred to Moses?
In any case, it was showing tolerance for Judaism.

But it is telling that the Jew in this story is much shorter, much weaker than anyone in town. He's so weak he needs a protector like Yancey.

How much different the story plays out if Sol were a man of the same height and strength as Yancey.

The inherent racism of the story is that: even when the Jew is not picked on, he's still no equal to Yancey. Sol's equality is on Yancey's terms and at Yancey's will, not Sol's.