"Year of Wonders" Religious fervour Essay attempt. Would like feedback.

[jeanweasley]

Hi all! I need feedback for my essay.
Did this in 58 min but may not be fully indicative of my performance as I typed it


“Year of Wonders” demonstrates the sinister side of religious fervour. Discuss.

Geraldine Brooks’ “Year of Wonders” explores not only the sinister side of religious fervour but also the humanistic ideals which evolve from it. The restrictive mindsets of most of the people in Eyam drive people to use others as scapegoats as a result of their fear from the Plague. It is also through religous fervour, however, which helps shape Eyam through the compassionate actions emulated by Anna, Elinor and Mompellion in their daily toil with Plague sufferers.

The villagers’ restrictive minds and ignorance from pursuing knowledge lead them to use others as scapegoats to satisfy their desire to explain the occurrence of the Plague. From the Puritan beliefs of Mr Stanley, a previous town pastor who believed that God’s actions were to “punish or chastise” and that actions were ever only “godly and right or Satanic or evil”, it is evident that this belief forms as a basis for most of the townspeople’s motivations in finding the reason for Plague’s occurrence. As they are fearful of the emergence of new knowledge found in science or the herbs and cures which Anys and Mem develop, the villagers, such as Lib Hancock condemn Anys and Mem as they are social outcasts and can easily be blamed as they had no husbands and were therefore thought to be witches. This belief leads the villagers to use Mem and Anys as scapegoats to give reason for the Plague. In fact, Anys’ mocking revelation is indicative of the townspeople’s ignorance as they believed that she had “lain with the devil”. Brooks utilises the red dress to display Anys’s fieriness and her sexual independence as a woman as she was able to choose her fate and the men she slept with. This contrasts with the many women’s restrictive thinking, especially Ahpra who was jealous with Anys because she was free from the burden of following a man’s orders as she was unmarried, unlike Ahpra. Brooks demonises the villagers for the death of Mem and Anys as they are scapegoats who have paid for the ignorance of mankind and their reluctance of accepting new knowledge because of their fear.

Religous extremists such as Mompellion are condemned as Brooks believe that total emulation of God can prove to be fatal and will only lead to questioning the purpose of one’s religion. Mompellion’s belief that he knows God’s words is a foundation to his downfall. He believes that his wife must atone for her past sins as he as a “scale of justice” must weigh her sins with her atonement. This belief that Mompellion alone can decide what must happen to his wife gives him dominance over her as he is the “image of God” on Earth. Mompellion’s act of emulation in being the all-knowing God has its consequences as he blames God for the death of his beloved wife and for the many deaths that the Plague brings. He attributes these to God and finds him a “poor listener” as many have died. This leads him to a sexual encounter with Anna arguing that because he no longer believes in God, he is “free to do whatever I please”. On the other hand, John Gordon becomes a flagellant and “scourge[  s]” himself because he believes that the Plague occurred because of human sins and in order to atone for it, flagellates himself. In the end, he dies by the river. Brooks does not support the idea that no one can possibly interpret God’s words because he is an omnipotent authority and that total emulation of him or religious extremism can cause dire consequences.

However, compassion arises from religous fervour through the works of Anna, Elinor and Mompellion who make it their duty to care for the Plague sufferers and to raise their morale through the whole encounter with the Plague. Mompellion proposes for quarantine and convinces the villagers that the Plague is a “casket of gold” and a gift from God that must be faced. The act of quarantine itself is considerate of other villagers as the Plague was contagious and could have affected other cities. Anna and Elinor also help the villagers through their knowledge of medicine and through the symbolism of Anna being the shepherd; she becomes one of the leaders who tend to their needs and to look after them. This is evident in Anna retrieving Merry Wickford’s mine although she was fearful because her husband had died in mine. However, she overcomes her fear and is able to help. Elinor also provides Anna knowledge and in her knowledge groom her to become the town healer and midwife. Brooks portrays that hope in the time of adversity will overcome it as people like Anna, Elinor and Mompellion help the villagers to remain strong and withstand the damages of the Plague.

Brooks examines religious fervour and contrasts its sinister and amiable side arguing that ignorance and limited knowledge lead people into using others as scapegoats. Total emulation of God and religious extremism is proven to be dangerous as Brooks believes it is destructive the faith that they believe in. In contrast, Brooks shapes certain characters to show compassion in times of adversity and uses this to affirm that it is through knowledge of the world that one better understands the purpose of it.

[jeanweasley]

Bump.