The World According to Paul: Comedy and Theology in “Joseph Andrews”
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- James E. Evans, Professor (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Abstract: ALTHOUGH THE CHRISTIAN CONTEXT of Fielding?s first novel and its comic techniques have been much discussed, I propose to combine these perspectives, to interpret the novel?s comedy through a biblical passage, I Corinthians 3: 18-19, which, given the nature of Parson Adams? folly, surprisingly has not been made a key to interpretation.1 These verses from Paul?s epistle bring together comedy and theology in Joseph Andrews. In them he advised the Christians of Corinth: “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him be a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” The passage illustrates a fundamental motif of comedy, the inversion often called “the world upside down.”2 What seems to be wisdom in the ways of the world is, to the Christian, mostly folly; conversely, apparent foolishness unconcerned with worldly ends, is not folly at all but, in the Christian perspective, wisdom, since it follows God?s ways rather than man?s.
The World According to Paul: Comedy and Theology in “Joseph Andrews”
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Created on 6/8/2011
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Ariel: A Review of International English Literature 15.1 (1984): 45-56.
- Language: English
- Date: 1984
- Keywords
- Henry Fielding, Christian influence, Wisdom, Theology