Erewhon · Question
How does Erewhon develop the theme of Religion and Hypocrisy?
Answer
Erewhon by Samuel Butler develops Religion and Hypocrisy across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
The Musical Banks represent a hollow religious institution where people perform rituals but treat the currency as worthless, critiquing organized religion's disconnect from genuine faith and ethics.
The narrator's attempt to convert Chowbok, including baptizing him, reveals a superficial and self-serving approach to religion, as he admits his motives include hiding his own sins.
The Musical Banks serve as an allegory for organized religion, where outward observance and professed belief mask a lack of real faith or practical value.
Erewhonian religion involves idolatry and personified deities, with a gap between professed and actual belief; the narrator debates Arowhena on the nature of justice and hope.
Evidence in the book
- The River and the Range
The narrator's attempt to convert Chowbok, including baptizing him, reveals a superficial and self-serving approach to religion, as he admits his motives include hiding his own sins.
- The Musical Banks
The Musical Banks serve as an allegory for organized religion, where outward observance and professed belief mask a lack of real faith or practical value.
- XVI: Arowhena
Erewhonian religion involves idolatry and personified deities, with a gap between professed and actual belief; the narrator debates Arowhena on the nature of justice and hope.
- Ydgrun and the Ydgrunites
The Erewhonians' professed religion is superficial, while their true worship of Ydgrun is practical and powerful, highlighting the gap between stated beliefs and actual practice.
- XXVI: The Views of an Erewhonian Prophet Concerning the Rights of Animals
The prophet claims inspiration from an unseen power to justify his doctrines, yet the people secretly evade the laws, highlighting religious hypocrisy.
- The Views of an Erewhonian Prophet Concerning the Rights of Vegetables
The oracle's response is manipulated by backstairs influence, and the Puritans' eventual acceptance of meat-eating reveals religious hypocrisy.
- Conclusion
The plan uses religious instruction as a cover for profit, and Chowbok's transformation into a missionary highlights the hypocrisy of evangelization.
