Jericho (1937) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Jericho spans multiple locations across two continents. The story begins on a World War I American troopship in the Atlantic Ocean, then moves to the arid desert regions of North Africa where the protagonist finds refuge among the Tuareg people. A later section features footage in London, bringing the narrative full circle to the cultural and military centers of the British Empire.

• locations
• north africa
• atlantic ocean
• london
• setting
• desert
• tuareg

Jericho is set during World War I, specifically between 1914 and 1918. The film uses this era of rapid mobilization and naval warfare to explore themes of loyalty, duty, and heroism. The wartime context shapes the characters' decisions and creates the central conflict between military hierarchy and personal moral choices.

• world war 1
• 1914
• 1918
• time period
• era
• wartime

Jericho Jackson is a corporal and medical student drafted into World War I who becomes the film's central character. After defying orders to abandon trapped sailors during a torpedo attack, he is unjustly court-martialed and flees to North Africa. There, he is welcomed by the Tuareg people, adopts their ways, and eventually rises to leadership among them, transforming from a drafted medic into a unifying figure.

• jericho jackson
• paul robeson
• protagonist
• main character
• medical student

Jericho explores several interconnected themes centered on heroism, identity, and belonging. The primary theme examines how personal moral choices often conflict with military duty, when Jericho saves trapped sailors defying orders, he challenges the rigid hierarchy of wartime forces. The film also explores cross-cultural identity as Jericho finds a new home among the Tuareg, reshaping his sense of self beyond his original birthright.

• themes
• heroism
• duty
• identity
• belonging
• cross-cultural
• meaning

The Tuareg are a Berber people traditionally inhabiting the Sahara Desert region of North Africa. In Jericho, they welcome the fugitive protagonist into their tribe, where he earns acceptance through trust and service. A Tuareg figure named Gara helps anchor Jericho within the tribe, while a tribal princess represents the cultural exchange that develops between Jericho and the Tuareg community.

• tuareg
• berber
• north africa
• tribe
• desert people
• culture

Jericho presents heroism as a personal moral choice rather than blind obedience to military authority. When Jericho saves trapped sailors during the ship disaster, he defies orders to abandon ship and faces a court-martial for his mercy. The film suggests that true duty can transcend the letter of orders when human lives are at stake, highlighting the tension between procedural justice and moral outcomes in wartime.

• heroism
• duty
• moral choice
• military
• court-martial
• obedience

Captain Mack is Jericho's superior officer who bears responsibility for Jericho's escape after the ship incident. He embodies wartime duty and the consequences of military hierarchy. However, his perspective shifts when he witnesses the good Jericho has done among the Tuareg people, leading him to relent in his pursuit and ultimately accept Jericho's lasting positive impact.

• captain mack
• henry wilcoxon
• pursuer
• military
• antagonist

Jericho's journey represents a profound exploration of identity and belonging. After being unjustly condemned, he finds a new home among the Tuareg, adopts their ways, marries, and eventually leads their people. The film shows how identity can expand beyond one's birthright through trust, service, and leadership, transforming Jericho from a bitter, drafted medic into a unifying figure who unites rival groups.

• identity
• belonging
• transformation
• leadership
• cultural exchange
• integration

Jericho presents leadership as a path to peace. As Jericho unites rival groups and steers the salt-trade route toward stability, the film shows how his service brings harmony to the Tuareg community. The narrative frames the pursuit by Captain Mack as a moral dilemma that culminates in a reluctant but compassionate acceptance of Jericho's lasting impact, suggesting that true peace often requires transcending initial conflicts.

• peace
• unity
• leadership
• salt trade
• conflict resolution
• compromise

The salt trade serves as a central element of stability in Tuareg society. As Jericho rises to leadership among the Tuareg, he works to steer the salt-trade route toward stability, demonstrating how his leadership brings economic and social harmony to the community. The London footage that surfaces later reframes this pursuit as part of the broader moral context surrounding Jericho's lasting contributions.

• salt trade
• tuareg
• economy
• leadership
• stability
• commerce

Paul Robeson, a renowned African American singer, actor, and athlete, played the lead role of Corporal Jericho Jackson. Robeson was a prominent civil rights figure and one of the most famous black performers of his era. His performance brought dignity and humanity to the character, and the film is notable as one of the first major Hollywood productions to feature a Black actor in a heroic leading role.

• paul robeson
• lead actor
• heroic role
• cast
• performance

Jericho is not based on a true story. It is an original narrative created for the film, though it incorporates historical elements of World War I and authentic cultural details about the Tuareg people of North Africa. The story uses the real historical context of WWI and genuine cultural settings to frame its fictional tale of a soldier who finds redemption through cross-cultural connection.

• based on true story
• origin
• narrative
• fiction
• history