Weiland; faith and reason

In the novel Wieland, Charles Brockden Brown utilizes a dichotomy between faith and reason. The main purpose of this underlying split is to shed light on the fact that the mind can be perverted. In a sense, reason and faith exist mainly as a manner in which the characters, specifically Clara and Wieland, can fully rely upon. The dichotomy between both the supernatural and natural reason manifests a sense of disregard for self-awareness, thus creating a situation in which Carwin can, quite frankly, utilize his disastrous voice.

The novel commences with the strange death of the elder Wieland. In turn, this sets the foundation from which the novel builds the conflict between faith and reason. It is also important to note that Clara states, “Was this the penalty of disobedience? this the stroke of a vindictive and invisible hand? Is it a fresh proof that the Divine Ruler interferes in human affairs, mediates an end, selects, and commissions his agents, and enforces by unequivocal sanctions, submission to his will? Or, was it merely the irregular expansion of fluid that imparts warmth to our hear and our blood, caused by the fatigue of the preceding day, or flowing, by established laws, from the condition of his thoughts?.” This is q

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However, as a result of Carwin’s ill doings, she begins to give into her growing fears and eventually starts to believe that the supernatural maybe quite possible.

Despite the fact that Wieland is interested in learning and expressions, he is seen as the main embodiment of intense and consuming faith. It is that exact fear that Clara thus attempts to hide. These measures to resist the possibility of perversion of the mind are almost completely weakened when it is revealed that Carwin was the main cause of Wieland’s persuasion to murder his family.

Along with her refusal to accept, or even consider the errors of the mind’s faith and reason, she believes that evil cannot fall upon a sane mind. Clara believes that moral excellence and righteousness are the only infallible instruments against evil. He is also the only character in the novel that tried to answer the question of his fathers bizarre death. Consequently, Clara presents herself to the reader as the epitome of virtue. Because of Wieland’s lack of self-awareness and self-reflection, it is not until later that Wieland sees the error in his actions. He believes that he has had an righteous heart attributing his actions to the direct will of God. In result, Wieland ultimately resorts to kill himself. She believes that one cannot let either faith or reason fully consume the them. It is not until the concluding scene in the novel that she begins to understand and realize that she has the capability and desire to kill Wieland, her own brother, in order to save herself from death.

Approximate Word count = 962
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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