Wednesday, April 10, 2013

"An Impertinent Freedom"

The anonymously penned pamphlet "An Address to the Deists. In Which are Prefixed, Remarks on the Conduct of Our Modern Clergy" links the 18th Century infiltration of Deism into the religious culture of England to the deficiencies the author perceives in the morality and convictions of the modern clergy. The author asserts that there is a strong link between the rapid spread of Deism and the apparent moral weakness and growing apathy of clergy members who do not have a solid grasp on the importance of their position within society: "Thus our Religion suffers through the Neglect of those very Men who ought and are expected to defend it to the utmost Stretch of their abilities" (4). The author then goes on to suggest that the solution to the problem of Deism is for clergy members to move beyond a superficial understanding of the scriptures, and gain a deeper and more sincere appreciation of their Christian faith (13-14). Additionally, the address seems to be taking a direct shot at ministers only concerned with their connections with members of high society when it says, "the Opinions of Men have been so enlightened through the Progress of Learning and Liberty, as in a great Measure to be divested of all superstitious Reverence for mere Names and Authority" (8). This particular quote exemplifies the author's distaste for those members of the clergy who use their positions to gain favor with members of the upper class, and praises those who move beyond this superficial behavior in order to focus on defending the Christian faith.


   

Although there are no overt references to Deism in Pride and Prejudice, and no clergy members in the novel are identified by Austen as being supportive of Deist beliefs, one can easily draw a comparison between the negative aspects of some clergy membered described in "An Address to the Deists" and Mr. Collins, the most featured clerical character in Pride and Prejudice. The pliable and unquestioning toady of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Collin's perfectly fits the description provided in "An Address" of a clergyman preoccupied with earthly connections and rank. His connection with a lady of high society seems to give him an inordinate amount of pride, even once inducing him to improperly introduce himself to Mr. Darcy, a member of a much higher class, at a ball (136-138). Perhaps even more offensive, at least in the opinion of the author of "An Address to the Deists", is Collins' halfhearted association with the Christian faith. While at university he "merely kept the necessary terms" (109), and he chooses to associate his title with a mixture of pride and authority, as opposed to Christian humility, extolled in "An Address to the Deists". This mixture of excessive pride and gross social impropriety exhibited by Mr. Collins, both things specifically attacked in "An Address to the Deists", demonstrates that in Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen seemed to echo the general sentiment of upper class citizens during the Regency, which attacked the clergy for being superficial and socially inept.

No comments:

Post a Comment