Religious Symbolism in E.T.
Spiritual Themes in Spielberg's 'E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial'
May 24, 2008
More than one generation has sat enthralled in front of E.T. and Elliot without being aware of any religious parallels. Yet the story of the friendship between a lost alien and a lonely little boy has strikingly Christian overtones.
Similarities Between the Lives of E.T. And Jesus
- Like Jesus, E.T. came to earth from the heavens
- Jesus was born in a stable; E.T. was first discovered in a shed
- E.T. and Jesus both performed miracles (E.T. healed Elliot's finger and was capable of telekinesis)
- E.T. and Jesus avoided the wealthy and powerful in favour of befriending the lonely and oppressed
- Jesus and E.T. were noted for their compassion—note E.T.'s sadness at seeing Gertie teased by her brothers
- Both were believed to be a threat and 'persecuted' by civil authorities (in E.T.'s case, the US Government)
- E.T. died and was resurrected
- E.T. ascended again into the heavens, leaving behind a small band of believers and the promise to be with Elliot in spirit, paralleling Jesus' 'I am with you always' (Matthew 28:20).
Other Religious Symbolism In 'E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial'
Other, occasionally incongruous pieces of religious symbolism are sprinkled throughout the film. The children's mother is called Mary, a fact emphasised by her children calling her by her first name throughout the movie. Elliot promises to believe in E.T. his whole life—implying, curiously, that the event would later become a matter of faith. The iconography is also Biblical—a rainbow in the sky, E.T.'s glowing heart, and the famous image of the boy's and alien's fingers touching—suspiciously reminiscent of Michaelangelo's Creation of Adam.
Some viewers have noted that when E.T. bids farewell to Elliot with the words 'I'll be right here', he points with a glowing finger to the centre of Elliot's forehead, between the eyes. This location is believed in a number of Eastern religions to house the pineal eye or brow chakra, associated with insight and clarity of thought. As E.T.'s finger usually glows in order to heal, it has been conjectured that E.T. was restoring or enhancing the latent powers of Elliot's pineal eye in order to maintain communication with him after leaving Earth.
Spielberg's Comments On Religious Symbolism in E.T.
Self-described 'nice Jewish boy' Steven Spielberg insists he never intended for E.T. to be taken as a Christ figure. In a 1994 interview with the BBC, the filmmaker declared he and screenwriter Melissa Matheson 'never anticipated religious parallels', instead simply wishing to create a tale of friendship and letting go. However, Spielberg admitted that he enjoyed re-watching E.T. after hearing of the supposed symbolism, as it gave him a fresh perspective on the film.
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