Role-Reversal

We talked about how many times in the Bible the younger son 'overtakes' the older in some way and therefore throws off the set line of the first born son inheriting everything (or some other interaction similar to that). Essentially, it's a role reversal. It's funny (perhaps not "ha ha" funny, but ironic funny) when role reversal happens. So many comic movie plots are passed on this same principle; instead of having a male hero and a female in distress, it is 'comical' to put a female hero saving a male in distress. That same 'role-reversal' that I've been talking about is what draws us to these stories of the younger son overtaking the older. Granted, there is much more going on there then just a role reversal, such as an 'underdog' story. But the role reversal comes up many times in other situations.

We've talked a great deal about 'powerful women' in the Bible; and like it or not, that is a role reversal. A woman having power over a man goes against what is 'traditionally' thought of as the natural order; and that's why we find it so interesting and to an extent, funny.