One of the most significant literary devices employed in Project Hail Mary is its extensive use of religious imagery, particularly biblical allusions. Even the title itself invites religious interpretation. The phrase Hail Mary references the Catholic prayer, which begins, “Hail Mary, full of grace.” This opening line is especially significant given that the protagonist’s surname is Grace. On a literal level, humanity is saved by Ryland Grace and his actions aboard the Hail Mary. On a symbolic level, humanity is saved by grace itself.
In Christian theology, grace refers to the unearned mercy and salvation granted by God. The film repeatedly emphasizes that the survival of humanity is made possible not through power, wealth, or domination, but through acts of compassion, sacrifice, and mercy. Furthermore, as Eva Stratt explains in the film, the phrase also invokes the American sports term for a desperate, last ditch attempt to achieve the impossible. The mission is humanity’s final hope for survival, making the title both religiously significant and symbolically appropriate.
The symbolism of Grace’s name extends beyond the title. Throughout the film, Ryland Grace becomes a savior figure, sacrificing his own future and risking his life to save both humanity and the Eridian species. Yet the significance of his name lies not only in his heroism but in what he represents. Grace, in the biblical sense, is mercy freely given to those who have not earned it. This concept becomes central to the film’s moral framework.
Earth and Erid survive because two individuals choose selflessness over self preservation. This is demonstrated when Rocky gives Grace astrophage despite knowing it will delay his return home and jeopardize his own mission. Grace repays Rocky for his act of selflessness with his own as he discovers that Rocky and the Eridians will die without his help. Although he finally has the means to save Earth and return home, he abandons that opportunity and turns back. In this moment, humanity is quite literally saved by Grace, but it is also symbolically saved by grace in the theological sense. Grace’s decision is not motivated by obligation, duty, or personal gain. Rather, it is an act of mercy freely extended to another. The survival of both worlds becomes possible because compassion is offered where none is required.
The symbolism of Grace’s name is further reinforced through Old Testament imagery. In the Book of Leviticus, two goats are selected for the Day of Atonement ritual. One is sacrificed as an offering, while the other becomes the scapegoat, symbolically carrying the sins of the community into the wilderness. These two archetypes are reflected in the film through Ryland Grace and Eva Stratt.
Grace functions as the sacrificial lamb. Throughout the story, he endures suffering, isolation, and the near certain loss of his future for the sake of others. His journey mirrors the symbolic role of the sacrificial lamb whose suffering secures the survival of the community. Like the lamb offered for the salvation of others, Grace gives up the possibility of returning to Earth in order to save both humanity and the Eridians. His sacrifice is not merely physical; it is also existential. He relinquishes his home, his identity, and his place among his own people so that others may live. In biblical tradition, the sacrificial lamb bears suffering on behalf of others; similarly, Grace accepts personal loss to secure collective salvation.
In contrast, Eva Stratt occupies the role of the scapegoat. Her first name evokes Eve, the first woman in Genesis, who has historically been blamed for humanity’s fall from Eden despite not being the only one at fault. Similarly, Stratt becomes a figure onto whom society projects its moral outrage. Throughout the film, she makes ruthless decisions, overrides governments, violates ethical norms, and forces individuals into impossible situations. She knows these actions will likely destroy her reputation and result in punishment. This is depicted at the end of the film when she is on the run after she is arrested for her role in Project Hail Mary. Yet she accepts this fate because she believes humanity’s survival outweighs her own freedom or legacy.
The comparison becomes even more striking when viewed through Stratt’s profession as a historian. More than anyone else, she understands how future generations will judge her actions. She knows she will likely be remembered as dishonorable rather than a savior. Yet she willingly accepts condemnation if it means there will be future generations left to judge her at all. Like the biblical scapegoat, she bears the burden of humanity’s moral compromises so that humanity itself may survive. Society transfers its guilt onto her, allowing others to condemn the methods while benefiting from the results.
Together, Grace and Stratt represent two complementary forms of sacrifice. Grace sacrifices himself physically, while Stratt sacrifices herself morally and socially. Grace becomes the sacrificial lamb whose suffering brings salvation; Stratt becomes the scapegoat who bears the blame for that salvation. One is remembered as a hero, while the other is remembered as a villain. Yet both are indispensable. The film suggests that survival often depends not only on celebrated acts of heroism but also on those willing to bear condemnation for the greater good.
The film further develops its religious imagery through the St. Christopher medallion Stratt gives Grace upon his departure. As the patron saint of travelers, St. Christopher represents protection, guidance, and safe journeys. According to Christian hagiographies, St. Christopher carried Christ across a river, temporarily bearing the weight of the world’s sins. This parallels Grace’s role as a sacrificial figure who carries the burden of humanity’s survival. By giving him the medallion, Stratt acknowledges the sacrifice she is forcing him to make. The gift serves as a quiet expression of remorse for coercing Grace into the mission and reveals a compassion beneath her pragmatic exterior. At the same time, it reinforces the contrast between Grace as the sacrificial lamb and Stratt as the scapegoat, as both ultimately bear different burdens in humanity’s salvation.
The film also employs religious imagery through its choice of music. The song “Sign of the Times,” sung by Stratt, carries a title that alludes to the biblical phrase associated with recognizing the approach of the apocalypse, particularly in Matthew 16:2–3. Its themes of impending catastrophe, mortality, and hope amid crisis mirror the film’s central conflict. Notably, the lyric “You can’t bribe the door on your way to the sky” evokes the image of heaven’s gates and reflects the Christian belief that salvation cannot be purchased through wealth or status. Instead, one’s actions during their life determine one’s moral worth. This idea parallels the sacrifices made by both Grace and Stratt, whose character is ultimately defined by what they are willing to give up for others.
The film also reinforces these themes through visual imagery. When Grace first awakens aboard the Hail Mary, his long hair, beard, and emergence from isolation resemble traditional artistic depictions of Jesus. Although Grace is not a direct Christ figure, the imagery associates him with themes of redemption, sacrifice, and salvation. His mission becomes one of saving others at great personal cost, echoing the broader religious symbolism woven throughout the narrative.
Ultimately, the religious imagery in Project Hail Mary serves a deeper purpose than simple biblical reference. By naming its protagonist Grace and placing him aboard a ship called the Hail Mary, the story suggests that humanity’s salvation comes not from technology alone but from grace itself: mercy freely given, sacrifice willingly accepted, and compassion extended to others even when there is nothing to gain in return. Through the contrasting figures of Ryland Grace and Eva Stratt, the film argues that survival is made possible not merely by intelligence or innovation, but by the willingness to suffer for the sake of others.
