Mary vs Mr. Potter

Only love can conquer greed

Re-watched It's A Wonderful Life again and noticed a biblical reference I had never seen before. And it's a deep one. Hang with me here.

We all know Mr. Potter is the bad guy. He exploits the people in the town, keeping them poor while he grows rich. He particularly dislikes the immigrants, at one point calling them "garlic eaters." He charges exorbitant rent for run down shacks and is quick to evict these working-class immigrants. And where are these shacks?

In Potter's Field.

And this is the reference that unlocks the story. In Matthew's gospel, overcome with guilt after betraying Jesus, Judas throws the money back at the chief priests who gave it to him before committing suicide. The priests feel it would be inappropriate to put this money in the treasury, so what do they do with it?

Matthew‬ ‭27:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners.”

Mr. Potter would use the ill-gotten money from uncle Billy's mistake to bankrupt George, send the authorities after him, and drive him to suicide - all to keep his grip on power. And during the sequence when George sees what life would be like without him, we see what Mr. Potter would build with his power. Not just a Potter's Field, but an entire Pottersville. A place of exploitation and immorality. A grave.

So, who will stop this evil Potter from molding this city in his likeness? George is a good man, but is at his wits end. Our hero is one that Mr. Potter wouldn't take note of or see as a threat.

Mary.

Redemption comes through Mary. Through her faithful love the community comes together, the debt is erased, and the warrant for George's arrest is torn in two. The power of love cancels the plans of the evil one, and the poor are not relegated to a potter's field, but form a beautiful community.