The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by Scottish novelist James Hogg opens with an account by an unknown editor describing the family Colwan and the feud between the Colwan brothers, Robert, later known as Robert Wringhim, and George. The editor's account is followed by the manuscript told from Robert's point of view. This manuscript reveals Robert's emotions and feelings of self-righteousness and allows readers to closely follow the events that led to his loss of sense of reality. Religious fanaticism, through its profound portrayal of the Calvinist concept of predestination in The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, is a prevalent theme reflected in the justification of sin, self-righteousness, and state of mind. of Robert, as well as the bad behavior of Gil-Martin. .Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The primary example of the dominant theme of religious fanaticism through his in-depth portrayal of the Calvinist concept of predestination in The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Man. The sinner is the justification for sin, especially when Robert kills his own brother George. On his eighteenth birthday, Robert's father figure and minister, Reverend Robert Wringhim, instilled in him the belief that he was one of the elect, meaning that he was predestined by the Lord to salvation and prosperity. eternal grace. On his birthday, he also meets the character Gil-Martin in the woods, where his spiritual and intellectual abilities impress Robert. Robert's conviction that he is one of the chosen ones, as well as the impulses of the evil Gil-Martin, lead him to commit the murder of his brother. Karen M. McConnell asserts: "Robert Wringhim is blind to the possibility of a fall from salvation because of Reverend Wringhim's assurance of his election and Gil-Martin's antinomian insistence on a separation between mortal behavior ( and moral) and spiritual redemption. » (24). These two factors contribute to Robert's spiritual blindness and reinforce his belief that as a member of the elect he is predestined to heaven, excused from his sins, and these factors also serve as justification for murder. The murder of George Colwan is often considered a murder motivated by jealousy and hatred. Robert Wringhim's father disowned him and cared only for George, his eldest son and only heir to Dalcastle. Because of this, Robert bonded with Reverend Wringhim, the man who raised him and cared for him like his own son. Reverend Wringhim also informed Robert of his chosen status when he said, "All the powers of darkness will never be able to take you away." once again out of the hand of your Redeemer. And now, my son, be strong and firm in the truth. Set your face against sin and against sinful men” (Hogg 79). While jealousy and hatred towards George were the driving forces behind the murder, religious fanaticism was the main reason for the murder. With encouragement in the form of divine purpose from Gil-Martin and assurance from Reverend Wringhim that nothing could take him away from God's grace, Robert resists every spiritual and moral inclination not to follow through on the murder of his brother. Ultimately, his fanaticism drives him to carry out the murder because he views sin as justified, he believes he is doing a good deed to the Lord and the Earth, and he believes he is predestined to heaven no matter what. 'he's coming. As an elected member, Robert sees it as his duty to be a tool of the Lord and rid the Earth ofsinners. His belief that the Lord is using him, an idea often reinforced by Gil-Martin, serves as justification for the sins he commits. Even though he believes his soul is saved, he continues to struggle with the idea of ​​what is morally right and wrong. When Gil-Martin reiterates that by committing murder they are working in favor of the Lord, this erases Robert's doubts and his sins are justified. However, this takes religion to an extreme, fanatical level, and Minister M. Blanchard points this out in a conversation with Robert about his liaisons with Gil-Martin. The conversation reads: “He claims, indeed, a great rigor of orthodoxy concerning some of the points of doctrine adopted by the Reformed Church; but you do not seem to perceive that you and he are carrying these points to a dangerous extremity” (90). Here, Mr. Blanchard implies that he is aware of Robert's state of religious fanaticism by asserting that although he devoutly follows the doctrine and ways of the Church, he and Gil-Martin push the limits of the religion. fanaticism, through its profound portrayal of the Calvinist concept of predestination, is once again omnipresent in this conversation. Robert's complacency and mindset also contribute to the theme of religious fanaticism. His belief that he is one of the chosen and that his soul is permanently and irretrievably saved is a driving force in his killing spree. When encouraged by the evil Gil-Martin to murder Mr. Blanchard, a moral preacher, it is revealed that Robert is actually resisting an opportunity for salvation. Although he is almost convinced to go through with murder, his mind wrestles with the distinction between moral and spiritual wrongdoing, dwelling on Gil-Martin's point that the elect would be better off without such “mold” and that it was their duty to get rid of it. the Earth of such wickedness. Revealing this battle and how far his mind was from the idea of ​​murder, his manuscript says: “I lifted up my eyes to heaven for guidance; but there was a shadow in my eyes that I could not see” (95). Here, Robert looks toward the sky, as if asking the Lord what he should do, but he resists what might be an opportunity for salvation. To take it further, when Robert is waiting to kill Mr. Blanchard, he hears a warning voice but chooses to ignore it and continue with the killing. By killing Mr. Blanchard, he once again pushes aside his moral inclinations and believes he is becoming what he has always aspired to be, a weapon of the Lord, punishing offenders and sinners. The theme of religious fanaticism is apparent through his own self-righteousness, demonstrated when he kills Mr. Blanchard without remorse because he stands in God's regard. Robert's self-righteousness can be best seen in the way he views sinners. Robert places himself and Gil-Martin on a pedestal as the chosen ones and looks down on everyone else. They do not value human life any more than that of an animal, because they take lives and feel no guilt or remorse. When Gil-Martin tells Robert about Mr. Blanchard's murder, his views on the value of a sinful life are revealed. Gil-Martin speaks: “Let’s cut him off. What greater is the life of a man than the life of a lamb? Or any innocent animal? That's not the half, especially if we consider the immensity of the evil that this old man is committing among our fellow human beings? (94). In this passage, Gil-Martin clearly expresses his view that Mr. Blanchard does not deserve to live because he does not like the way he preaches or speaks ill of him. He goes on to say that it is their duty to kill him. He said: "Can there be the slightest doubt that it is the duty of aperson dedicated to God to eradicate such mold? (94). Religious fanaticism is omnipresent in this exchange between Gil-Martin and Robert. As a chosen one, "consecrated to God" as Gil-Martin puts it, Robert believes it is his duty to kill Mr. Blanchard and in this act his own justice and the theme of religious fanaticism are revealed through his profound portrait of the Calvinist. the concept of predestination is reinforced. In the novel, the anonymous editor first describes Robert, and it says: "He was a perceptive boy, an excellent learner, had fiery and ungovernable passions and, at the same time, a severity of attitude which made the other boys shrink” (15). Compared to his charismatic and kind brother, Robert is more of a severe intellectual. He is good at reasoning, intelligent and level-headed. However, under the push of the evil Gil-Martin, Robert Wringhim begins to lose his sense of reality. His mind, already torn between spiritual and moral good and evil, escapes him. Critic Ian Campbell describes Robert's deteriorating mental state in the novel's afterword, and it reads: "Wringhim's religious discourse attempts to convince us of the respectability of a narrative which is clearly increasingly composed of paranoia and self-deception” (180). It is evident that Robert has delved deep into his own mind and away from the real world when he wakes up from a night of drinking and six months have passed. He doesn't remember anything from that time, including his mother's murder by his own hand. His servant Samuel rushes to recount the discovery of the bodies: "For God's sake, master, flee and hide, for your mother has been found, and as sure as you are a living soul, the blame lies with Fa'. on you! » (142). Here the reader can see that everyone except Robert knows he committed the murders. This point is reinforced when Robert speaks: “My mother found it!” And, pray, where was she all this time? (142). Again, the reader can see that Robert has no memory of his mother's murder. However, Samuel allows the reader to see what the rest of the world sees in relation to Robert and the murders. He replies: “Summer, sir!” Has been? Well, she has been there where you pet her, it seems, lying buried in the sand of the linn. I can tell you, you will see her frightening figure, as I never wish to see her again. And the young woman is found too, sir” (142). Through this conversation, the reader enters a world with which Robert is no longer fully in touch. His state of religious fanaticism caused him to lose control of reality and live in a state of delusion and paranoia. The theme of religious fanaticism through his profound portrayal of the Calvinist concept of predestination is again apparent through Robert's lost sense of reality. Robert's apparent state of mind clearly deteriorates throughout the novel. Readers can closely follow the events and emotions that led to this deterioration in his manuscript, which is a detailed account of the events from Robert's perspective. Robert becomes haunted by Gil-Martin, even when he is not in his presence. This constant state of paranoia drives him crazy. He gives a glimpse into his mind when he recounts: “I could no longer live with my tyrant, who haunted me like my shadow; and besides, it appears that there was evidence of murder directed against me from all sides. For some of them, I believed myself to be completely free, but the world thought otherwise” (141). Here, Robert reveals that Gil-Martin has become a tyrant in his eyes and haunts him in his daily life. The reader can also see that Robert has lost control of reality, as he is freed from the murders and does not even remember committing them. The person who has it the mostencouraged in his killing spree and the person who once fascinated him has now become the person he fears and who haunts him. The theme of religious fanaticism is shown here through the way Robert's beliefs drove him crazy and placed him in a constant state of paranoia. An ever-present example of the theme of religious fanaticism through its profound portrayal of the Calvinist concept of predestination is the evil behavior of Gil-Martin. When Robert first meets Gil-Martin in the woods, he is infatuated with his character and his intellect. His manuscript reveals: “I felt a kind of invisible power that drew me to him, something like the force of an enchantment, which I could not resist” (80). This enchantment can easily be deduced that it is the Devil's enchantment. Robert is enamored by the fact that Gil-Martin looks exactly like him and becomes even more enamored when Gil-Martin speaks: “You think I'm your brother, or that I'm your second self. I am indeed your brother, not according to the flesh, but in my belief in the same truths and in my assurance of the same mode of redemption with which I have nothing so great or so glorious on earth” ( 80). Here Robert thinks he has found someone who has exactly the same beliefs as him and who holds religion in the highest esteem. He meets Gil-Martin in one of the most optimal yet vulnerable moments of his life, when he has just been informed of his chosen status. Gil-Martin, as a devil figure, takes this opportunity to influence Robert and lead him to corruption. and sin. He is Robert's evil double and says that he envies his chosen state and will be his humble disciple, readily accepting and agreeing with each of Robert's religious beliefs to captivate him and gain his trust. Robert reveals another strange trait of Gil-Martin: "I was in a sort of fear of him, which I could not explain, and I was seized several times with an involuntary tendency to escape his presence, making a sudden retreat. But he seemed to constantly anticipate my thoughts” (81). In these lines, it appears that Gil-Martin has a sixth sense or can perhaps even read Robert's thoughts. These diabolical qualities are the first signs that there is something sinister about Gil-Martin and foreshadow that he will take advantage of Robert's faith. Critic Alison M. Jack states: "Wringhim's theology and biblical (mis)readings are the foundations on which Robert's ultimately destructive faith is built. Gil-Martin takes the theology of predestination taught by Reverend Wringhim to Robert and pushes it to its logical limits” (51). Jack explains that Robert's flawed foundation of faith can easily be twisted and stretched to fit Gil-Martin's evil motives and convince Robert to sin. Ultimately, it was this exploited character flaw that led to Robert's killing spree, and it demonstrates how the concept of predestination, when pushed to its limits, can lead to harmful effects. The overarching theme of religious fanaticism appears again through this. Gil-Martin embodies several evil qualities, but one important quality is that the reader and Robert never see him pray. For a man who claims to be of good faith and religious, it should be common for him to pray and join in prayer with his close friends. Robert realizes the lack of prayer after months of their friendship, and his manuscript says: "After weeks, and may I say months, of intimacy, I observed, somewhat astonished, that we had never prayed together, and even more, that he had constantly diverted my attention from this duty, making me neglect it completely” (88).These lines reveal Gil-Martin's lack of prayer and also how he distracts Robert from worship and prayer. To further this point, when Robert first met Gil-Martin on his eighteenth birthday, they spent the entire day discussing their beliefs. The passage states: "I then discovered that the purpose for which I had sought the fields had been neglected, and that I had been diverted from the worship of God, by occupying myself with the quibbles and dogmas of that singular and inexplicable” (82). Removing Robert from his cult is an attempt to further distance him from the Lord and his path as a member of the elect, thus making him easier to influence. when asked what his first name is, he denies having one. Gil-Martin speaks: “Very well, you can call me Gil-Martin. It's not my first name; but it is the name that can serve you” (89). By denying having a first name, Gil-Martin could very well deny being a Christian, which could foreshadow his intentions and future events. Gil-Martin's evil behavior is an example of the theme of religious fanaticism through his profound portrayal of the Calvinist concept of predestination and the way he twists Robert's concepts of religion to fit his own behavior.agenda.Gil-Martin Martin, as a devil figure, is manipulative and cunning. He uses Robert's chosen status and the concept of predestination as a weapon against him. He encourages him to sin and constantly reinforces the idea that sins are justified because they belong to the elect and instruments of the Lord. By murdering these people, he says they are ridding the world of sin. Without this push from Gil-Martin and without him placing so much emphasis on Robert's chosen status, Robert likely would not have started his killing spree and would have devoted his time to prayer and worship. . Robert begins to fear the presence of Gil-Martin, as if he could sense the bad qualities that his friend embodies. In his manuscript, Robert remembers: “When I was alone, I breathed more freely and my step was lighter; but when he approached, a pang rose in my heart, and in his company I moved and behaved as if under a load which I could scarcely bear” (126). These lines reveal the fear and stress that Gil-Martin, through his evil behavior and motivations, places on Robert when he is present. The theme of religious fanaticism is present again in the way Gil-Martin manipulates Robert and uses his status against him. The most important devilish quality that Gil-Martin encompasses is his ability to change his appearance. The reader first witnesses this act when Robert first encounters Gil-Martin in the woods. Gil-Martin takes on a strikingly identical appearance to Robert. However, during Robert's next meeting with Gil-Martin, he looks completely different. Gil-Martin responds to Robert's confusion about his appearance by stating, "My face changes with my studies and my feelings. It's a natural trait of mine, over which I don't have complete control. If I seriously contemplate a man's features, mine gradually take on the same appearance and the same character” (86). No normal man can change his appearance in this way, and when Gil-Martin uses this ability to commit murder, it can only be seen as an evil quality. Critic Ian Duncan states: “Gil-Martin's 'The Art of the Chameleon' combines sympathy with physiognomy, the art of interpreting the shapes and expressions of people's faces. This physiognomy is clearly invasive – a colonization of the other which erases the properties of his interiority, of his supposedly inalienable private self” (346)..