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as beneficent and noble. Since the film says nothing about Judah’s real
father, his connection with a Roman adoptive father and mentor suggests
Judah’s deep and complex bond with Rome. This idea is emphasized in
the victory parade by Judah’s position at Arrius’ side in the chariot, implying
the equality between the two men. At Arrius’ sumptuous villa, Judah
seems right at home, as he holds in his arms a beautiful Roman girl, a
tangible emblem of Rome’s allure (an uncredited Marina Berti, who played
Eunice in Quo Vadis). Judah attains a temporary sense of peace and psychological
integrity in his filial relationship with Arrius, and he accepts the
signet ring without hesitation: “Wherever I go I shall wear this ring with
gratitude, affection, and honor.” Although the interlude in Rome complicates
things for Judah by giving him Roman ties, it also provides him with
a reputation as an expert charioteer and the cachet of the Arrian family
name. Even when he leaves Arrius, he tells him: “There is a part of my life
which you have made for me.” But Judah knows he has to return to his
homeland to find his family, and deal with his enemy, Messala. Judah
exploits his new Roman name and the advantage of surprise to gain entry
to the garrison, and dressed in Roman garb, “Young Arrius” confronts the
tribune as a man transformed by hatred and the desire for revenge: “You
were the magician, Messala.” For the moment Judah is identified with
steely Roman power, and uses it to threaten Messala, but eventually Judah
realizes Rome’s cruelty and corruption has damaged him. So he denies his
attachment to Arrius and Rome by asking Pilate to return the ring to his
adoptive father: “I honor him too well to wear it any longer.” Ben-Hur
explores the epic problem of fathers by allowing Judah to profit from, but
ultimately reject, the Roman paternal bond.
While the film emphasizes the difficulties of male relationships by highlighting
Judah’s fierce interactions with Messala and Arrius, his romantic
liaison with Esther is the catalyst of Judah’s conversion: “Esther is vitally
important for her representation of the Judaeo-Christian cause which Ben-
Hur must ultimately embrace” (Elley, 134). Judah’s relationship with Esther
shows the traditional epic redemption structure, where a woman leads her
man towards belief in Jesus, as Lygia guides Marcus in Quo Vadis. The
role of Esther is played by Israeli actress Haya Harareet, who projects both
sultry beauty and cool tranquility in her quiet, minimalist acting. Esther’s
own conversion to faith in Jesus is reflected in her change in status from
slave to free; and just as Judah frees her, Esther will free him from the
bonds of anger and vengeance, and show him the path to love and spiritual
salvation. Their first romantic scene is tentative and understated,
offering a delicate complement to Judah’s more ardent reunion with
BEN-HUR (1959) 79