Disquietude, Existence, and Endurance: Aspects of Paul Tillich's Thought in Selected Works of Ernest Hemingway.

RICHARD MICHAEL DUBIEL, Purdue University

Abstract

The basic supposition of this thesis is that the essence of the work of Faul Tillich, reputed to be one of the major theologians of the twentieth century, is not to be found in his monumental Systematic Theology. Rather the essence of Tillich's thought is to be found in other works which shed light upon the rigid formalization of his theology as it does appear in the Systematics. As a way of examining the essence of Tillich, it is essential to look to both his sermons and other artistic creations in our general culture. This, hopefully, will shed light on Tillich's notion of meaningless- ness as the central problem of man. This will then in turn show. that his mode of apprehending the plight of modern man is not wishful thinking but rather well documented. I selected Ernest Hemingway as the author who succinctly elucidates Tillich's various moods and, most importantly, the experience of meaninglessness.There are moments in Tillich, each of which must be understood in order to comprehend the totality of his thought. The first moment, and assumed to be the most important, is that of Tillich's sermons. The second is that of Tillich's thought in The Courage To Be. The third moment of Tillich's thought is that which appears in the Systematics. Each of these can be seen, appreciated, and otherwise more clearly elucidated through selected works of Ernest Hemingway.A central point of this thesis is that Hemingway offers a concrete aesthetic objectification of the central aspects of Paul Tillich's thought. The first of these is that of the boundary situation, a state in which man sees the world from estrangement. The second is that Hemingway shows man's religious situation in the fashion of Tillich. And here Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises applies in that it reveals in a concrete fashion the nature of the ontological polarities: individualization-participation, dynamics-form, and freedom-destiny.The third point at which Hemingway meets Tillich is that of the Eternal Now. This moment is seen best, I contend. in The Old Man and the Sea. Within this work one can see Tillich's notion of history and what the eternal moment in the now represents. The fourth moment of the Hemingway-Tillich correlation occurs most vividly in A Farewell to Arms. It is here that Tillich's appreciation of the passion of life yet need to order this passion is felt. It is here that we can see the need to establish an equilibrium with regard to the ontological polar opposites.Both Hemingway and Tillich realize that it is necessary to fulfill life in the face of meaninglessness. Within both writers there are "sighs too deep for words," Both men realize that if life is to be fulfilled, it will be fulfilled within time. Hemingway demonstrates this in his fiction; Tillich demonstrates this in his sermons. Hemingway senses the need to combat the contingency of human existence by formulating a code. For Tillich our fulfillment is riddled with ambiguities and anxiety which no code can solve in itself. It is through the example of Jesus as the Christ that man can pursue his fulfillment here and now in time. Despite their obvious differences both men illustrate the meaning of the courage to be.

Degree

Ph.D.

Subject Area

Modern literature|Literature

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