what is ben hur about

Ben-Hur is a story of redemption and forgiveness that includes themes of Christian redemption and Gods benevolence through the compassion of strangers. The novel intertwines the life of Jesus with that of a fictional protagonist, the young Jewish prince named Judah Ben-Hur, who suffers betrayal, injustice, and enslavement by the Romans. The story traces the plight of Judah Ben-Hur, a young Jewish prince from an influential family, who is reunited with his boyhood friend Messala, who is now a Roman tribune exerting great control over Jerusalem. The two men enjoy reliving old times, but when Messala asks Ben-Hur to help stem the increasing number of protests by Jews against Roman rule, Ben-Hur declines. Messala, feeling betrayed, falsely accuses Ben-Hur of attempting to assassinate a Roman governor, resulting in Ben-Hurs enslavement and separation from his family. Ben-Hur regains his freedom and comes back for revenge, but during his quest to save his family, he witnesses the crucifixion and finds Jesus Christ to be an inspiration in his life. Soon thereafter, both his mother and sister are cured of leprosy. The novel was adapted into a 1959 American epic religious film directed by William Wyler, produced by Sam Zimbalist, and starring Charlton Heston as the title character).