Words

This is the final section in a series of posts from my Narrative Criticism class. In this section I will explore plot and the features of plot and how that affects the themes of Mark.

To understand the plot and how it affects the themes of this passage in Mark, I will briefly examine the three major conflicts and then attempt to find a couple themes that are threaded throughout as well as the masterplot behind this scene.

Examining the conflict between Jesus and the demons, we find that the order of events is not entirely chronological. The description of the demoniac tells of events that occurred prior to the beginning of the narrative. The narrative also intentionally places Jesus’ command to come out of the man out of order. This primacy effect develops the position of the demoniac –the total control of the demons over the man –giving the reader to believe a sense of hopelessness to the situation. It also adds suspense as the reader must waits for what will happen. The recency effect shatters the hopelessness as Jesus comes on the scene because quickly the demons are destroyed and the man is freed. The chronological repositioning adds to the suspense and heightens the surprise of this conflict.

The clues concerning the start of the conflict between society and the demoniac are supplied in the description of the demoniac. We learn that he has been bound unsuccessfully suggesting that the demoniac’s society has attempted to control him. After Jesus expels the demons and the townspeople see the man in his right mind, they become afraid. It is not entirely clear what has caused this fear. Is it the fact that Jesus has freed the man? Or is it the fact that the man is freed at all? The text implies, based on the order of the narrative, the fear is due to the fact that he is in his right mind. The reader has been held in suspense throughout the narrative and is surprised to find fear from those who formerly had enough courage to try and bind him. In another surprise the conflict ends with the man returning and proclaiming what Jesus had done for him in the towns.

After hearing what has happened the people start this conflict by asking Jesus to leave. He complies with their wishes without a word. This seeming defeat of Jesus is actually the primacy effect, lulling the reader into believing that Jesus is running at the slightest human opposition. But in a surprise move Jesus employs the demoniac in the conflict. This recency effect of the merger of conflicts (Jesus against townspeople with man against townspeople) illustrates that Jesus is the source of victory over evil. Even though Jesus left his mission, to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God, is victorious. The primacy effect of Jesus’ actions in freeing the man, are worked out in the recency effect as the kingdom of God is furthered in a Gentile land.

This illustrates two themes in Mark: Jesus brings victory despite apparent defeat and Jesus came to reach even the Gentiles. Each conflict shows the kingdom of God crashing into the world. Through direct confrontation with demons and indirect confrontation with the townspeople (through the demon-possessed man) Jesus brings victory over. This illustrates Mark’s theology that the healing power in the kingdom of God provokes a counterattack by evil, and even that counterattack serves the purpose of furthering his grace (Mark 1-8: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary - Anchor Bible Commentary, Joel Marcus 2000, 354).

The masterplot is one of evil versus good. Evil, while seemingly formidable, is in reality no match for Jesus. The demon possessed man, while the suspense builds a sense of hopelessness, is really no match for Jesus. The townspeople’s evil desires, while apparently victorious with Jesus leaving, are also overturned when Jesus sends the demoniac back into the town. Good is victorious over evil. In fact, evil is no match for good because God is infinitely more powerful than Satan.

All Entries on Mark 5:1-20
Point of View
Jean Starobinski’s Article
Characterization
Setting
Rhetorical Devices