A Comparative Study Of The Religious Ideas In Graham Greene's And Shusaku Endo's Novels

Graham Greene is widely recognized as one of the most remarkable British novelists in 20th century. His novels are generally classified into two genres as he commented: thrillers or entertainments as he described and serious literary works. Most his works covering a serious theme or moral issues inevitably contain a religious element in its core. He always kept an inclination to creating a religious sense through the characters who struggled in the abyss of moral plight. Through complicated Catholic complex of his characters, Greene took a deep insight into the evil side of humanity and the tortured souls in a suppressed and suffocated earthly purgatory. Hence, it is indispensable to sort out the religious fragments reflected in the text in order to figure out Greene's profound religious meditations upon earthly dilemma and paradox of humanity considering his identity of being a Catholic.As Greene's contemporary, Shusaku Endo is among the most influential Japanese writers in 20th century. Baptized in childhood, he dedicated all his life to exploring his Catholic beliefs and the prospect of Japanese Catholics in the conflicting context of Eastern and Western civilization. In most of his works, Endo has an urge to present subtle observation and heartfelt concern upon the nihilistic mental status of Japanese postwar generation. Like in Greene's works, Endo's characters are often stuck in moral or ethic dilemma, struggling hopelessly in the marsh of darkness. The process of their struggling and seeking for their lost value is actually Endo's probe into the true value of faith. Sharing many themes in common, Endo was often appraised as Oriental Graham Greene by critics and even Greene himself labeled him one of the finest writers currently alive at the time.On the basis of the similar religious themes in their Catholic novels, this thesis is going to explore the similarities and divergence between Greene and Endo's religious reflections by a thorough comparison of textual representation and analyze the factors to their distinct religious philosophy from personal experience and cultural background. From their separate understanding of sin, methods of salvation, the image of God, both the writers conveyed a sense of universal sympathy towards the people who struggled in the desert of despair over their personal inclination towards Roman Catholic. To some extent, Greene and Endo did some experiment on the genuine dogma of the church according to their own understanding of faith. They had inherited the sinew of traditional creeds--indistinct mercy towards all creatures though they exhibited their Catholic faith in a way that most pious believers would not accept. No matter which path they chose to step forward, the powerful mental propeller seeping between the lines are the truthful reflection of their religious complex as well as their constant compassion towards the generation of that age.