Usurpation And Conversion

Muriel Spark (1918-2006), the famous Scottish writer, is a productive writer and is often crowned a "Catholic novelist" by the critics. Her novels are full of religious elements and thoughts. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961), one of Spark's representative works, is quite outstanding in this aspect.Scholars and critics have applied different perspectives and approaches to the study of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, among which the study of religious ideas can also be found. Based on the analysis of relevant research findings and close reading of the novel, this thesis argues that The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, different from traditional religious novels, embodies Spark's understanding of the human nature as well as her concern for humanity through her special religious perspective.In view of relevant religious doctrines of the Calvinism and Catholicism, this thesis attempts to explore the religious ideas in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie through a close examination of its two major characters: Miss Jean Brodie and Sandy Stranger, and to reveal the important relations between religion and man's existence and development. Furthermore, it studies the formation of Spark's religious thoughts and related expression in this novel with observation of her experiences and conversion, and points out the far-reaching influence of the religious thoughts on her novels.