Spoiler Warning: Do not read this post if you have yet to complete Descent Into Hell and would prefer not to know what happens before you have finished reading it - unless, of course (which is hopefully not the case) you have no intention of finishing it or reading it to begin with . . .
Anyway, I find something about the character of Wentworth to be particularly interesting. (Well, perhaps it is not so much his “character” that is interesting as much as how Charles Williams portrays certain aspects of Wentworth's falling; thus, in that sense, it would be Williams' depiction of Wentworth that I find intriguing.)
Regardless, during Wentworth's descent*, there seems to be this idea that he could have made certain choices – even small choices – which may have been, or led to, his salvation. What struck me was that some of these choices were (seemingly) so random, such as the choice of the uniform of the Guard (Ch. VIII, pg. 143-145).
Yet, there was one choice that seemed somewhat strange to me: “He hated Aston Moffatt. Hate still lived in him a little, and hate might almost have saved him, though nothing else could, had he hated with a scholar's hate” (Ch. XII, pg. 214). Having a feeling of scholarly hatred might have been his salvation, but “He did not (have “a scholar's hate”); his hate and his grudge were personal and obscene” (214).
Yet, how is having scholarly hatred any different from a personal hatred? Both are “hate,” and we would generally conceive neither of these kinds of hatred to be very good. I understand the concept that having a kind of hatred that goes beyond the self might take one (at least for a time) outside one' own narcissism. I am just having a little difficulty knowing how this would appear different – other than an image of a boiling, or cancerous hatred gnawing away at one' inside (personal), versus . . . I don't know . . . two scholars tossing words back and forth (scholarly)? But that may be done without hatred or animosity on their part . . .
*I used the word “falling” earlier, but I am not convinced that that was the most appropriate term for what we are discussing. “Falling” generally seems to imply such a sudden act that could almost be taken as involuntary: i.e. you slipped and fell; that was not your choice. “Descent” usually depicts something much slower, and with more of an implication that the action is done as a result of one's own decisions. You may “descend” the stairs, but would you like to “fall” down the stairs? I can assure you from my own experience that descending is so much easier that it may almost occur unnoticed; falling is not advisable . . . but it is, most definitely, noticeable – unless you wind up with a concussion (which, even then, would probably only alleviate any pain temporarily).
Anyway, I find something about the character of Wentworth to be particularly interesting. (Well, perhaps it is not so much his “character” that is interesting as much as how Charles Williams portrays certain aspects of Wentworth's falling; thus, in that sense, it would be Williams' depiction of Wentworth that I find intriguing.)
Regardless, during Wentworth's descent*, there seems to be this idea that he could have made certain choices – even small choices – which may have been, or led to, his salvation. What struck me was that some of these choices were (seemingly) so random, such as the choice of the uniform of the Guard (Ch. VIII, pg. 143-145).
Yet, there was one choice that seemed somewhat strange to me: “He hated Aston Moffatt. Hate still lived in him a little, and hate might almost have saved him, though nothing else could, had he hated with a scholar's hate” (Ch. XII, pg. 214). Having a feeling of scholarly hatred might have been his salvation, but “He did not (have “a scholar's hate”); his hate and his grudge were personal and obscene” (214).
Yet, how is having scholarly hatred any different from a personal hatred? Both are “hate,” and we would generally conceive neither of these kinds of hatred to be very good. I understand the concept that having a kind of hatred that goes beyond the self might take one (at least for a time) outside one' own narcissism. I am just having a little difficulty knowing how this would appear different – other than an image of a boiling, or cancerous hatred gnawing away at one' inside (personal), versus . . . I don't know . . . two scholars tossing words back and forth (scholarly)? But that may be done without hatred or animosity on their part . . .
*I used the word “falling” earlier, but I am not convinced that that was the most appropriate term for what we are discussing. “Falling” generally seems to imply such a sudden act that could almost be taken as involuntary: i.e. you slipped and fell; that was not your choice. “Descent” usually depicts something much slower, and with more of an implication that the action is done as a result of one's own decisions. You may “descend” the stairs, but would you like to “fall” down the stairs? I can assure you from my own experience that descending is so much easier that it may almost occur unnoticed; falling is not advisable . . . but it is, most definitely, noticeable – unless you wind up with a concussion (which, even then, would probably only alleviate any pain temporarily).
posted by Christensen at 3:04 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home