Critique of Christian Rhetoric of Confession in Jodi Picoult's The Story Teller

Abstract

The major thrust of this research is the critique of the Christian rhetoric of confession in Jodi Picoult's novel,The Story Teller. Weber is an old Nazi soldier who is extremely repentant for his engagement in the discourse of anti-Semitism during the Third Reich. Bounded by professional and racial restrictions, he is involved in genocidal violence. He is an agent and perpetrator of the harsh practice of anti- Semitism. In the prime of youth, he was unaware of the outcome of his thoughtless activities. Onlyin the old age, he is awake to the pros and cons of his reckless choices. Guilt, repentance, and unconscious longing for redemption drive him ceaselessly when he approaches old age. His innermost longing heightens his faith in Christian precept of salvation via repentance and confession. But the outcome turns out to be totally contrary to him. The very confession of his past crimes and inhuman activities to his so-called lady friend digs his grave. Instead of witnessing the peaceful and blissful end of hislife, he has to face the fate of being arrested by that person whom he believed as the true friend. The very emphasis of Christianity on faith as the sovereign force of liberation is turned upside down. Actually, it is the void, the emptiness and weakening of humanistic values that underlie entire spectrum of human existence. This issue is tested from the vantage point of moral nihilism chiefly propounded by Friedrich Nietzsche. Key Words: Nihilism, Christianity, Confession, Redemption