Black Elk as the Messiah

Black Elk mirrors the Messiah. He feels the burden of his people’s sufferings, yet comes to love the burden and pity his people. Black Elk was given power from the Great Spirit to cure the sick, just as Jesus miraculously healed those who came to Him.

The journey of Black Elk to the secluded mountain with Few Tails parallels Christ’s actions and emotionality the night before He was arrested. Black Elk and Jesus travel to a secluded area for prayer and lamentation.

They both feel sorrow as a sickness. Jesus expresses this emotion, telling His disciples that “He is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” Black Elk has often expressed how deep emotions of fear or even love are a disease. Before a vision Black Elk will feel queer and his first vision caused serious illness.

When alone, each shares their fear and begs for the Great Spirit/ God to release them from their duties. Jesus asks “may this cup be taken from me,” while Black Elk “begged the Grandfathers to pity [him] and spare [him]” (142). Though both are afraid, Black Elk and Jesus conclude that they will fulfill their callings if this is what the Great Spirit/ God desires. Once they reach this decision, to “do it if they could” (142), both are relieved of their fears and can focus on achieving what was asked of them.

Black Elk expresses in an aside that he wishes his vision could have been given to someone more worthy. He sees that though he cured the illnesses of many people, he didn’t succeed in saving his nation. This sentiment may have been felt by Jesus while on the cross, seeing the hatred of those condemning Him to death and wondering if He did any good on this Earth. Even now, if He is looking upon us, the hatred and anger that still remains may cause Him to feel like Black Elk, that He failed.

~E.D.