The Wise Man

The Wise Man

The Wise Man by Richard Rothfuss

The wise man is not afraid to seek truth. He has the courage to face it wherever he finds it, even if he must leave behind what is familiar and comfortable.

Martin Sheen stars as Artaban a fourth Magi who misses the caravan of Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior that visits Jesus. He begins a 33 year quest for the King, bearing gifts along the way.

Characters Of The Wise Man

Many people are familiar with the story of the Three Wise Men. However, there is another story that also involves wise men. This story follows the journey of a fourth wise man, named Artaban.

Artaban is a magus, or wise man, who is following an old prophecy in the stars. He has read that a King is born in the east and has set out on a long journey to see him. His fellow magi express skepticism and refuse to accompany him, so he sets out alone. He travels first to Jerusalem and then on to Bethlehem. He brings gifts to the new King — gold, incense, and myrrh.

Along the way, he meets a man in need. He is tempted to help him but is afraid that it will make him late for his meeting with the other wise men. He sells one of his treasures to buy the camels and supplies needed for the rest of the journey.

He gives the man water and food, and he helps him to his feet. Then he leaves him with herbs and medicine and rushes on to meet the other Wise Men.

When the other Wise Men arrive, they are surprised to find that the baby is not a king like they expected. He is a commoner, and they are unsure what to do. Herod asks the Wise Men to tell him where the king is so that he can kill him. The Wise Men follow God’s guidance in a dream and return to their home countries without killing the King. The Bible calls these men “wise” because they trusted in the Lord and followed His lead.

Themes

The Wise Man is a tale of the importance of one’s choices. Rothfuss examines the impact that restrictions and empowerment have on people, highlighting how choices about careers, relationships, education, and other decisions affect one’s life path and outcomes. The novel also explores the power of words and their ability to heal and transform.

The hero must fight to win, but he must also fight to survive, and that battle often involves making compromises. He must know the difference between right and wrong, be able to see the potential consequences of his actions, and always be aware that the best way to protect himself is not to defend himself at all.

A wise man is not afraid to lose, as long as he does not lose sight of his goal. He does not let his pride blind him to the needs of others. He knows that the most important thing he has to give is his life, and he is willing to sacrifice it when necessary in order to reach his goals.

Henry van Dyke’s tale of a fourth Magi is a wonderful addition to the story of the three Wise Men. The story is full of subtle humor and irony, illustrating how a man can learn from his mistakes and become more wise through experience. It is also a great example of how even seemingly minor missteps can have large effects. The tale is well-suited for medieval readers, as it addresses issues such as personal wealth, the importance of treating a wife with trust and respect, and a warning against excessive accumulation. It is a gentle and lyrical tale that has inspired many plays, movies, songs, and other adaptations for children.

Setting

The wise man understands that there is a time to work and a time to rest. He does not rush into any endeavor or venture without carefully weighing the consequences. He also knows that it is important to keep his mind and heart focused on God. This is why he takes time to pray and meditate each day. He also teaches his children to do the same.

It is an addition and expansion of the story of the Biblical Magi. It is based on the fact that one of them, Artaban, went on a journey that was quite different from what was originally told in the Gospels.

Artaban, like the other three Wise Men, is from the land of Persia. He follows an old prophecy that tells him to travel to Bethlehem, where a King is born. On his way he stops to help a dying man, which makes him late for meeting with the caravan of the other Wise Men.

He spends the remainder of his years traveling to various cities and helping those in need. In doing so, he believes that he has failed his mission of finding the Messiah. However, he learns that he has actually achieved his goal by helping others.

The wise man builds his house on a rock, while the foolish man builds his house on sand. The house built on sand will eventually collapse, but the house built on a rock will remain strong. The Wise Man is an excellent tale that shows the importance of having a solid foundation.

Message

The wise men also learned not to rely solely on their surroundings, but to seek guidance in Scripture. This combination of both worldly and spiritual wisdom led them to Jesus, the King. Their final destination was only a few miles away and excitement and glee overtook their faces as they realized they were only moments from reaching their goal.

This is a great lesson for us all. We are all on a journey to find the Savior, and we can either be like Herod who is concerned only with worldly power and his own self-interest, or we can be like the wise men who are driven by faith and a desire to worship the Lord.

When we are filled with joy it is hard to be controlled by anything else, but if we allow ourselves to become consumed by anger, envy, jealousy, greed, or hatred then our lives will be out of control. Then we will truly be wise and able to help others on their journey as well. This is a great story to share with children, especially at Christmas time. Print and cut out the cards, have them line up in order based on the story, and read through them together.

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