Answer the following guide questions after watching the film:
1. What are your impressions about the 4 dominant characters in the film?
a) Brother Diarmuid
b) Brother Geraldus
c) “The Mute”
d) Sir Raymond De Merville
What do you think about their motivation and approach to their faith? What are your
thoughts about how they relate to the world and people around them?
Upon reflecting on the four dominant characters of the film, I was able to understand
each personality to a deeper extent. I noticed how each of them was similar while also being
quite different, each possessing their own similar motivations and beliefs, while utilizing different
approaches.
The first dominant character, Brother Diarmuid, was a very capable young monk.
However, as a monk who had spent all his life in his monastery, his character was portrayed to
be very pure and innocent. From what I noticed, his motivation and approach to his faith was a
mix of both in God and in morality. I say this because in contrast to the other characters in the
film, he believed in God but also had his own perspective in deciding what was right and wrong.
Brother Diarmuid although deeply devoted to serving the Lord, did not throw away his morality
to fulfill his obligations. Hence, in relation to the world and the people around him, I believe
Brother Diarmuid was a step above everyone as he believed but was not blinded.
Moving on to the second dominant character, Brother Geraldus. He was one that
exemplified a strong faith but was also deeply motivated by his own personal intentions and
greed, hence, I was quite confused with his character. In the movie, there were several instances
where I questioned the acts committed by Brother Geraldus. I felt like he used the name of the
Lord in order to get the things he wanted regardless of if they were right or wrong. A great
example would be when he asked “The Mute” to sacrifice himself, telling him that it was the only
way for his sins to be forgiven. I believe this was not him preaching in the name of the Lord, but
him manipulating others by using God’s name in vain.
The third dominant character, “The Mute”, was a character that was not quite touched upon.
His personality was not shown that much except for the fact that he was deeply devoted to the
Lord. I assume that his character was one that had committed a grave sin, hence, he was living
his life in honor of the Lord as repentance for all of his sins. With that, I believe his motivation
and approach to his faith was deeply blinded by the forgiveness he so desired. In fact, he even
went to the extent of sacrificing his own life just to be forgiven.
Lastly, the fourth dominant character, Sir Raymond De Merville. I felt like his character was
one that was very linear. I believe that his character was one that only had faith in himself. He
was deeply motivated by his own interests and greed for wealth and power, as a result, his
thought process became one-dimensional and cold-blooded.
