The Symbolism Of Luke Jackson In The Army

Luke Jackson (Paul Newman), a curiously calculating loner, is sentenced to be part of a chain gang after he's arrested for “settling an old score” a.k.a., decapitating parking meters. Soon after his imprisonment, we learn that Luke had been in the Army, attained the rank of Sergeant, won numerous war medals, but was discharged as a private. This is where we start to see his resistance shine through, something he did got him busted back down to the same rank at which he entered the Army. He was immediately thrown into a prison gang ran by an extremely large and intimidating man named “Dragline” who, he pisses off and in turn, is beaten. Part of the character of Luke though, is never to give in, and even bloody and bruised, he keeps fighting,

This shows the prisoners how to work as a team, they become more close knit, and friendships are formed but mostly, it deprives the guards of a stick to hold over the prisoners' heads. They have less of emotional leverage to hold over them. One day, the prisoners are forced to shovel sand over a freshly tarred road, and they perform the job so quickly that they complete the job early, and then earn the rest of the day to relax because there is no more road on which to work. On Sunday, a day of prayer, his mom comes to visit. Obviously dying of cancer and still smoking a cigarette, it’s clear to see just where Luke’s stubbornness comes from. During a hot and rainy night, Luke randomly decides to bet everyone that he can eat fifty eggs….in one hour. Amazingly enough, Luke completes this small miracle, though not easily. One thing to notice though, there were 50 prisoners in the camp at the time and Luke ate 50 eggs, by eating the eggs, he absolves the prisoners of their individual sins. And if that’s not symbolism enough for you, immediately after having eaten the eggs, Luke is shown as sprawled on the table, arms straight out, legs crossed, EXACTLY like the crucifixion of Jesus