『트리스트람 섄디』에 나타난 실천적 종교관

Abstract

According to the recent studies that aim to read Laurence Sterne’s works in the context of his Anglicanism, Tristram Shandy contains a lot of examples of Christianity that reflect Sterne’s preference for practical divinity over polemic divinity. Even its sceptical narrative of experimental techniques is considered to result from the fideistic scepticism which acknowledges the limits of reason and accepts interpretative suspense with Christian humility. The central figure of Christianity in Tristram Shandy is Yorick who, like Sterne, favors the practical divinity and tries to do his duty as the parson of the parish. Yorick arranges for a poor widow to obtain a licence to practice as a midwife. In fact, the contemporary midwife, being licensed by church, was required to be faithful to God since she played an important social role as guaranteeing the legitimacy of the child, who became a new member of a family and a parish. Being trusted by his parishioners, Yorick supports their simple but religious ideas, too. When Toby asserts his idea about love which is based on Anglican Church's Common-Prayer Book, Yorick approves the plain sense in it while he stands against Walter's pedantic dogmatism. He supports Mrs. Shandy’s Christian belief in the importance of the procreation of children in marriage. He also praises Trim who puts fifth commandment into practice, providing regularly his parents with money. Filled with simple, practical, Christian truths expounded by these characters, Tristram Shandy itself is an essence of Sterne's practical divinity, indeed.