The aim of the hereby paper is to present the character of Evelyn Waugh. His career as a journalist was truncated as a direct result of his literary success with his first novel, Decline and Fall. Although his racy novels of the ‘Bright Young People’ in 1920s England made his reputation, he was a profoundly conservative writer who also had great success with more sombre works like Brideshead Revisited. Waugh’s attitudes towards the marriage, faith, Catholicism and the aristocracy were very complex, and they changed over the years. I have tried to demonstrate the shape of these changes by tracing references to these themes in Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited. Brideshead Revisited, as he stated, is the account of the intervention of God’s Grace in a family.
When Brideshead was first published in 1945 it dismayed some critics and readers. It might be shocking that in fact so little they realised what the novel is really about. They thought it an excuse for aristocratic snobbery, suspected it to be sycophantic praise of a small Catholic clique, and condemned it for pandering to an unhealthy taste for miracles. Fifteen years after writing the novel, Waugh declared that he sees many faults in the book and he thought it necessary to excuse himself by the fact that he wrote it seduced by a consequent post-war nostalgia , nevertheless, at the time he wrote the novel, however, he had no doubt he was writing something of utmost importance. Better than anyone Waugh knew that it deals with far more than an age which witnessed a regrettable decline in splendid living. Its major theme – the need to place one’s relationship with God at the very centre of one’s life – is something very different. Moreover, the following paper intends to analyse the two approaches to the world of faith, namely – Catholicism and Atheism in order to find the reasons behind the common between 1890s and 1950s conversions to Catholicism, especially amongst the poets, artists and writers.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Chapter One: Evelyn Waugh – the Life of the Writer
- 1.1. Waugh and his literary features
- 1.2. Waugh's Literary Achievement
- 1.3. Critical Reception of Waugh's Works
- 1.4. Summary - Waugh in a Flashback
- Chapter Two: The Two Worlds - Catholicism vs. Atheism
- 2.1. Atheism
- 2.2. Catholicism
- 2.3. Brief History of Catholicism
- 2.4. The Roman Catholic Church and Other Catholic groups
- 2.5. The demographics of contemporary Catholicism
- 2.6. Catholicism Sacraments
- Chapter Three: Waugh and His Conversion - Brideshead Revisited
- 3.1. The Critical Reaction to Waugh's Conversion
- 3.2. The Analysis of the Brideshead Revisited in view of Catholicism
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to present the character of Evelyn Waugh, exploring his life, career, and evolving attitudes towards marriage, faith, Catholicism, and aristocracy. The analysis focuses on tracing these themes through his novel, Brideshead Revisited, and examining the reasons behind conversions to Catholicism among intellectuals in the 19th and 20th centuries. The paper also contrasts Catholicism and Atheism to provide context for Waugh's journey.
- Evelyn Waugh's life and literary career
- The contrasting ideologies of Catholicism and Atheism
- Thematic analysis of Brideshead Revisited
- Waugh's conversion to Catholicism
- Intellectual conversions to Catholicism in the 19th and 20th centuries
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter One: Evelyn Waugh – the Life of the Writer: This chapter provides biographical information on Evelyn Waugh, tracing his early life, education at Lancing and Oxford, and his early literary career. It details his family background, including his religious upbringing and subsequent loss of faith during his time at Oxford. The chapter highlights the influence of his social circle and his early literary successes, while also touching on the complexities of his personality and public image, noting his self-presentation as a dilettante in contrast to the careful craftsmanship of his writing.
Chapter Two: The Two Worlds - Catholicism vs. Atheism: This chapter explores the fundamental tenets of both Catholicism and Atheism, providing essential background information to understand the context of Waugh's conversion and the intellectual climate of the time. It delves into the historical development of Catholicism, its diverse expressions, and its demographic landscape. The chapter lays the groundwork for an understanding of the intellectual and spiritual considerations that may have contributed to conversions to Catholicism amongst writers and artists of the era. It establishes the philosophical and theological framework for the discussion of Waugh's personal religious journey.
Chapter Three: Waugh and His Conversion - Brideshead Revisited: This chapter focuses on Evelyn Waugh's novel, Brideshead Revisited, analyzing its depiction of faith, religion, and the complexities of human relationships within a Catholic framework. It examines the critical reception of the novel and explores the author's motivations behind portraying the themes in the way he did, considering how personal experiences and beliefs informed his work. It considers the novel as a reflection on faith, holiness, and the timeless search for peace of soul.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited, Catholicism, Atheism, conversion, faith, literature, biography, 20th-century literature, religious belief, intellectual history.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Evelyn Waugh and Brideshead Revisited
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a scholarly work focusing on Evelyn Waugh, his life, his conversion to Catholicism, and the thematic analysis of his novel, Brideshead Revisited. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What topics are covered in the document?
The document covers Evelyn Waugh's biography, his literary achievements and critical reception; a comparison of Catholicism and Atheism; a detailed analysis of Brideshead Revisited within the context of Waugh's conversion and Catholic beliefs; and the broader historical context of intellectual conversions to Catholicism in the 19th and 20th centuries.
What are the key themes explored?
Key themes explored include Evelyn Waugh's life and literary career; the contrasting ideologies of Catholicism and Atheism; thematic analysis of Brideshead Revisited; Waugh's conversion to Catholicism; and intellectual conversions to Catholicism in the 19th and 20th centuries.
What is included in Chapter One: Evelyn Waugh – the Life of the Writer?
Chapter One provides a biographical overview of Evelyn Waugh, covering his early life, education, early literary career, family background, religious upbringing, and the complexities of his personality and public image. It highlights the influence of his social circle and early literary successes.
What is the focus of Chapter Two: The Two Worlds - Catholicism vs. Atheism?
Chapter Two explores the fundamental tenets of Catholicism and Atheism, offering historical context for Waugh's conversion. It delves into the historical development of Catholicism, its various expressions, and its demographics, providing a framework for understanding intellectual and spiritual considerations influencing conversions to Catholicism.
What does Chapter Three: Waugh and His Conversion - Brideshead Revisited cover?
Chapter Three focuses on Brideshead Revisited, analyzing its depiction of faith, religion, and human relationships within a Catholic framework. It examines critical reception and explores the author's motivations, considering how personal experiences and beliefs shaped his work. It interprets the novel as a reflection on faith, holiness, and the search for peace of soul.
What are the keywords associated with this work?
Keywords include Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited, Catholicism, Atheism, conversion, faith, literature, biography, 20th-century literature, religious belief, and intellectual history.
Who is the intended audience for this document?
The intended audience is likely academic researchers and students interested in Evelyn Waugh, 20th-century literature, religious studies, and intellectual history. The information is presented in a structured and professional manner suitable for academic use.
What is the overall aim of the analysis presented?
The aim is to present a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of Evelyn Waugh, his life, his literary work, and the intellectual and spiritual journey that led to his conversion to Catholicism, all viewed through the lens of his novel, Brideshead Revisited.
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- Marta Zapała-Kraj (Autor:in), 2019, The Character of Evelyn Waugh. Catholicism Clashed with Atheism, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/591334
