Short Fiction · Chapter
VII explained
The chapter recounts the dreams of Pontius Pilate's wife on the night before Faustina's entry into Jerusalem.
What happens
The chapter recounts the dreams of Pontius Pilate's wife on the night before Faustina's entry into Jerusalem. In a series of dreams, she sees the court filled with the sick, the insane, prisoners, the war-wounded, and finally Emperor Tiberius himself, all seeking the great Prophet of Nazareth. Each time, the slave at the gate tells them that Pilate has killed him. The dreams culminate with Tiberius offering vast riches, power over Judea, and even the dominion of the world, only to receive the same answer. The dreamer awakens in terror each time, unable to escape the horror.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Redemption
The chapter vividly depicts the suffering of the sick, insane, prisoners, and war-wounded, all seeking redemption through the Prophet of Nazareth.
Death and Mortality
The repeated announcement that Pilate has killed the Prophet underscores the finality of death and the failure of mortal power to provide salvation.
Deception and Truth
The slave's indifferent and repetitive answer contrasts with the desperate truth of the seekers, highlighting the deception of worldly authority.
Characters to notice
- Faustina
The Roman governor's young wife who experiences a series of terrifying dreams about people seeking the Prophet of Nazareth.
- Pilate
The Roman governor who is mentioned as having killed the Prophet of Nazareth, and appears as the husband of the dreamer in the final dream.
- Emperor Tiberius
The Emperor who appears in the final dream, seeking the Prophet to cure his disease and offering great rewards.
- Jesus
Referred to as the great Prophet of Nazareth, whom all the suffering people seek but who has been killed by Pilate.
Key passages
“She saw those who must lie in dark prison dungeons, fettered with heavy chains; she saw those who labored in the dark mines come dragging their heavy planks, and those who were rowers on war galleys come with their heavy iron-bound oars.”
She envisioned prisoners in dungeons, miners hauling planks, and galley slaves carrying heavy oars.
This passage illustrates the suffering of prisoners in the dream.
“Then the slave answered them in an arrogant and indifferent tone—as palace servants do when they turn away the poor stranger: 'It will profit you nothing to seek the great Prophet. Pilate has killed him.'”
The slave dismissively told the seekers that the Prophet was dead, killed by Pilate.
This recurring response emphasizes the theme of death and the indifference of authority.
“Then the Emperor turned toward his slaves, who waited below in the court, and gave them a command. Then the slaves hastened forward—some with handfuls of ornaments, others carried goblets studded with pearls, other again dragged sacks filled with gold coin.”
The Emperor ordered his slaves to bring ornaments, pearl-studded goblets, and sacks of gold as an offering.
This shows Tiberius's attempt to buy the Prophet's healing power.