Private Confessions

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses that the foundations of 'The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner' written by James Hogg is clearly a series of contests of character, of which the narrator appallingly fails through his allowance of piety and the doctrine of predestination to guide his decisions and justify his sins. The writer notes that from the beginning the youth allows himself to lie, cheat and possibly steal to get his way, overcome the truth telling servant and overtake the student who is above him in knowledge and ability. Even though he agonizes over his deeds, he still naively believes that all is forgiven because he has been preordained to be among the good rather than the evil, secondary even to his dubious birth. The writer maintains that his character is duplicitous, as on the one hand he wishes to do good and on the other, believes that if he gets ahead it is justified, as he is a chosen soul.

From the Paper:

"The narrator is answered with his recently acquired friend, a mirror of sorts who justifies the thoughts and actions of the other through knowing and agreeing with everything he says. There are clear indications that this clone of the narrator is actually the devil, attempting to bar him from prayer and logical thought and feed the violence he has unwittingly conjured up as the answer to all ills in the world.
"The narrator is led to horrific acts including murder, for which he has no memory, but is the most likely culprit, having been led down the garden path by the devil to act upon the idea of predestination."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hogg, James. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner New York: Canongate, 2001.

More papers on Private Confessions:

• Book Review # 145995 : "An Analysis of the "The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner"
• Analytical Essay # 53931 : "The Unreliable Narrator"
• Analytical Essay # 31272 : "The Wife of Bath"

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