OPPapers.com Essay Index >> English >> The Spire: How Does Golding Show The Contrast Between The World Of Faith And The Real World In Chapter 2?
We have many free term papers and essays on The Spire: How Does Golding Show The Contrast Between The World Of Faith And The Real World In Chapter 2?. We also have a wide variety of research papers and book reports available to you for free. You can browse our collection of term papers or use our search engine.
The Spire: How does Golding show the contrast between the world of faith
and the real world in chapter 2? The theme of faith versus ...
Submitted by aceofspades7 on April 22, 2007
Category: English
Words: 839 | Pages: 4
Views: 213
Popularity Rank: 49,036
Average Member Grade: N/A (Add a Comment / Grade this Paper)
The theme of faith versus rationalism is very prevalent throughout “The spire” by William Golding. Golding seems to present the ideas of faith and rationalism at odds with each other (In chapter 2 at least) with Jocelin representing what could be described as blind faith, whenever confronted with the cathedrals lack of foundations and the seeming impossibility of building the spire he responds with “god will provide”. Conversely we have Roger Mason, the embodiment of practicality and rationalism whose very description envisions solidity: “His hands were on his waist, thick legs astraddle, sturdy body in its brown tunic leaning forward a little”. The arguments between Jocelin and Roger over the foundations work on many different levels. The comfit is almost symbolic of the struggle between faith and rationale and the issue being one of foundations enhances the poignancy of the debate.
The idea of Faith and Rationalism being two different worlds is first made apparent to us by Golding in the opening paragraph of the chapter. We are given a hellish vision in what is supposedly a holy place. The dust, which acts like “yellow smoke” and serves to give the workers a demonic aspect; “he thought their faces were monstrously deformed”, is caused by the “gap in the wall”. This gap is symbolic as it almost appears as a hole in the cathedrals tranquillity, allowing the unholy and boisterous real world to enter. Golding conveys this using the worker singing profanities when he “paid no attention, but marched through the gap in the wall”. We see the effect of the hole, the intrusion of the outside world, has upon the workings of the cathedral and its inhabitants. Golding presents us with a vision of chaos and confusion “the benches were in disorder, one lying on its side” and the breakdown of the usual proceedings (such as there being candles on the altar etc.). This leads to his confrontation with father Anselm, who blames Jocelin for the disruption caused. Both men’s...
You must Login to view the entire paper.
If you are not a member yet, Sign Up for free!