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The Application of Bernard Lonergan's Theory of Conversion to the Three Main Characters in Susan Howatch's Novels of the Starbridge Series Teresa Hunt

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The Application of Bernard Lonergan's Theory of Conversion to the Three Main Characters in Susan Howatch's Novels of the Starbridge Series Teresa Hunt Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2009 The Application of Bernard Lonergan's Theory of Conversion to the Three Main Characters in Susan Howatch's Novels of the Starbridge Series Teresa Hunt Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Hunt, T. (2009). The Application of Bernard Lonergan's Theory of Conversion to the Three Main Characters in Susan Howatch's Novels of the Starbridge Series (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/673 This Immediate Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE APPLICATION OF BERNARD LONERGAN’S THEORY OF CONVERSION TO THE THREE MAIN CHARACTERS IN SUSAN HOWATCH’S NOVELS OF THE STARBRIDGE SERIES A Dissertation Submitted to the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By The Reverend Teresa Gioia Hunt December 2009 Copyright by The Reverend Teresa Gioia Hunt 2009 THE APPLICATION OF BERNARD LONERGAN’S THEORY OF CONVERSION TO THE THREE MAIN CHARACTERS OF SUSAN HOWATCH’S NOVELS OF THE STARBRIDGE SERIES By The Reverend Teresa Gioia Hunt Approved November 11, 2009 _________________________________ ________________________________ Maureen R. O’Brien, Ph. D. Charles A. Huttar, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Theology and Professor of English Emeritus Director of Pastoral Ministry Hope College, Holland, Michigan (Dissertation Director) (Committee Member) _________________________________ _________________________________ Christopher M. Duncan, Ph.D. George Worgul, Ph.D., S.T.D. Dean, McAnulty College and Chair, Department of Theology Graduate School of Liberal Arts Professor of Theology (Committee Member) iii ABSTRACT THE APPLICATION OF BERNARD LONERGAN’S THEORY OF CONVERSION TO THE THREE MAIN CHARACTERS OF SUSAN HOWATCH’S NOVELS OF THE STARBRIDGE SERIES By The Reverend Teresa Gioia Hunt December 2009 Dissertation supervised by Dr. Maureen R. O’Brien The purpose of this dissertation is to demonstrate that Bernard Lonergan’s theory of conversion can be applied to the fictional lives of the three main characters in Susan Howatch’s novels of the Starbridge series. This will validate Lonergan’s theory and provide a comprehensible demonstration of it as well. The rationale of this study is based on two well-established assumptions. The first, articulated by Erich Auerbach in modern literary theory, is that literature mirrors reality; the second, expressed by Paul Ricoeur, among others, is that an author expresses his/her own worldview. Howatch’s three main characters, Charles Ashworth, Jonathan Darrow, and Neville Aysgarth, reflect reality because as clergymen in the Church of England, they sin repeatedly, just as every Christian does. Afterward, through a process of redemption, they confront their sin, repent, and then work to put things right. Writing of those who experience conversion, iv Bernard Lonergan says that “they have to learn with humility that religious development is dialectical, that the task of repentance and conversion is life-long.” This is precisely the process of conversion that these fictitious characters demonstrate. Susan Howatch herself has written on the ways in which the “religion” of an author necessarily seeps into his/her works. In addition, Howatch admits to having been in the throes of a conversion experience as she wrote the Starbridge novels. On many levels, then, these novels represent reality. Thus they provide a suitable vehicle for applying, exploring, and understanding Bernard Lonergan’s complicated theory of conversion. v DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my mother Tina Gioia who introduced me to the novels of Susan Howatch and to my father Joseph Daniel Gioia whose spirituality nurtured my own. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENT I would like to thank the members of my committee, Dr. Maureen O’Brien, Associate Professor of Theology and Director of Pastoral Ministry, Duquesne University, Dr. Charles A Huttar, Professor Emeritus of English, Hope College, and Dr. George Worgul, Professor of Theology and Department Chair, Duquesne University, for their unfailing encouragement, support, wisdom, and counsel in the writing of this dissertation. I would also like to thank my children Gianna and Jno Hunt, and my dear friend Lori Stebler for their help, patience, and love as I wrote this dissertation. Most of all I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to Susan Howatch whose labor of love in writing the novels of the Starbridge series inspired me, and whose keen interest in the subject of this dissertation and cherished friendship urged me on to complete my task. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract.............................................................................................................................. iv Dedication.......................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgment .............................................................................................................. vii Introduction........................................................................................................................ xi The Background, Rationale, Purpose, and Method of this Dissertation and an Outline of the Chapters ................................................................................................................... xii 1.1 The Background................................................................................................... xii 1.2 The Rationale .....................................................................................................xiiii 1.3 The Purpose........................................................................................................ xvii 1.4 The Method of this Dissertation......................................................................... xvii 1.5 An Outline of the Chapters ..............................................................................xviiii Chapter 1............................................................................................................................. 1 Overview of Susan Howatch’s Novels in the Starbridge Series ..................................... 1 1.1. Introduction........................................................................................................... 1 1.2. The Genesis and Background of the Novels in the Starbridge Series................... 2 1.3. Howatch’s Fiction: A Venue for Theology......................................................... 12 1.4. Howatch’s Treatment of Major Theological Themes in the Novels................... 22 1.5. The Historical Milieu of Each Novel in the Starbridge Series............................ 31 1.6. Theological Issues Facing the Church of England in Each Novel...................... 48 Chapter 2........................................................................................................................... 54 Historical/Theological Perspectives of Three Movements in Anglicanism .................. 54 2.1. Introduction......................................................................................................... 54 2.2. Historical Background of the Church of England............................................... 55 viii 2.3. Classical Mysticism ............................................................................................ 60 2.4. Modern Protestant Liberalism............................................................................. 74 2.5. Conservative Orthodoxy with Catholic Leanings............................................... 88 Chapter 3......................................................................................................................... 104 Anglicanism Encounters Bernard Lonergan................................................................ 104 3.1. Introduction....................................................................................................... 104 3.2. Bernard Lonergan’s Theory of Conversion in Method in Theology ................ 105 3.3. Relevance of Lonergan’s Theory within a Mystical Perspective...................... 123 3.4. Relevance of Lonergan’s Theory within a Modern Liberal Context ................ 128 3.5. Relevance of Lonergan’s Theory within a Conservative Orthodox Context.... 132 3.6. Affinities and Differences between Roman Catholicism and Anglicanism in Applying Lonergan’s Theory of Conversion ........................................................... 136 Chapter 4......................................................................................................................... 147 Lonergan’s Intellectual, Moral, and Religious Conversion in Susan Howatch’s Novels of the Starbridge Series ............................................................................................... 147 4.1. Introduction....................................................................................................... 147 4.2. Analysis of the Three-Fold Conversion Experience of Jonathan Darrow ........ 147 4.3. Analysis of the Three-Fold Conversion Experience of Neville Aysgarth ........ 177 4.4. Analysis of the Three-Fold Conversion Experience
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