Religion in Literature

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how religious beliefs and religion-centric societies are illustrated in the works of the following authors from different periods in history: Sophocles ("Antigone"), Niccolo Machiavelli ("The Prince"), Frederick Douglass ("Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave") and Ernest Hemingway ("A Farewell to Arms"). It posits that an analysis of these literary works shows that each work's protagonist achieves his/her triumph or downfall because of actions and behavior that were influenced by religion. It also discusses how ultimately, all of the authors depicted religion in the strictest sense, serving as an impediment rather than to benefit the individual in truly achieving contentment and happiness in life.

From the Paper:

"Ironically, however, the solace that religion brought for Douglass was also the very institution that had promoted and encouraged black slavery in the country. The author embodied religion's 'dark side' through the character of Mr Covey, who was described as a deeply religious man who used his religiousness as a "front" to 'deceive' people about his abuses and cruelty to the slaves. He was thus a man who thinks of himself as an "equal to deceiving the Almighty," while being "devoted to and perpetrating the grossest deceptions" to his slaves. In Douglass' memoirs as a slave, religion and its principles and important tenets have been used to validate an unfair and unjust practice-black slavery."

More papers on Religion in Literature :

• Comparison Essay # 22705 : "Religion in Literature"
• Comparison Essay # 120516 : "Religion and Morality in Literature"
• Book Review # 89849 : "Religion in 'La Bas' "

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