Characters' Experiences in a Postlapsarian World

From each of the works studied, the characters ' experience the fall of man in which the world 's "centre cannot hold", consequently leaving them in a world where the essences and God are lost. A world without God is a world of anarchy, violence and death also know as a fallen (postlapsarian) world, and characters experience this world after the fall of man occurs. The works being discussed include: James Joyce 's "Araby", Joseph Conrad 's Heart of Darkness, Sophocles ' Oedipus Rex, Wordsworth 's "Tintern Abbey", and Mathew Arnold 's "Dover Beach". After exploring the works, it is clear that when characters recognize that they are living in a fallen world, they decide how to resolve the problem. Discussing the characters experiences of

As mentioned while discussing "Araby" and Heart of Darkness, sex and death will also catalyze Oedipus ' problem of living in a fallen world. Oedipus experiences death after the road rage occurs at a crossroads, causing him to murder a king. Shortly after, Oedipus experiences sex as he marries queen Jocasta. Many years and children later Oedipus learns from a Sheppard that he was unable to escape fate and that his free will led him to killing the king and marrying Jocasta who are his biological parents. Unfortunately, these experiences cause Oedipus to live in a world of chaos and mayhem also known as the fallen world. After recognizing what has happened, Oedipus says "He who has seen and done such vile things, shall never see again". Oedipus then takes responsibility and treats the problem of living in a fallen (postlapsarian) world by planning to kill Jocasta. Although Jocasta has already hung herself, Oedipus continues to treat the problem by gouging his own eyes out and begging for banishment and

The fall of man occurs in all the works in which "anarchy is loosed upon the world" and where faith is diminishing. After the fall of man, the works introduce the characters and speakers to their fallen worlds where essences and God are lost and only death exists. In "Araby", Heart of Darkness and Oedipus Rex the characters treat the problem of living in a postlapsarian world in a negative way by becoming beasts, and using violence as punishment. In "Tintern Abbey" and "Dover Beach" however, the speakers treat the problem of living in a postlapsarian world in a more positive way. By accepting that they are in a fallen world, being "true to one another" and opening up to nature. After discussing the works and how they treat the problem of living in a postlapsarian world, the knowledge of being able to decide whether to treat the problem in a negative or positive way emerges. Everyone will eventually lose their innocence and face the problem of living in the fallen world, however readers are now aware that they have a choice to treat the problem however they