The Language and Uses of Religion in George Balcombe :: George Balcombe Religious Papers

The Language and Uses of Religion in George BalcombeIn his 1836 novel, George Balcombe, Nathaniel Beverley Tucker presents the Southern Elite male discourse on religion. Throughout the novel, the speeches of Balcombe and William dampen that they use language that refers to God, but more often they embrace Enlightenment estimationls such as reason and self-reliance. Several passages speak directly to the elite idea of Gods love, Gods intended ways for men and women to love one another, and Gods ordained roles for women and slaves. Many other portions of the text edition reveal differences between the ways in which elite men, non-elite men, and women talk about God and value unearthly faith. Evangelical piety posed many challenges to the remote order of early 19th century southern society, so it is no surprise that elite men prioritized attributes other than Christian faith and that religion took on different meanings for people with different levels of status in the social hi erarchy. Lindman and Wyatt-Brown describe the assimilation of evangelicalism into the existing social order and the changing definitions of honor between the eon of the revolution and the 1830s. Lyerlys descriptions of the religious experience of Methodist women and slaves provides a context for understanding how the role of religion differed between elite men and other groups. These historians whole caboodle enrich the readers understanding of Tuckers presentation of the white elite male discourse on the role of religion in the antebellum period. Balcombe and William indicate their sense of Gods presence in their lives throughout their dialogues. In their first conversation, Balcombe excuses Williams faux pas by waxing melodious that men must make mistakes in order to learn virtue, and concludes that it is Gods plan of accomplishing his greatest end, and must be the best plan (v1, 9). spell this reference to Gods power seems sincere, other references appear more careless, s uch as the phrase God forbid (v1, 9), which these characters use throughout the novel. Williams remark that My talkative host now gave his tongue a holyday, while his teeth took their turn at work is an almost whimsical appropriation of religious terminology to describe mundane events. Often in their dialogues, God is interchangeable with providence - in one place, William speaks of Gods providence (v1,266). They personify Providence and attribute to it most circumstances in their life, in phrases such as the pleasure that Providence sends me (v1,17).