As we all know, the Babylon 5 story is dripping with mythological and historical parallels, with metaphors and subtext. Some of these parallels are obvious for all to see or have been referred to within the series or by JMS in his Internet postings. A historical parallel, for example, lies between World War II and the ending episodes of Season 2, where we have non-aggression pacts, the use of weapons of mass destruction and the creation of the Nazi-like Nightwatch. A mythological parallel is openly admitted to in 'A Late Delivery From Avalon', a religious parallel in 'Passing Through Gethsmane' and so on... And besides these, parallels exist even among the characters of the show. For example, JMS has said that G'kar is in part his 'Cassandra' character.
But the focus of this small (yeah, right!) analysis in on Sheridan. Does Sheridan parallel any historical, religious or mythological characters? Answer: yes. Three of them to be exact. One, possibly the weakest of them, is foreshadowed from the very first episode. Sheridan is Agamemnon, leader of the forces of good. Like Agamemnon he is led to his death by his wife. The second parallel is to Arthur, as seen in 'Late Delivery'. Like Arthur he creates a round table. Like Arthur, he is part of a potentially disastrous love triangle. Like Arthur the circumstances of his death will be mysterious.
The third and most important parallel is a religious one. Sheridan is Jesus Christ. He accepts to descend to the realm of death, Z'Ha'Dum, so as to save others. After remaining dead for a while, he is triumphantly resurrected -but only for some time- like Christ he will ascend bodily to heaven, whatever that may mean. This parallel is even more strengthened with visual cues. Notice how he is "crucified" in 'Comes the Inquisitor', while in 'Z'Ha'Dum' in the scene where he shouts to Delenn, just before he goes off to fulfill his destiny, for about half a minute a blue halo of light shines around his face.
However that doesn't help us understand the character. After all, if he is a symbol, he must be a symbol of something with relevance to our present-time life. What is he a symbol of? Now, whether or not one is Christian is irrelevant to the analysis below - I myself do not really consider myself a faithful Christian. I am just saying this so that hopefully none will think that the above and the following is an attempt to shove a religion down their throats. I am just taking this to its logical end to enhance everyone's appreciation of the parallel, the character of Sheridan, and the series itself. With that said, I continue.
I am reminded of something a theologian I knew once said: That Jesus was "new Adam", a vision of what humanity could be, had it never Fallen. Sheridan seems to also symbolize humanity, or the best elements thereof. For example he's extremely non-comfirmistic, even eccentric, the element of humanity Delenn seemed to admire the most in 'Babylon Squared': 'They do not seek conformity, they do not surrender. Out of their differences comes symmetry. Their unique ability to fight against impossible odds... Hurt them, they only come back stronger.'
This description seems to fit to Sheridan perfectly. He has been shown to fight against 'impossible odds' and be victorious. In 'Convictions' Garibaldi states the same: "he did it in the Mars Riots, he did it with the Black Star" And he also does it in 'Matters of Honor', in 'Messages From Earth' and pretty much in the entire series. As for the last sentence, Sheridan was really hurt in ' Z'Ha'Dum '. He died; you can't get much more hurt than that. Nevertheless he came back. Stronger.
Of course, it is quite arrogant to believe that humanity alone possesses the above characteristics. If we ever really meet alien races, we may find out they also possess them in far greater extent. But in the B5 universe this analysis seems to apply, especially if we contrast humanity to the 'other half of their souls' - Minbari. Now, that's a fitting description if I ever heard one. What one race lacks, the other possesses so that neither one is complete without them. Minbari have stability, a unity of purpose, that makes them almost (though not quite) monolithic. "We move as one" says Delenn in 'Ceremonies of Light and Dark'. Humans are completely diversified, as diversified as it gets, as seen in 'Parliament of Dreams'. Sheridan again portrays the same quality. "I am eclectic, open-minded" he says in 'Passing Through Gethsmane'. In the very first episode we see him in, he makes two references. The one is to Lincoln. The other to Dalai Lama. West and East, completely different influences have had the impact on Sheridan.
Improvisation again is one of the elements of humanity. Delenn, her Minbari heritage not quite forgotten, says of the Shadow ship: "We cannot hope to defeat a ship of this size alone." As we hear, no Minbari dared break tradition for over a thousand years. As the Soul Hunter says: 'Pale, Bloodless. Look in their eyes and see nothing but mirrors, an eternity of reflections." On the other hand Sheridan improvises continuously.
And Sheridan seems to be lacking humanity's worst elements. Such elements, not present in the Minbari, are xenophobia (Minbari do not fear aliens, they simply don't like them), paranoia, territoriality, and a hunger for power. With that seen, we understand that the opposite of Sheridan is Clark, an embodiment of the worst of humanity. Compare for example, their final deeds: Sheridan willing to sacrifice himself to save Centauri Prime; Clarke wanting to destroy Earth rather than have it outlive him.
But the mirror image of Sheridan, same yet seen from a different perspective, is Sinclair. With all of the above said, it seems Sinclair embodies the best elements of the Minbari. He has patience first of all: In Signs and Portents he says to Garibaldi. 'I've waited 11 years for this one, Michael, I can wait for more.' I wonder if he would have responded better to Delenn's eating ceremony in 'Confessions and Lamentations'. He has a Zen-like quality. He is a Warrior ruled by the Spirit, since his military training came after his education in the Jesuit school. And so on. He is also subtle as a Minbari and his personal philosophy has a Minbari-like feeling. For example in Chrysalis he says to G'kar: 'I've had the feeling we are in a crossroads, and I don't like the way we are taking.' Sheridan's philosophy is more human, more down-to-earth, often more direct, sometimes advising directly on the course one has to take, 'Never start a battle, always finish it.' Other times it involves mundane subjects. I wonder how he would have responded to Garibaldi's 'fasten, then zip' debate. He'd have a lot to say about socks too.
Sinclair is a symbol of the Minbari, Sheridan is a symbol of humanity, and Delenn between the two in the 'One' order, is obviously on a journey from the one to the other. It's nicely appropriate that it's not Sinclair she falls in love with, but Sheridan. After all she is in love with humanity! It's perhaps a shame we don't see these characters interacting in more than the War Without End two-parter. But even there there's again nice hints confirming the above. 17 years into the future, Delenn now almost human in mentality, she advises Sheridan to live and enjoy every moment, a very human thing to say. On the other hand Sinclair comforts present-day Delenn with a Minbari-characteristic, belief in one's destiny (whether it's flaw or virtue is open to debate).
Let's get back to Sheridan. Could his life symbolize the path humanity itself takes, as seen in 'The Very Long Night' and 'Deconstruction'? The lines with '>' below are not mine. These I found in another bulletin board and are one of the things that made me think of the above.
>> I am pretty sure it is the natural progression for
Sheridan's life as we've been shown and led to expect. Therefore,
could his life itself be a metaphor for the journey of the race,
even the parts not seen yet in his time?
> As for the human race - my thoughts were:
> Earth Force Uniform - Humans go into space gun ho with all
their institutions intact, ready to take on the Universe
> White Shirt - shedding of old ideals, old ways; open to
something new
> Black Uniforms - new ideals, symbol of power and protection
for many races, not just humans; leaders of the Alliance
> Ranger Robe - keepers of the peace, keepers of knowledge (as
in Deconstruction) Guardians of the Galaxy
> White Robes - the Soul of the Galaxy, the new "Old Ones"
who have been around a very long time
> White Light - going beyond the Rim, as the First Ones did;
becoming First Ones themselves
*****************
Interesting, no?
However that Sheridan represents all that's best in humanity, doesn't mean he's perfect. That would not only be unrealistic, it would also be boring. It does mean however that even his flaws are based on good qualities. For example: His rushing mindlessly into danger, as seen in 'All Alone in the Night', 'Knives', 'Comes the Inquisitor', 'Convictions', 'Messages From Earth', 'Sic Transit Vir' and ofcourse 'Z'Ha'Dum' is certainly a personality characteristic: Marcus says in Messages From Earth 'I thought he'd send me.' but Susan knows Sheridan better. This stems from a mixture of altruism, directness (he likes to be just a soldier), and of course brave foolishness (or foolish bravery).
Email me at: katsaris@gmail.com
Last updated: 09 Apr 2002
