Though Theron is the minister, throughout the book he is shown as wanting something more. Even in the first scene in which we meet him, he is wishing that he had received a better position in the church, perhaps a better appointment in a city, rather than a rural town. It appears to me that the conflict within Theron is a conflict of the old ways verses a modern life. The c

It is truly this "new society" that is represented by Dr. Ledsmar and Father Forbes that is the downfall and the damnation of theron. Although Celia plays a part in this downfall, it is not his love for her that damns him, it is the society that hse rempresents. Celia is just one more facet of the other world that Theron can't have. In many ways, celia is an enigma. She lives seemingly without a care, doing what she wishes without fear of harm or repercussion. It is this freedom that draws Theron to her. When he sees her at the deathbead of the irishman, it is as if she is an apparition, or an angel, it is so striking the fact that she does not belong there. Additionally, though she is just a girl, she seems to have rule over the entire household, keeping her own space, schedual, and activities, which others are not allowed to question. It seems that theron admires her for this, and more and more patterns his own actions after her own. He wanders about the town whenever he wants, though he is upsetting his wife and failing to fulfill his duties as the minister. Interestingly, though, it seems that his desire to be as free as celia makes him more indecisive and unable to do what he wants rather than less so. He falls in love with celia as an idea. While most men who cheat onthier wives would say that they want their wife to be more like the mistress, it is theron that wants to be like celia. He has no interest in alice becoming more like celia. He does not want the lve, but he wants the freedom, the way of life that celia is able to command. It is when he is refused this way of life, when he is in new york, that sends him into the downward spiral that ends with him at the door of the soulsby's. celia says goodbye to theron, but it it the combination of the rejection by celia, father Forbes, and dr. ledsmar that kills theron's dreams.

ity symbolizes the new and the free, while the rural town, in which Theron is stuck, symbolizes the traditional beliefs. Just as, for most of the novel, Theron is stuck in the rural town, he is also stuck within his beliefs. Though he wants more, it is impossible. Theron tries to enter another way of life, which is shown to him by Celia, father Forbes, and dr. Ledsmar, but when he attempts to enter this world that they exist in, he is considered a "bore." In other words, Theron would appear to be in a no-win situation. Just as Theron is stuck in this no-win situation, it would appear that the Methodist church is stuck in it, as well. It is apparent that some of the younger members of the church would like change, however, they are unable, for various reasons, to affect it. Although culture seems to be moving ahead at full force, the church seems to be stuck in the past. The differences between the catholic and the Methodist church can reveal this. The Catholic Church has organ music, has play, and has drinking, as is seen at the catholic picnic being held at the same time as the Methodist camp. Theron, like society, however, does not want to five up his religion to enter a new life, but instead he wants to incorporate the two. This eventually leads to Theron's breakdown and near death experience at the end of the nove

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2161
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)