Manuela Renz

Portrayals of "Man's Humiliation" in the Works of John Bunyan and Jonathan Edwards Manuela Renz

A thrilling, comparative study on ""Portrayals of Man's Humiliation" in the writings of the Puritan authors John Bunyan and Jonathan Edwards. It becomes obvious that one recurrent theme of both authors is man's depravity. What catches the eye is the way the two writers deal with this topic and how they present it. Both authors employ vivid pictures, using the power of imagery to paint the most impressive portrayals of man's precarious state. Each of them outdoes himself in employing all literary tools at hand to effect a deep, profound and lasting impact that sticks in one's mind. To arrive at a ""right"" concept of man's nature seems to be of paramount importance to the two of them. Undoubtedly, they have succeeded in leaving an impact not only on theology, but also on literature. As a transnational project this study turns its attention to portrayals of man's humiliation as conceived by J. Bunyan and J. Edwards and the role of spiritual autobiography and self-expression within this context.