Sunday, November 09, 2008

Reading Notes on Private Confessions and Memoirs of a Justified Sinner

Reading Notes: James Hogg, Private Confessions and Memoirs of a Justified Sinner
November 8-9, 2008. Transcribed from Twitter

Cold drizzle. Made first fire of the year: slow to start but roaring now. Starting Hogg's "Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner" 8:44 AM Nov 8th from txt

"The ways of heaven are altogether inscrutable and soar as far above and beyond the works and comprehension of man as the sun flaming in majesty, is above the tiny boy's evening rocket" 10:00 AM Nov 8th

Rife w/ doubles, specters. Book's dilemma: "we have nothing on earth but our senses to depend on; if these deceive us, what are we to do?" 12:38 PM Nov 8th from txt

Mrs Logan on Robert Wringham: "I believe he sees every one of his actions justified before God, and instead of having stings of conscience for these, he takes great merit to himself in having effected them" Calvinst belief in predestination becomes demonic. 1:25 PM Nov 8th from txt

In Confessions, Robert addresses readers as "wicked of the world." Non elect's names "written on the red letter side of the book of life" 2:33 PM Nov 8th from txt

Robert's demon similar to Dostoevsky's "Double" in his antic capering and his visibility to others. But also intimate, like Twain's No. 44 8:45 AM Nov 9th from txt

Robert warned: "There is not an error into which man can fall, which he may not press Scripture into his service as proof of the probity of" 9:09 AM Nov 9th from txt

The devil Gil-Martin places veil of mist betw Robert + heaven, similar to demonic fog George sees vying with the rainbow atop Arthur's Seat 10:05 AM Nov 9th from txt

Link to "Jeckyl and Hyde" clear in how Robert sleeps while other does mayhem. Duality in several registers: theology, psych, social, folk. 2:32 PM Nov 9th from txt

In story of ultra-godly town of Auchtermuchty, only the unbeliever -- who knows the language of crows -- can see the new Minister is a devil 2:46 PM Nov 9th from txt

Robert Wringhim also somewhat recalls Frederic's Theron Ware in that he takes spiritual doctrine as applicable to real life. 7:33 PM Nov 9th from txt

Scene shifts to a printing office (presaging Twain's #44). Robert intends to publish his Confessions in the guise of a Bunyanesque allegory. 10:01 PM Nov 9th from txt

Confessions ends with no clear determination of what truly occurred: epic of delusion? supernatural visit? or hypocritical "justification"? 8:42 AM yesterday from web

Also interesting in Confessions to think of the religiously "justified" sinning (+ murder) in relation to the dubious concept of "just" war about 22 hours ago from web

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