John the Immortal Eyewitness
John the Immortal Eyewitness is a novel by George Bernard Shaw that tells the story of John, an immortal being who has witnessed many historical events throughout time. The book follows his journey as he tries to find meaning in life and understand the nature of humanity. It explores themes such as mortality, religion, and the search for purpose.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1938 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Religious Fiction, Philosophical Fiction · 1,045 words
First lines
John, moreover, claims to be not only a chronicler but a witness. He declares that he is "the disciple whom Jesus loved," and that he actually leaned on the bosom of Jesus at the last supper and asked in a whisper which of them it was that should betray him. Jesus whispered that he would give a sop to the traitor, and thereupon handed one to Judas, who ate it and immediately became possessed by the devil. This is more natural than the other accounts, in which Jesus openly indicates Judas without eliciting any protest or exciting any comment. It also implies that Jesus deliberately bewitched Judas in order to bring about his own betrayal. Later on John claims that Jesus said to Peter "If I will that John tarry til I come, what is that to thee? "; and John, with a rather obvious mock modesty, adds that he must not claim to be immortal, as the disciples concluded; for Christ did not use that expression, but merely remarked "If I will that he tarry till I come."
What this Textopian page supports
John the Immortal Eyewitness is listed on Textopian as an essay by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1938 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1938 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Religious Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction
- Length: 1,045 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for John the Immortal Eyewitness by George Bernard Shaw
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Chorus by G. K. Chesterton
- A Sermon On Inns by G. K. Chesterton
- The Art Of Missing The Point by G. K. Chesterton
- The Fool by G. K. Chesterton
- The Jesters Of The Lord by Frederic Manning
- An Old Proverb by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative presents a fictionalized account of historical events and figures, particularly focusing on biblical times and characters.
- Religious Fiction — The story revolves around religious themes, exploring interpretations of biblical narratives and characters.
- Philosophical Fiction — The text delves into philosophical discussions about faith, belief, and the nature of historical truth.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is sophisticated and explores complex themes, with a focus on character development and narrative depth.
Tags
immortality · philosophy · historical fiction · narrative · existentialism · time travel · human experience · wisdom · life lessons · society · morality · religion