Christian Notions In Marilynne Robinson’s Novels

As one of the most important female writers in the contemporary American literature, Marilynne Robinson has published three novels since1981:Housekeeping, Gilead and Home. And these three novels have attracted extensive attention of critics.Being a pious Christian, Marilynne Robinson xpresses some religious views in the three novels. These novels revolve around the family life, discussing many religious themes such as confusion, the grace of God, death, redemption, spiritual questioning and so on. This thesis intends to make a comprehensive study on her three novels from the views of death and redemption in Christianity.The whole thesis consists of five parts:The Introduction draws a sketch of Marilynne Robinson and her works, provides a literature review on her novel creation from home and abroad, and states the significance of the thesis.Chapter One elaborates the three stages of the view of death and the secular and religious meaning of redemption in Christianity.Chapter Two deals with the Christian death reflected in these three novels, exploring the main characters’attitudes towards death and life.Chapter Three focuses on the redemption presented in the three novels. The sins the characters have committed and the weakness constitute the premise of redemption, but they can correct their errors and improve themselves by believing in God so as to achieve the redemption and inner peace.The last part serves as a conclusion. The significance of religion is reflected in the characters’ attitudes towards death and life, their self-improvement in morality and the peace of their mind. By making a comprehensive analysis of the religious thought embodied in the three novels from the views of death and redemption of Christianity, this thesis reveals Marilynne Robinson’s piety to religion as well as help readers understand the great influence of religious culture contained in western society so as to appreciate the artistic glamour of Marilynne Robinson’s novel creation.