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Vertical Man: The Human Being in the Catholic Novels of Graham Greene, Sigrid Undset, and Georges Bernanos
Catholicism has traditionally embraced both a clearly delineated belief in God and an unique view of human nature. Over the past half century, the traditional Catholic concept of man as a creature in an individual relationship with his Creator ("vertical man") has been challenged by many dissatisfied theologians and writers. For many people today, even within the Catholic Church, man is now defined predominantly by a nexus of social relationships. He has become "horizontal man," obsessed with himself and distant from God. In reply to this prevailing ideology, Whitehouse, a Reader in Comparative Literature in the University of Bradford, provides detailed interpretations of the human being in the works of three major twentieth-century Catholic novelists. His interpretations suggest a fruitful alternative and antidote to the dissent that is now so prevalent in the Church, and offer a richer view of humanity and its potential.
260 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1990
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May 7, 2016
The book did illuminate for me the very polemical thing Undset was trying to do, in terms of promoting a Catholic vision of life -- which was amazing, because her characters are still so very rich.
there were some interesting quotes from her other works about the duty of fiction writers to tell about the "truth of the grimness of life along with the Grace of God." One of the most telling quotes: "Our race has been revolting against the creator since the beginning of time. Revolt, betrayal, denial, or indifference, sloth, laziness -- which of us has not been guilty of one of these sins?" (93)
He makes some interesting comments about Undset's interest in adult sexual relations as a rich and natural part of life -- especially when in the context of marriage, and the way in which she sees religious devotion as a natural part of maturing into a responsible adult member of the community.
there were some interesting quotes from her other works about the duty of fiction writers to tell about the "truth of the grimness of life along with the Grace of God." One of the most telling quotes: "Our race has been revolting against the creator since the beginning of time. Revolt, betrayal, denial, or indifference, sloth, laziness -- which of us has not been guilty of one of these sins?" (93)
He makes some interesting comments about Undset's interest in adult sexual relations as a rich and natural part of life -- especially when in the context of marriage, and the way in which she sees religious devotion as a natural part of maturing into a responsible adult member of the community.
Displaying 1 of 1 review