Cosgrove, Brian (2005) Herman Melville's Pierre: How Radical is the Critque of Christianity? Irish Theological Quarterly, 70 (2).

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Abstract

In the dark and problematic Pierre, the much lesser-known novel written after Moby-Dick, Melville provides a radical critque of Christian morality. Ironically, it is the untenable ideals fostered by Christianity that lead to Pierre's disillusionment and self-destruction. But if Christianity is subjected to such a critique, can the source of such moral beliefs - Christ himself - remain exempt from a related critical scrutiny? In any case, does not Pierre push to a further extreme the deep scepticism about a providential God the Father already evident in Moby-Dick?

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Herman Melville; Pierre; Critique of Christianity;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Arts,Celtic Studies and Philosophy > School of English, Media & Theatre Studies
Item ID:	754
Depositing User:	Professor Brian Cosgrove
Date Deposited:	11 Nov 2007
Journal or Publication Title:	Irish Theological Quarterly
Publisher:	Pontifical University, Maynooth
Refereed:	Yes
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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