The Prince Of Egypt Analysis

The animated film, The Prince of Egypt, illustrates the epic nature of the biblical book of “Exodus.” A production by DreamWorks, it was released to theaters in 1998. It entails the life of a Hebrew baby boy named Moses, who is born into slavery. However, his life entails one of prestige, and privilege. Ironically, the Egyptian Pharaoh called Rameses, an enemy of the Hebrews, and subsequent reason for their enslavement, raises Moses. While there are indeed inaccuracies within the storyline, when compared to the book of “Exodus,” it does display historical significance, for that era in time. The beginning of the movie shows the dramatic use of slaves, the Israelites according to biblical text. As they struggle to build a massive assortment of monuments, the Pharaoh called Ramses abuses them mercilessly. The technology of the time clearly shows the work force that was needed to build these gigantic structures. In addition, the giant head of The Great Sphinx is clearly seen in the background, its colossal image rising above the workers. Although, archeologists do not credit the construction to Ramses ll. However, the opening scene depicts historical significance, as Ramses ll was well known for erecting more monuments than any other ancient

Following this, lessons regarding proper behavior are enforced for the brothers. However, this again is short lived, as Moses soon learns his true heritage. Subsequently, he flees his upbringing, and seeks solace in the desert, with a nomadic tribe that raises sheep, a lifestyle not uncommon for this era. The remainder of the film becomes very biblical: entailing the burning bush, Moses return to Egypt to try and free the Hebrew people, the subsequent plagues that finally result in their release, and the parting of the Red Sea. All incidents relayed in the