From the mouths of babes. (-:1. While the term ‘passion play’ is usually restricted to “ a dramatic representation of the scenes connected with the passion and crucifixion of Jesus” Definition of PASSION PLAY....
…the term can be applied in a less formal, and broader sense, to the tribulations of the average man in contemporary society.
2. I attribute the unprecedented success of Mario Puzo’s triptych, “The Godfather,” to the public unconsciously conflating the Godfather saga with an actual passion play.
And, the term messiah has been trivialized to the level of absurdity by Liberals who spoke of candidate Obama as the messiah. Sooo, why not use the term to refer to one who provides justice for the common man, Don Vito Corleone?
3. He does so in the opening scene of the book, and the film.
“Don Vito Corleone was a man to whom everybody came for help, and never were disappointed. He made no empty promises, nor the craven excuse that his hands were tied by more powerful forces in the world than himself.
…no matter how poor or powerless the supplicant, Don Corleone would take that man's troubles to his heart.”
A visitor come to the Don with this tale:
"I raised my daughter in the American fashion," the man begins. "I believe in America. America has made my fortune. I gave my daughter her freedom and yet taught her never to dishonor her family." But eventually a problem presented itself. "She found a boyfriend, not an Italian. She went to the movies with him. She stayed out late.
Two months ago he took her for a drive. He had a masculine friend with him. They made her drink whiskey and then tried to take advantage of her. She resisted. She kept her honor. They beat her. Like an animal. When I went to the hospital she had two black eyes. Her nose was broken. Her jaw shattered. They had to wire it together. She wept through her pain.
I went to the police like a good American. The two boys were arrested. They were brought to trial. The evidence was overwhelming and they pleaded guilty. The judge sentenced them to three years in prison and suspended the sentence. They went free that very day. I stood in the courtroom like and a fool and those bastards smiled at me. And then I said to my wife, "We must goto Don Corleone for justice."
The Don held up his hand. "No. Don't speak. You found America a paradise. You had a good trade, you made a good living , you thought the world a harmless place where you could take your pleasure as you willed. You never armed yourself with true friends. After all, the police guarded you, there were courts of law, you and yours come to no harm. You did not need Don Corleone. Very well. "Now you come to me and ask, 'Don Corleone give me justice.'
Paul Rahe, “Don Vito Corleone, Friendship and the American Regime”
This passion play was on display, writ large, in the last election: there was the cry for justice in the face of decades of corruption, and ignoring the wishes of the average American.
[October 25, 2016...NYTimes gave Hillary 93% chance of winning the election.
2016 Election Forecast: Who Will Be President?]
And a miracle occurred.