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percy-l - Re: [percy-l] Percy-L Digest, Vol 96, Issue 4

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Subject: Percy-L: Literary, Religious, Scientific, and Philosophical Discussion on Walker Percy

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  • From: Alex Bell <alexbell25 AT tamu.edu>
  • To: percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [percy-l] Percy-L Digest, Vol 96, Issue 4
  • Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:12:47 -0500 (CDT)

hello all,

I'm a English graduate student at Texas A&M, and i have a question that
hopefully can be answered (or at least assuaged) with consensus. In _Love in
the Ruins_ Tom More repeatedly reminisces on his dead wife Doris. we are told
that she was a highly principled yet non-religious woman (i believe he refers
to her as an ex-episcopalian who found interest in eastern religion). Ellen
Oglethorpe, Dr More's secretary and eventual lover, is the referred to in a
similar fashion-- a Presbyterian who has "no use" for God, but who adheres to
a strict moral code. How then are we to differentiate these women (if we even
are to do so), especially in regards to their effect on More? can More's
"choosing" of Ellen be a return to a previous state of life--life before the
loss of his child--or is there as subtle difference between Doris and Ellen
which i am missing?


thank you in advance for any enlightenment

Alex Bell




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