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Another fine detail, Rufus a child robbed of his father is left with more questions than he can be charged to ask on any one. Rufus's mother is talking with Aunt Hannah about what she needs to do before she goes to bed. They address each other politely, becoming repetitive, but displaying realistic human shock and unspoken communication. His mother also hangs onto her rosary beads, crosses herself and prays constantly through out the novel. It was clear that she was looking for confidence in her religion, but was not sure if her God had actually betrayed her (Critical essays in modern literature pp. 911). Perhaps she should abandon religion?
The atheists in the book are jilted as the dead father is not allowed a proper funeral ceremony since he was never baptized. Perhaps they should adopt religion? Why is it exclusive? These are all questions of human interaction that Agee's novel provokes. Another example of religion that, though is not related to the dominant faith in (Death in the Family) (Catholicism) it is shown in a symbolic mean (Seib 890). During Ralph's talk with Rufus about the service, Ralph describes the sky going dark and a butter fly landing on Jays casket.
This can be symbolic of religions that hold the belief of reincarnation as the butterfly being Jay in a new form who has come for one last look at his family. Another way to interpret this is to see it from the view of religions that hold the belief of animals being about to carry restless souls to heaven. As it was stated, with out rites Jays soul should not have been able to rest and so the butterfly ascending skyward out of sight seems to make one think of such beliefs as they relate to the novel. However one thing is certain of religion in the novel no matter what religion is represented it is a great driving force for actions in the story. One of the finally and most important themes in the story is maturation. Though the course of the story the characters change and mature into stronger more prepared persons.
The story is told through Rufus Follow, who is six-years-old when he loses his father in a car accident. This novel illustrates the numb reaction of family members to death. Agee uses the technique of flashbacks to give the reader background on some of the characters, showing them as they where in the start to their state of maturity later. The flashbacks develop Rufus' personality and his longing to be accepted as well as the other characters and their problems how ever the change is more apparent and significant in Rufus (Critical essays in modern literature pp. 910).
They illustrate his relationship with his father and why he reacts in the manner that he does to his father's death. These flashbacks also reveal what life was like before the accident and how that happiness died along with Jay. The story also illustrates the conflict between a man's wife and immediate family after his death as they try to adjust and grow from the experiance. A conflict between Mary's father and her brother Andrew, who do not believe in God, and Mary and her aunt Hannah, who are strong believers of Catholicism also occur as a result of issues unresolved. Agee showed his view of priests through the children's reaction to Father Jackson, the priest that visits their mother. The children listen in on their mother's conversation with the priest and feel that he is trying to hurt and defeat her.
The children also fear the priest, and Rufus feels that his father would have killed him if he were still alive. One of the most poignant scenes in the novel occurs when Mary has to tell her children that their father is dead. Rufus understands almost right away that his father has died and he will never see him again. But his younger sister Catherine has a little more trouble. As their aunt is explaining the details of their father's death, Catherine asks the innocent question, "When's Daddy coming home?" This question is one of innocence as the child does not yet understand the reality of what is happening in her life. This is help by the constant conflict in the family as eventually the children have to choose sides and step up to challenging roles that they must be ready to play (Critical essays in modern literature pp. 921).
How ever they are able to deal with the lose better due to the pressure on them to become stronger and they are able to adjust to the situation. Although the characters of the story do not all make changes that are far from their normal live truly all of the characters do change and mature as a result of tragedy, not just of Jays death but of Jays fathers illness. Truly the characters where made stronger by tragedy and became more mature as a result. In conclusion, James Agee's novel (Death in the Family) was a story of the challenges a family faces during tragedy, not just from death, but from confusion and disagreements within the family (Critical essays in modern literature pp. 876). (A Death in the Family) is one of those books that falls into the great works category as it explores some thing that is universally felt as all families eventually loose some one. It also shows how love can bind a family even if it is love that tears them apart. It also show how religion can play a role in how people take action and that the not doing some thing because it is technically against the religion may in itself be against it.
And lastly and may be most importantly it show how tragedy serves to make one stronger, more mature, and able to deal with future problems. Which is why in James Agee's novel (Death in the Family) the main themes are love, religion, and maturation. Bibliography: 1) Kramer, Victor, A. , James Agee. Twayne Publishers; 1975. 2) Larson, Darrell, James Agee. University of Pittsburgh Press; 1968. 3) Seib, Kenneth, Critical essays in modern literature. University of Minnesota Press; 1971. 4) Dale Maharidge.
And Their Children After Them: The Legacy of Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, James Agee, Walker Evans, and the Rise and Fall of Cotton in the South. Pantheon Books; 1989. 5) Mark Doty. Tell Me Who I Am: James Agee's Search for Selfhood. Louisiana State University Press; 1981 6) Robert Coles.
Irony in the Mind's Life: Essays on Novels by James Agee, Elizabeth Bowen, and George Eliot. W. W. Norton & Company; 1987 7) Erling Larsen. James Agee. University of Minnesota Press. 1971 8) J.
A. Ward. American Silences: The Realism of James Agee, Walker Evans, and Edward Hopper. Louisiana State University Press; 1985.
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