Buy essay on Modernist novels.

From the very beginning I would like to make a stress on the fact that the theme of absence of benevolent God has already become one of the strong background themes of the Modernist novels. The best illustration of this would be the books Lucy Gayhear by Willa Cather and As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner. This essay would represent the analysis of two characters from each book (a believer and disbeliever) and how it addresses the absence of God in modernism books.
As I Lay Dying
This book could be probably the best illustration to the absence of caring God in Modernism books and I would like to start with the character who demonstrates his disbelief in public. Anse Bundren is the husband and later widower of the main heroine and he openly shows that he does not believe in God: “I have heard men cuss their luck, and right, for they were sinful men. But I do not say it’s a curse on me, because I have done no wrong to be cussed by. I am not religious, I reckon. But peace is my heart: I know it is. I have done things but neither better nor worse than them that pretend otherlike, and I know that Old Master will care for me as for ere a sparrow that falls. But is seems hard that a man in his need could be so flouted by a road” (William Faulkner, 1930, p. 37). He consider that his disbelief in God could rather be called developed than he was born with it. Anse Bundren is not the one who wants to hide his disbelief, but he makes a stress that he would rather rely on the personal efforts than on God’s help. He speaks his ideas simply, but reveals that is not willing to wait for the God’s mercy and help, but act himself.
Cora Tull could be called the antagonist of Anse Bundren. She is deeply faithful in her believe in God, but the same time she understands that she makes her own fortune herself. She bakes cakes and speaks about the Lord with Kate, her daughter. She explains her daughter that God only take care of the human’s emotions and hearts and money are not important in the eyes of God “Riches is nothing in the face of the Lord, for He can see into the heart” (William Faulkner, 1930, p. 7). It should be noted that during the hard times, Cora relies on her faith in God. Hence God did not help her in during the hardships, despite her will to help her neighbor Addie, while her dying days. But these beliefs in God help Cora to stay strong in the eyes of the others.
Both figures of Cora Tull and Anse Bundren illustrate the fact that the image of benevolent God is absent in this Modernist book as it perfectly shows that despite all the hardships, the heroes of the novel got to pass them without help of God and either believer you are or not, it does not matter.
Lucy Gayheart
The best illustration of the strong believer in this novel could the main heroine Lucy Gayheart, who feels herself comfortable in the Lutheran Church. Despite her believes she is unhappy and ends her days drowning in icy lake water. It should be noted that the absence of God within the pages of a book is masterfully showed by the author in the complete fail of Lucy’s personal life despite her hopes and expectations. The author showed the rough truth of the present days, the ruin of Lucy dreams and her depression; it seems that the whole world is opposed to her. Her God did not help her to make her dreams come true.
Lucy’s antagonist is Harry Gordon, he is rich, he is successful, and all she wants become true. He does not bother on such a thing as religion. And it is one more illustration to the absence in the Modernist literature God that helps, who would care of those who suffer and punish those who don’t care about religious aspect in his life and it is not surprising that he is would live happily relying upon the personal traits of character and his money. “Ornaments of life, they come second. Sometimes people disappoint us, and sometimes we disappoint ourselves; but the thing is, to go right on living” (Willa Cather, 1935)
In the end I would like to make a stress that both books are perfect illustration of absence the benevolent God in the Modernist literature. It could be perfectly seen as in the characters believing in God as well as in those who are not. The books reveal that without personal activity the God won’t solve all the problems raised and won’t help for find your path in life. The faith could be helpful as a psychological aspect, but the actual situation would never be assisted by God in solving

 
References
Willa Cather. Lucy Gayheart. Alfred A. Knopf: 1935
William Faulkner. As I Lay Dying. 1930