- 3rd chapter (10th paragraph)- first instance that Wieland is likened to his father in regards of supernatural
- pg. 8- reference to the Book of Camissares- "seek and you shall find" --> shows expectation to discover something
- theme of religion is present in older Wieland's story and then suddenly reappears in Theodore Wieland's story as a folly of religious enthusiasm
- presence or lack of devout faith --> Clara seems to lack faith, idea of faith is somewhat disregarded towards the middle of the novel and then reappears, parallels plotline
- isn't necessarily saying that religion is flawed but that it has the ability to mislead (present in both of the Wieland's lives)
2. Unifying evidence for this theme
- pg. 195- after Wieland has killed Catherine he says "It is done! My sacred duty is fulfilled! To that I have sacrificed, O my God! thy last and best gift, my wife!" --> no remorse. He is ecstatic because he believes that he has pleased God.
- The isolation of the setting- they are completely cut off from society. "Every hour should be tedious and every visit irksome" --> would make religious enthusiasm a much bigger and more potent part of life
- curiosity becomes too extreme (ex: Carwin and Clara)
3. Charles Brockden Brown shows that in isolation from proper religious education, enthusiasm can lead even the most virtuous to suddenly become mistaken, midguided, or confused.
No comments:
Post a Comment