Number 6! This one is probably a bit harder to identify, since there isn’t one set of iconic looks. It’s Jesus Christ: Superstar, hence why Phillip and Caleb both are not entirely thrilled by the comparison. I took inspiration from the Live concert version with John Legend, but otherwise it’s mostly vibes.
When I mentioned certain entries in this series were pretty illuminating as far as figuring out the characters, this is by FAR the clearest example of that. The fact that it’s a portrayal of the crucifixion story is just funny.
The comparison initially came about mostly as a result of me joking with myself. Maybe it’s the former-fundie in me, but I immediately noticed that the pictures of Caleb’s body in “Hollow Mind” were positioned arms outstretched, aka the “crucified hero” pose. Plus, he’s a woodworker who ultimately ended up being pretty chill with the people his own community disparaged and hated. Phillip as Judas is pretty obvious. He’s THE Biblical betrayer. Neither of them would appreciate the comparison though. Phillip is less than thrilled for obvious reasons. Caleb is uncomfortable with the comparison because, even though I’m presenting him at a point where he doesn’t believe it anymore, calling HIMSELF Christ-like in any way feels like an arrogant sort of blasphemy.
The deeper realizations came as a result of the choice of portrayal. JCS is probably my favourite Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, and it felt like the way to go about playing with the comparison a bit more. One of the things I adore about it is the way it humanizes both Jesus and Judas. Particularly in the case of the latter, most portrayals are pretty one-dimensional. If I’m using the exercise as a way of exploring the character dynamics, of course I’m going to choose a portrayal that gives everyone very human emotions.
My lightbulb moment was a result of deciding to throw Evelyn in as Mary Magdalene so I could make the “foot stuff” joke. If the smirk didn’t make it obvious, that line is 100% innuendo. For those that are unaware, a fairly common interpretation of the “sleep at his feet” interaction between Ruth and Boaz in the book of Ruth is that she gave him a blow job. Context clues as well as the choice of language points to that. Mary Magdalene famously washes Jesus’ feet with her hair. The question needed to be asked.
Having her in the mix made me realize how well the comparison fits for the part of the story where all three are interacting, the “fake witch hunter” arc as I call it. Caleb has found himself the one drawing all the attention, as somebody needs to talk down the potential mobs when they determine that the person they are investigating is not, in fact, a witch. Evelyn WOULD, as she is quite good at bullshitting her way out of trouble, but she’s y’know, a woman. And Phillip wouldn’t, seeing as he’s one of the potential mob members that needs to be talked down.
But Caleb is utterly exhausted by all of this, which is where the JCS Jesus comparison really comes in. They have similar levels of world-weariness realizing just how much people suck. Caleb had his “OMG Puritans are awful” epiphany when stuck in the Boiling Isles, making the portal door with Evelyn, but there’s a difference between realizing it and witnessing it. Lighting some stuff on fire is a BIT more extreme than flipping tables, but the energy is similar.
Phillip finds himself in the Judas role less because of the betrayal aspect (that comes later), and more because he’s experiencing similar levels of questioning. Judas finds himself questioning the cult of personality that has sprung up around Jesus, and realizing that isn’t the cause he signed up for. Phillip sees the way Caleb is drawing attention, and is a bit frustrated because weren’t they supposed to be FINDING witches? They’re still ostensibly hunting, but there’s always some reason why the suspect is not a witch. And here Caleb is getting all this attention for his impromptu sermons as to why executing some person because they MIGHT be a witch is a bad thing, actually. And it seems like he’s enjoying it? Enjoying not finding witches?
Evelyn is less similar to Mary per se (I blame ALW; writing women is not his strong suit), but she finds herself in a similar role in relation to the other two. She’s the one person trying to make sure Caleb doesn’t burn himself out, which Caleb sees and appreciates. There is a period where she’s similarly crushing and doesn’t know how to cope, although that doesn’t last long.
The interesting one is her relation to Phillip. She’s fairly ambivalent towards him - he’s a bit of a jerk, but he’s a dumbass teenager (16-17) - but his feelings towards her are downright hostile. I realized something about JCS. The thing that really sets Judas off and motivates him to go betray Jesus is seeing Mary caring about Jesus’ well-being and Jesus appreciating the effort. Phillip is similar. The thing that sets off his villain arc is his freakout over Evelyn’s care for Caleb, and Caleb’s reciprocation of those feelings.
It is funny how well it all fits, but it does mean that these two Puritan boys are getting slotted into THE story that is the most uncomfortable to get slotted into.
Previous entries! Backwards this time!
#5: Evelyn as Anathema Device, Caleb as Newt Pulsifer from Good Omens
💬 0 🔁 1 ❤️ 3 · Fic Excerpt · Number 5! Look, we have a romance between a witch and a witch hunter. This comparison was inevitable. Regard
#4: Caleb as the Quite-Reverend Oates, Evelyn as Esme Weatherwax, from Carpe Jugulum
💬 0 🔁 1 ❤️ 9 · Post by @beverlyofbasingstoke · 1 image · Number 4! Carpe Jugulum, one of my favourite Discworld novels this time. I need
#3: Caleb as Agent Kallus, Evelyn as Zeb from Star Wars: Rebels
💬 0 🔁 1 ❤️ 5 · Post by @beverlyofbasingstoke · 1 image · Number 3 of my “draw Caleb and Evelyn and/or Phillip as characters I compare them
#2: Caleb as Elsa from Frozen
💬 0 🔁 2 ❤️ 5 · Post by @beverlyofbasingstoke · 1 image · Here’s the second one of my “draw members of the Witteclaw trio as characters I c
#1: Caleb as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Phillip as Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars: Episode II
💬 0 🔁 0 ❤️ 1 · I decided to draw the main trio (Caleb, Phillip, Evelyn) for my Wittebro backstory fic as characters I compare them to at v
