Classic English Literature

Read the ebook Part 2, from page 89 to 210.
Follow the model. Use 3 quotes from the novel. No need to use an outside source like the model. The quotes should all be connected somehow and support your topic sentence.

ANSWER

Rituals and Clothing as a Conduit to the Theme of Religion in The Exorcist

Part Two in The Exorcist by Peter Blatty takes a deeper dive into the character of Father Karras. With him, we find out about clothes, rituals, and prayers as used in religion. For instance, the clothes reflect the might of church against demons and have to be worn appropriately during the different rituals that occur in the book. However, we learn that Father Karras is losing his faith after his mother’s death, which had become a great source of pain to him. For instance, we see the Father “burst into sobs, and then choke back the memories, wiped at the wetness of stinging regrets” (Blatty 78). Due to the faith crisis that he experiences, the Father performs his duty, including putting on the priestly clothes, conducting the mass, saying his prayers, and studying the Bible. However, he does this in a performative manner; for instance, after a night of a lot of drinking and nightmares, we are told he wakes up in the morning and “unlocked the door to Holy Trinity, put on his vestments and offered up Mass at the left side altar” (Blatty 80). He uses the rituals and attires to hide his crisis from people. We also observe him say, “Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, grant her rest…” (Blatty 81) to bid her mother farewell.

However, these items are also used as primary weapons against evil. We see other characters, such as Merrin, take a lot of time to prepare for confrontations with demons. He has to get his clothes right, puts his holy water in place, recited prayer over and over to himself, and carries out the rituals as they are supposed to be done. Later, Father Karras uses these items again to demonstrate his restored faith.

Works Cited

Blatty, William Peter. 1971. The Exorcist. New York: HarperCollins, 2011. Kindle.