Social injustices and human suffering are topics of the Victorian social problem novel. Following the rapid changes of society due to the industrialisation, the English working class became a victim of its circumstances. In Elisabeth Gaskell's novel "North and South" the character of Bessy Higgins embodies the type of the suffering innocent. In this figure, both social criticism and religious concepts and contemporary ideologies come together to form an understanding of afterlife that makes it possible to live with the Hell on Earth of the industrial period. This text studies the religious teachings of Unitarianism and Universalism of the Victorian period and applies them to the understanding of afterlife depicted by Gaskell.
In this paper, the term universalism is restricted to Christian universalism in the sense of an apocatastasis (i.e. ‘reconstitution’ or ‘restoration’) with focus on the aspect of reconciliation (which is what Bessy repeatedly mentions when she talks of afterlife). The research question is whether the ideas and concepts the character of Bessy Higgins states about life after death are closer to the Unitarian or Universalist belief. This paper will analyse the character’s comments and how Heaven and Hell in Bessy’s understanding work. The statements will be compared to both religious persuasions and thereby draw the close relation between these two beliefs but also point out their differences.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction.
- Unitarianism and Afterlife
- Universalism and Afterlife.
- Analysis of Heaven and Hell in Bessy's Life
- Hell
- Heaven
- Conclusion.........
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper explores the concepts of Heaven and Hell in Elizabeth Gaskell's novel "North and South", particularly through the character of Bessy Higgins, who faces a fatal lung condition. The paper examines how these concepts are informed by two prominent Victorian religious denominations: Unitarianism and Universalism. The research question focuses on identifying whether Bessy's beliefs about the afterlife align more closely with Unitarian or Universalist views.
- The role of Heaven and Hell in the Victorian social problem novel
- The influence of Unitarianism and Universalism on Victorian understandings of the afterlife
- Analysis of Bessy Higgins's personal beliefs about Heaven and Hell
- The connection between Bessy's experiences of suffering and her hope for an afterlife
- The differences and similarities between Unitarian and Universalist interpretations of afterlife
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction introduces the main theme of the paper: the concept of Heaven and Hell in Elizabeth Gaskell's "North and South", focusing on the character of Bessy Higgins. The paper investigates the influence of Unitarianism and Universalism on Bessy's understanding of the afterlife. Chapter 2 explores the concept of Unitarianism and how it relates to the afterlife. It examines how Unitarian beliefs differ from other Christian denominations, particularly in their rejection of the trinity and emphasis on reconciliation with God. Chapter 3 discusses Universalism, outlining its belief in the ultimate salvation of all people through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The chapter highlights the similarities and differences between Unitarianism and Universalism in their perspectives on afterlife. Chapter 4 analyzes Bessy Higgins's understanding of Heaven and Hell. It examines how these concepts are manifested in her life and how they relate to her experiences of suffering in the industrial town of Milton.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper focuses on the key themes of Heaven, Hell, Unitarianism, Universalism, and the afterlife in the context of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel "North and South". Important concepts explored include the influence of Victorian social conditions on religious beliefs, the concept of reconciliation with God, and the rejection of eternal punishment.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Almut Amberg (Autor:in), 2015, The Heaven and Hell of Bessy Higgins. Unitarian and Universalist Concepts of Afterlife in Elisabeth Gaskell's "North and South", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/954644
