Theodicy in Late Twentieth Century American Fiction: Chaim Potok, Flannery O'Connor, and John Updike
Date of Award
5-1-1992
Document Type
Research Paper
First Advisor
Charles Adams
Second Advisor
Joseph Price
Third Advisor
Irene Carlyle
Abstract
This project discusses theodicy in literature while also including a brief outline of some of the major ideas from theological and philosophical history. This includes the introduction of “paradigm evils.” This study analyzes attempts to explain the justification of God, seen as absolute good, in spite of the prevalence of evil. This includes parallels of authors acting as gods when writing about God and creating a story. This paper explores in sections Chaim Potek’s Jewish, Flannery O'Connor's Southern-Catholic and John Updike's Protestant-secular explorations of theodicy in selected works of their fiction.
Recommended Citation
Cheung, F. (1992). Theodicy in Late Twentieth Century American Fiction: Chaim Potok, Flannery O'Connor, and John Updike. Retrieved from https://poetcommons.whittier.edu/scholars/158