Mrs Jean Brodie-religious theme

A detailed Summary of Mrs Jean Brodie-religious theme

The framework within which events unfold is made up of two Christian religions: Protestantism and Catholicism. In Scotland, both religions were viewed as polar opposites. Miss Brodie was brought up under the Church of Scotland, meaning that she was a Protestant, and she also followed Calvinist teachings. Calvinism, in Protestant Christianity is the theology developed and advanced by John Calvin. It forms the foundations for Presbyterianism and is vased on the beliefs that:

1. there is a hell to which some human beings will go;

2. most human beings will end up in hell;

4. God planned who will and who wont go to hell;

5. everything which happens is God's will;

6. the individual makes no independent choices and has no free will;

7. we cant be given credit/condemnation for the good and bad things we do as everything is God's will;

Sandy becomes a Roman Catholic (which is the religion Muriel Spark was converted to in 1953). The process of conversion is not described in the novel, but Sandy's interest in this religion seems to have been triggered off by her adulterous affair with Teddy Lloyd:

By the end of the year it happened that she had quite lost interest

She was not in any doubt, she let everyone know she was in no doubt, that God was on her side whatever her course, and so she experienced no difficulty or sense of hypocrisy in worship while at the same time she went to bed with the singing master.

She thinks she is Providence, thought Sandy, she thinks she is God of Calvin, she sees the beginning and the end.

In this case it would appear that Sandy has reacted against the important influence in her life-Miss Jean Brodie-and this has led her to choose Catholicism. Also, it can be argued that Jean Brodie was the biggest influence in the sense that she embodied politics, personal affairs and Calvinism. The lasting and damaging effect on Sandy is clear-her decision to turn to Catholicism, another strand of religion for Christianity, is fuelled by her reaction against Jean Brodie. According to the latter, Catholicism is a religion for people who did not want to think for themselves.

Miss Brodie believes that whatever she does God will follow her. She thinks that she can never be in the wrong and that she is above the moral code:

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Approximate Word count = 832
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Religion

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