Humanism In The Crucifixion

In the York Play The Crucifixion, a scene dealing with the last hours of Jesus Christ’s life, namely the Crucifixion, readers will find that the primary focus of the play is not Jesus himself but the four soldiers bringing him to his fate. These men see no malice in their actions, just simply following directions and trusting their leader, defying the characteristics of Humanism in this Era. However, in this scene, a reader would find them crucifying a man they know very little about but are so inclined to do so while employing personal downfalls to him, not giving much thought to the whole ordeal. This scene explores how one may become desensitized at their job and exemplifies how easy it can be to deceive oneself of evil while under rule of a higher figure, “The sector of rulers is the very sector of the spectacle.”

The soldiers make it known that they feel they are “ordinary men in what they see as ordinary work” early on in the scene. One man says "ye woot yourself as well as I how lords and leaders...has given doom this dote shall die," (3-5) suggesting that they are obliged not primarily by personal decree, but by higher ranks, to satisfy the deed. In the following lines the soldiers continue to discuss the swiftest way in which they can fulfill the deed. The men are furthermost concerned with the honor they will receive if the “job” is done in a quick manner. They are not at all mindful of the man, patiently awaiting his death, beside them. This shows how the technocratic or “daily labor” concern that tends to supersede humanism. A humanist is known to choose reason over faith. It’s unlikely that such humanist would commit to this job without a clear understanding of what they would be doing. A Humanist chooses reason over...

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...overwhelmed with self-praise and pride. However, unlike the Soldiers, a Humanist is known for perfecting their mastery.

These four men serve as an extreme example of how the routine of our “daily work” can supersede the most trivial factors of Humanism. In this scene the Soldiers are followers, blindly taking orders without giving much thought to their actual actions and losing their sense of self when a Humanists would presumably understand that beneath this man Jesus, who akin them, was just a man doing his “work” even if their leader saw it as treasonous act. This kind of desensitization can be seen all throughout history, for instance, Nazi Soldiers or some Prison Guards today. When working under someone, its always important to follow rules and directions but never forget to loose those very important characteristics of Humanism that make you an individual.