Ben Hur: Condemned Men

Warner Bros

" You are all condemned men. We keep you  alive to serve this ship, so row well and live."  Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins) boldly announced the fate of the slaves steering the Roman battle ship. Sweaty, hopeless, bony, and shackled to the machinery of death that will claim their lives, these condemned men have a lot in common with those who are working hard, and earning little. When the economy sinks, many people sink with it. 

I could easily imagine Quintus Arrius saying, " You are all condemned people. We keep you  alive to serve this economy, so work well and live." In actuality some  economist stand as Quintus Arrius promoting employment as the source of economic life.  Yes there are variations in economic schools of tought, but the comparison  of  the slaves  being worked to death reminds me of the common worker who commits long hours to realize a descent quality of life that is becoming increasingly challenging to achieve. 

Warner Bros

In this scene Ben-Hur saves Quintus Arrius who is part of the governing class. In stretching one's analogical muscle, one can say this scene is somewhat symbolic of  a bailout where the poor, middle, and possibly upper class rescue the ruling elite, despite facing economic adversity.  In fairness, if the economy cannot be salvaged, the wealth of the poor, elite, and middle class will be affected, with the elite possessing more resources to endure abject economic conditions that others cannot withstand.   

Beyond economic concerns, it is about living a fulfilled life, and  not merely existing as an object of labor.  This is painfully difficult to do, in the case of dire need demanding economic interest be prioritized simply to make ends meat. Many work jobs that provide no emotional satisfaction.  Dreading Mondays, dreading another meeting that you find boring, regardless, you play the role of concerned employee simply to keep your job. There  may be some who are truly condemned, but if your at a point in life that allows you to explore the option of doing something you love. Just do it.