Jonah the prophet in Israel is approached by God. God tells him to leave Israel and go to the city of Ninveh to announce the destruction of the city because of their wickedness. Unwilling to carry out God's word Jonah sneaks onto a boat in an attempt to flees from God. Forgetting that it is impossible to run away from God, Jonah is thrown overboard by the sailors in order to end a horrific storm and is swallowed by a large fish, an act of God. While Jonah was in the fish for three full days he prays and repents to God to save him. God decides to accept his repentance and causes the fish to spit Jonah out onto dry land. God comes to Jonah another time and tells him to go to Ninveh and declare that the city will be destroys because of the evil-doing. This time Jonah does not run away from God, instead he goes to Ninveh and tells them the word of God.
This journey of Jonah, sinning repenting then finally obeying the commandment of God, is similar to the spiritual journey of the protagonist, Stephen Dedalus. Stephen, feeling alienated from his family because of his different religious views, bumps into an attractive prostitute on the street and sleeps with her. Stephen’s sexual encounter was done knowingly against the will of God. Likewise; Jonah knowingly fled to the ship in order to defy the commandment of God. After Stephen’s first sexual encounter with the prostitutes, he can’t help himself from wanting more. Jonah too, can’t help himself from ignoring God by forgetting that he controls all and that you cannot run away from the Omnipotent.
When Stephen returns to school he is trapped in a sermon given by Father Arnell, forced to listen to him speak in grave depth about the torment of hell. Just as Stephen was trapped in the sermon likewise, Jonah was trapped in the mouth of the large fish. While both characters are trapped they begin to introspect about their lives. Jonah realizes that everything that happened was from God proving that he cannot run away from God. Stephen realizes that his sin has destroyed the innocence of the love of his life. This helped Stephen realize that if he does not confess and repent he is on the path to hell, as described by Father Arnell. Both Stephen and Jonah confess their sins and pray for the forgiveness of God.
After both characters have confessed their sins they are now able to go out into the world and are faced with the same test again but instead of sinning they act appropriately, in the way of God. After his confession Stephen does a quick turn-around and becomes a devout Catholic observer and he attempts to overcome sin by going to an extreme and not making eye contact with women. Although he is tempted he does not act on his temptations no more. Stephen now lives a life devoid of luxuries and devoid of sin. Similarly with Jonah, God speaks to him telling Jonah to go tell Ninveh to repent or else they will be destroyed for their wickedness. Without hesitation, Jonah runs to Ninveh to deliver the word of God, the citizens of Ninveh repented and their lives were spared.
Interestingly, both characters are not satisfied with the results. Jonah is upset that he delivered the message of God and spared the lives of the evil citizens. Jonah fled for a reason and he is upset that he gave in too easily. He is so distraught by this extreme transformation he asks God to kill him, to end his misery. Similarly Stephen is also not happy with his transformation. He realizes that he does not want to live a life completely devoted to the Catholic Church because it hinders the experience of being a cultured human being.
The comparison of the journey of Jonah to the journey of Stephen helps the reader understand the dangers and consequences of religious extremes. Stephen is back and forth between leading a complete devout religious life or a life completely devoid of religion. Ironically, his confusion is as black and white as Father Darnell’s sermon regarding heaven and hell. Religion is not a black and white. Each individual person must bring their life to a balance. Just as Stephen has come to a balance regarding women -where he does not view them as objects nor does he swear them off completely he can approach them and engage in conversation with them- similar balance must be done with religion After much struggle Stephen comes to religious balance where he isolates himself from his family and religion in order to become an artist; however he views his artwork as a service to the community similar to the role of a prophet, who isolates himself in order to serve the community.
I really liked your comparison between Stephen and Jonah's religious journeys. Not only does this post demonstrate the role religion played in both Stephen and Jonah's lives, but it clearly shows how religion is a major theme in the novel, in that by reading it and understanding Stephen's character you were able to draw a comparision to another religious figure.
ReplyDeleteThis comparison is very interesting, although there is one major difference between the two plots. Jonah returns to God because he realizes that he cannot escape Him. Stephen, on the other hand, realizes just the opposite, that he can in fact choose to lead a life without God. He liberates himself, whereas Jonah concludes the exact opposite--that he is unable to escape his divine calling. A possible explanation for their different religious conclusions is that Stephen's religious experience is heavily colored by his teachers and superiors, which serve as mediators between him and God and who may have contributed in turning him off from the Church. Jonah, on the other hand, only experiences a direct relationship with God.
ReplyDeleteI like Sarit's distinction above. Good comment.
ReplyDeleteI also liked Sarit's distinction. Ilana, this is a really cool comparison. Also, can't help but notice that you chose to write about whales!
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