The Irony of a “Theological Background”
Rutherford narrates, “I was a petty thief…My master, Reverend Peleg Chandler, had notice this stickiness of my fingers when I was a child, and a tendency I had to tell preposterous lies for the hell of it, he was convinced I was born to be hanged and did his damnedest to re-educate said fingers in finer pursuits such as good penmanship and playing the grand piano in his parlor. A Biblical scholar, he endlessly preached Old Testament virtues to me…Yet, for all that theological background, I have always been drawn by nature to extremes.” The persuasive theological background fails to alter Rutherford’s penchant to extremes such as stealing. Ordinarily, the preaching would have influenced him to embrace a pious persona who desists from criminalities. Chandler’s preaching is somewhat in vain because Rutherford consciously indulges in engagements which the Bible does not endorse. A religious background is not a guarantee that an individual will be morally upright. Sociologically, Rutherford is a deviant figure; tough circumstances, particularly joblessness, compel him to contravene virtues.
The Irony of “Goodness of Her Heart”
Philippe tells Rutherford, “ That school teacher Miss Bailey has saved yo’ behind. Out of the goodness of her heart, she has come forward and offered to liquidate to’ debts with her meagre savings, provided you agree- as I know you will- to the simple condition of holy matrimony.” Isodora’s goodness is qualified for it is based on blackmail. Her resolution to bail out Rutherford is motivated by the requirement that he should consent to marrying her. If her goodness was unreserved she would have settled the debt willingly without conditions. Isodara covertly pressures Rutherford to wed him by acting like a Good Samaritan, yet Rutherford is not fascinated by matrimony.
