Good fortune, pleasure, contentment, and joy encompass happiness itself. Throughout Evelyn Waugh’s novel Brideshead Revisited, this concept of happiness is a major theme. From the beginning of the story, Charles and Sebastian form an intimate bond that in turn brings the two of them happiness. The question behind the happiness, for me, was whether or not they truly enjoyed each other or if they were somehow seeking an escape from their unhappiness in life through one another. Charles is in awe of Sebastian’s glorious lifestyle and finds his family and wealth fascinating, while Sebastian, on the other hand, is looking for an escape from his family through both alcohol and his friendship with Charles. The desire to escape from his family leads to a tension in their friendship that extends throughout the entire novel. Although Charles continues to reassure Sebastian that he is on his side, he also makes a point to stay close to the members of Charles’ family.
Alongside this theme of happiness comes the similar theme of love. At the end of the story Charles is, to my surprise, a Catholic. I drew a parallel between Charles’ artistic abilities to an undiscovered inspiration from God in the final page of the book when Charles narrates:
"Something quite remote from anything the builders intended has come out of their work, and out of the fierce little human tragedy in which I played; something none of us thought about at the time: a small red flame – a beaten-copper lamp of deplorable design, relit before the beaten-copper doors of a tabernacle; the flame which the old knights saw from their tombs, which they saw put out; that flame burns again for other soldiers, far from home, farther, in heart, than Acre or Jerusalem. It could not have been lit but for the builders and the tragedians, and there I found it this morning, burning anew among the old stones." (Waugh 351).
The candle referenced here refers to the candle that is kept lit at the tabernacle on Catholic alters and the bread, which is taken as the body of Christ, is accompanied by a burning flame to signify the presence of God. At this final scene in the book Charles finds comfort in these Catholic references, suggesting that the title itself "Brideshead Revisited" symbolizes Charles' journey to Catholicism as well.
Now what does art have to do with this final scene of Charles' Catholicism? Charles describes "…a beaten-copper lamp of deplorable design…" during his visit to the Chapel. Clearly this acknowledgement of art during his time of conversion shows how important art truly was throughout his life. Perhaps God was in Charles' life during the story, inspiring his art despite the fact that Charles himself could not see this. The irony here is that Julia and Charles could not be together because of his denial of faith:
"That is what it would mean; starting a life with you, without Him. […] But I saw to-day there was one thing unforgivable – like things in the schoolroom, so bad they are unpunishable, that only Mummy could deal with – the bad thing I was on the point of doing, that I'm not quite bad enough to do; to set up a rival good to God's. […] It may be a private bargain between me and God, that if I give up this one thing I want so much, however bad I am, He won't quite despair of me in the end." (Waugh 247).
God's invisible influence throughout the novel shape each characters' lives, but in this discussion particularly Charles'. Through his art, his intimate friendship with Sebastian, his forbidden relationship with Julia, his discussions with Lady Marchmain (influencing him to convert), and even his father's lack of appreciation for him, Charles ultimately finds God. I'll leave it to your own discretion whether or not you think Charles unconsciously used art as his connection to God throughout the story.
I like that you mention the title as being symbolic of Charles spiritual journey. When Charles is at Brideshead he makes some significant discoveries. It is while visiting the house with Sebastian that Charles first is introduced to his talent as an artist and it is when painting the great rooms that Charles recognizes something beyond his own abilities guiding his work. In the end Charles' conversion is made evident to the readers when he visits the chapel (which he also saved for last). Brideshead served as the scenery for Charles' transformation. Each time Charles visited we saw the changes in his religious outlook growing from indifference to curiosity to denial to acceptance (or conversion).
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that Charles' may have used his art as a way to open himself to God (perhaps without even being aware of it). It seems that these little events throughout the story where he displays his artistic abilities ultimately lead him to his conversion. Another thing I have thought about is whether the conversion was more closely tied to his internal desire to become closer to God or if his separation from Sebastian's family (Julia in particular) caused him to feel the need to become closer to them in any way he could- which in this case was through religion. Had Julia accepted Charles and married him, would Charles have experienced the same conversion? Furthermore, was Charles a way for Julia to find security in her relationship with God by giving him up... to clarify, if Charles had been religious from the beginning would it have changed Julia's perception of him? Just a few things to think about...
ReplyDeleteIf I'm not mistaken (please correct me if I am), Waugh never outright says that Charles has converted to Catholicism, though he does provide hints. A good case could be made that he has converted. There was some passages especially in the beginning and the end that hint at his conversion (e.g. his visit to the chapel).
ReplyDeleteA strong argument can be made for Charles' conversion. Also, a lot of loose ends get tied up in Waugh's novel, when Charles visits Sebastian nanny.
ReplyDeleteBut I think that Walker Percy's Moviegoer has a more ambiguous ending. We don't really know for sure what conclusions Binx has come to during his 'search.' The ending of Moviegoer is relatively more ambiguous than "Brideshead revisited." It might be interesting to consider why the two authors may have made the decisions that they did in the level of ambiguity of their endings.
It's true that Waugh never outright says that Charles converts, at least in the actual novel. I really like the fact that as readers we are left to our own imagination that Charles converts (although the clues Waugh gives us make it pretty clear). I think the ambiguity challenges the reader much more than if Waugh had said something along the lines of "Well, Charles finally decided to become Catholic and now everything is fine and dandy." Based on the prologue, we know that everything ISN'T fine and dandy. Charles has fallen out of love with the Army and remains only because of a sense of duty and obligation. Isn't that true of our faith sometimes? In the beginning we get the warm fuzzy God feelings all the time but as we grow in our faith it's harder and harder to just "feel" God. Instead we have to work for it. Thus, I love that Waugh whispers to us that Charles has had a transforming experience but life goes on. It's in the challenge of incorporating God into the everydayness - the sense of obligation we feel in work or just life - that speaks to a real change of heart.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. We do not know for sure that Charles converts to Catholicism, and we don't know for sure what lies next for Charles. However, we do know that Charles discovered something that finally led him to the chapel at Brideshead to pray. I personally found this closing scene in the chapel quite beautiful, and I think the imagery contributes to the argument that he does find God. The chapel itself is described to be as it was left, perhaps showing God's continuous presence in this place despite the departure of the Flyte family, and the flame by the tabernacle adds to that image of the presence of God. This leads me to believe that God is in the chapel with Charles and that Charles not only feels but is affected by this presence. He may or may not convert, but to me it is evident that God is in the chapel with Charles, and Charles has discovered that presence not only in the chapel but also within himself.
DeleteYes, the ending is ambiguous as to the conversion of Charles, but it does actually say that he prayed during his visit to the chapel, which is a great step in the right direction. I really enjoy how journeys end up changing a character's views of the world and of himself. We have read so many stories that follow the journey of a character, and a lot can be said on how inspiring many of these ending can be. The conversion of Charles is a monumental change in his attitudes at the beginning of the novel, when he had those first few conversations with Sebastian. For me, Sebastian's journey was much more interesting than Charles' journey. Granted, Charles was missing a faith to call his own, and it is great that he found out what he believed in. I just wish Sebastian would've woken up one day and picked up the pieces of his life again. A man as broken as he is missing all the wonderful things life has to offer, some that Charles is able to experience, like love. I don't know, I just found myself rooting for Sebastian and hoping he would convert his mindset and attitude away from the one that he carries with him throughout the novel.
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