This dissertation is intended to demonstrate the presence of a contemporary gnostic spirit in the novels of Robertson Davies. / The dominance of Protestant puritanism in English Canadian culture is a frequent theme in the literature of the nation. In his writing, Robertson Davies counters the repressive dynamics of a society shaped by puritanism with an appeal to an alternate vision. This vision, which places greater value on self-knowledge, bears a strong affinity to the precepts of the ancient gnostics. / Davies' critique of an English Canadian context which appears to place higher value on morality than on spiritual adventures can be compared to the gnostic rejection of the material world in favour of knowledge of the inner self in relation to the divine. / The commitment to gnosis as a means of escape from a repressive environment to one of spiritual freedom is another mark of the connection between Davies' novels and the gnostic spirit. / The presence of revealer figures who initiate their hearers into the way of gnosis is found in both the writings of the ancient gnostics and in the novels of Robertson Davies. / Davies' treatment of the concepts of dualism, the nature of evil and human destiny bears a closer relationship to the ideas found in gnostic literature than to the doctrines of Judeo-Christian orthodoxy. / Finally, Davies' emphasis on the importance of the individual in the quest for self-knowledge reflects a gnostic suspicion of communal values. / The identification of the relationship between Davies' writing and the spirit of gnosticism provides a good case study of the way in which theological notions influence and are influenced by a particular cultural context.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.75993 |
| Date | January 1989 |
| Creators | Thorpe, Brian |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Faculty of Religious Studies.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 000966668, proquestno: AAINL57296, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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