Johnny Got His Gun Analysis Persuasive Essay Example

existence.

John Updike utilizes his insights to highlight human emotions in his writing. He posits that the human conscience constantly experiences guilt for transgressing the laws of two distinct moralities. This feeling of guilt is recognized by Updike, enabling him to vividly illustrate the connections between the past and the present. Moreover, his writings capture a sense of human incompleteness and the disparity between reality and the ideal. These portrayals reflect how humans strive to overcome these emotions.

Updike effectively embodies his philosophies through the utilization of his characters, whom he considers as multifaceted and intellectual creations. These characters hold significance to him, and he perceives his books as objects with various shapes and textures, possessing the mysteriousness of anything that exists. According to Updike, an artist brings forth something new into the world without simultaneously destroying something else. Through the incorporation of his characters, he fully expresses his beliefs.

John Updike's writing reflects his ability to find connections between humanity and the universe, emphasizing the significance of existence in both the past and the present. He explores new ideas and perspectives, conveying the belief that everything has a purpose and meaning. Amidst mankind's eternal struggle to comprehend God and the heavens, Updike delves into the relationship between God and man. While humans long for immortality, they are hindered by their own limitations. Influenced by "Karl Barth and his predecessor Kierkegaard," Updike's religious beliefs revolve around the concept of God as the "Wholly Other," stressing the inability of man to reach God, but rather, the power of God to impact humanity's ordinary lives (Broadening 280).

Religion and aspects of humankind both grapple

with the issue of morality. Humankind has sought to enhance their morality through their belief in God; however, there exist substantial disparities between the nature of God and the way in which humans perceive and portray God. John Updike had frequently cited Karl Barth's statement, "one cannot speak of God by speaking of man in a loud voice," which underscores the utter distinction between the divine and the human (World 3754). Although humans will never attain the same level of morality as God, they will persist in their pursuit of morality through religious means.

Morality is an essential aspect of life, taking various forms. Updike explores the dichotomy between an abstract moral code and an inner drive. According to Updike, morality aims to protect us from pain (World 3754). Being moral aligns humans with God and allows them to achieve immortality through religious rituals. George Caldwell believes that obeying God will prolong his career and bring him blessings.

In the mind of Mankind, there is a conflict between God and human instincts. The worship of God and the ritual of love are hindered as man struggles to choose between the two. Attempting a relationship with both raises religious and moral questions (World 3758-3759). It requires great effort for humans to salvage this relationship and understand "the difference between man and God, and consequently between ethics and faith" (World 3754). Through the ritual of worship, man establishes a connection with both themselves and God.

At times, Mankind is perplexed by the clash between morality and human instinct. John Updike's fiction creates a morally ambiguous world due to the ongoing conflict between two opposing forms of human morality (World 3754).

In The Centaur, Updike portrays the challenges of faith and the difficulty of making moral choices. When Venus attempts to seduce Chiron, he hesitates, fearing the repercussions from God (World 3755). This reveals Chiron's, or George Caldwell's, fear of displeasing God if he were to engage in any actions that would implicate him. The Centaur exemplifies the everyday struggles faced by individuals who grapple with the temptation of human desires while hesitant to transgress moral boundaries.

People believe that death could lead to heaven, although the true nature of heaven is beyond human comprehension. On the other hand, earthly matters are within their grasp. They have faith that by practicing religion and engaging in worship, they can achieve ultimate truth and existence.

In his writings, John Updike delves into the interconnectedness of religion, immortality, and morality. He illustrates how these concepts are closely linked to humanity's pursuit of truth and perfection. Humans possess both moral and human aspects that they must reconcile with each other. Through ritualistic practices, they can gain some insight into immortality and God.

Updike utilizes ritual as a means to explore existence and its significance. Although rituals may initially seem monotonous and repetitive on the surface, they actually serve as a celebration of life. Unfortunately, society has reduced rituals to mindless and meaningless activities, stripping them of their value and importance.

The significance of ritual in everyday life is emphasized by John Updike (Broadening 278). He portrays ordinary actions and situations and highlights their emotional significance (Contemporary Vol. 7 487). By presenting ceremonies and infusing them with meaning, Updike enables individuals to comprehend the passage of time through repetition (Contemporary Vol. 7 486).

If rituals can discover new patterns, myths, and ways to reintegrate humanity, they can maintain their strong hold (Contemporary Vol. 7 487). Updike appreciates the vital role of routine, as ritual imbues life with meaning and advocates for recognition of both itself and time.

Rituals permeate all aspects of existence, whether evident or subtle, becoming woven into the fabric of human experience (Contemporary Vol. 7 487). Humans rely on rituals, beginning with the very act of living. Each breath we take, the circulation of our blood, and the vitality of our cells all form part of this ritual of existence. Consuming food sustains life, while sleep nurtures it. These rituals hold profound significance.

Love is a common ritual in daily life, but unfortunately, it has become commonplace and lost its meaning. However, in The Centaur, some people believe that love is all they have. In this context, love is enduring, kind, selfless, patient, and virtuous. It holds purpose and meaning in life (World 3758). Caldwell exemplifies this belief by valuing his love for his family as his sole offering and relying on it to sustain both himself and others after he passes away.

Celebration is another significant aspect of human existence that serves to raise awareness among individuals and foster connections between them. It can be seen as a ritual because it focuses on the union of past and present while integrating sensual, emotional, and rational elements. Its primary purpose is to express religious sentiments tangibly and embody the transcendent (Contemporary Vol. 7 487). Through celebration, individuals become part of a greater truth and existence. Moreover, celebrating joy and triumph aligns with the universe's own celebration.

Death

serves as the final stage in life's journey, transitioning from the current world to the next (Broadening 285). It can be viewed as a sacrificial ritual or a passage away from the burdens of everyday life. A parallel can be drawn between George Caldwell's sacrifice for his son Peter in The Centaur and Chiron, the centaur who sacrifices himself for Prometheus (Magill's 1993). Caldwell believes that enduring his own monotonous and painful existence will ultimately benefit his family by providing stability in terms of income and living situation. He selflessly gives everything he has to others, leaving nothing for himself. This act of selflessness mirrors the sacrifices made by people for their loved ones today. Paradoxically, death can prolong life for others.

Mythology also plays a crucial role in rituals and offers an imaginative narrative addressing existence, life, and death (Contemporary Vol.7 486). It presents a story of "what really happened" while guiding present-day activities and lives. Myth and ritual are intertwined, with mythology breathing life into history by adding depth to characters and figures who have become immortalized in myths. In The Centaur, myth is utilized to enhance understanding of George Caldwell's actions and the consequences he faces, thus enriching both the book itself and its charactersThe role of ritual in understanding existence is significant as it involves observing repetitive and seemingly insignificant patterns in daily life. These rituals symbolically bind different elements together and give them a place within the passage of time. Undoubtedly, ritual has become an essential part of our being and, along with myth, connects us to our history. Ultimately, ritual consistently uncovers the underlying truth.

John Updike incorporates his philosophies and

beliefs into his writings, highlighting the conflict between man and God regarding morality. Worship serves as a means for man to gain a better understanding of God, while religion is used to preserve a sense of immortality and attain higher levels of existence and truth, ultimately transcending death. Rituals hold significance in the present moment, linking it to the everyday world, the past, and the future. As a result, rituals symbolize life itself by presenting new patterns for growth and fulfillment. Through myths, the past becomes eternal and meaningful. Consequently, ritualistic practices and the worship of God fulfill mankind's deep longing for truth, existence, and significance.

Works Cited
Updike, John. Broadening Views, 1968-1988. Vol. 6. Ed. C.E. Frazer Clark Jr. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1989.
Updike, John. The Centaur. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1963.

John Updike's works, "Contemporary Literary Criticism," are available in two volumes. The first volume was edited by Carolyn Riley and Phyllis Carmel Mendelson and published by Gale Research Company in Detroit in 1976. The second volume, edited by Phyllis Carmel Mendelson and Dedria Bryfonski, was also published by Gale Research Company in Detroit but in 1977.

The citation for the text is:

Updike, John. Magill's Survey of American Literature. Vol. 6. Ed. Frank N. Magill. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 1991.

Updike, John. World Literature Criticism: 1500 to the Present. Vol. 6. Ed. James P. Draper. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1992.