INNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD
In his article, “SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD,” Jonathan Edwards presents that death is a form of punishment meted out by God to the wicked members of society (Edwards, 2017, p. 1). He indicates that wickedness is the refusal to remain pure as per God’s wishes and is a mortal sin. Through death, God can remove the sinners from this world and send them to hell. He continues to indicate that no one can be able to foreshadow when he/she or another person is going to die (Edwards, 2017, p. 1). Death is mysterious and remains hidden from the understanding of man. Edwards continues to present that there is no form of security a person can implement to protect him/her from death (Edwards, 2017, p. 1). In most cases, it comes as a thief and strikes when the person is unsuspecting.
Nathaniel Hawthrone presents a completely different view on death as evident in his short story, “The Birth-Mark.” Hawthorne presents that no mortal being can be completely pure and devoid of imperfection (Hawthorne, 2000, p. 1). Evidence of this is reflected in the fact that despite her immense beauty, Georgina has a small birthmark. The birthmark is viewed as a stain by her husband (Hawthorne, 2000, p. 1). The idea that nothing in the mortal realm can be completely pure contradicts Edwards’s arguments of remaining pure in God’s eyes.
Another area in which the two authors contradict one another is with regards to the foreshadowing of death whereas Edward holds that death cannot be foreshadowed, Hawthrone presents that death can be foreshadowed. This is witnessed in the numerous instances in which the death of Georgina is foreshadowed. One such instance is in Aylmer’s dream wherein his attempts to remove the birthmark from Georgina’s face he ends up killing her (Hawthorne, 2000, p. 2). Another instance in the foreshadowing of Georgina’s death is the death of the beautiful flower that had been created by
Aylmer when Georgina touches it (Hawthorne, 2000, p. 3). The death of the flower is used to indicate Georgina’s fate.