Thus, even a work specificall(a)y reserved to God such as casting out demons (Matt. 12:24-27) does not automatically qualify one for heaven. nark Angstrom does even less than this, but is convinced that he's all right because he does what he does. This, unfortunately, is what the people in his city and county have told him all along, and no one had any opportunity to articulate him otherwise.
The question of whether he would have listened if someone had told him might be answered by deliverer' instructions and warnings to his disciples about their testimony: "And ye shall be detest of all men for my name's stake" (Mark 13:13). When, in fact, his athletic supporter and golf partner is confronted on his sanctimoniously tepid witness, he's smouldering enough to not even pray about whether the bang is right or not (Updike 155).
The interaction of Rabbit and Mr. Eccles (i.e., Mr. Ecclesiastical, or Mr. Church) brings out Rabbit's real religion, which before he had not been unconscious of because it was covered by his popularity. What he believes about himself is all legerity and goodness, and he tells the lover in his adulterous affair "I'm
Earlier she had asked Rabbit "Don't you think you're passing to have to pay a price?" (131). There is the irony. Indeed, chivy Angstrom was running up a very great tab he would have to pay. The title, Rabbit, Run alludes to his running from pay that bill, which his minister friend is picking up in the meantime. And as a result, "before, Rabbit at least had the idea he was acting wrong but now he's got the idea he's Jesus Christ out to save the world just by doing whatever exercises into his head" (135). Jesus said "For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ" (Matt. 24:5), and Rabbit is doing what he has actually been encouraged to do all his life.
Augustine compares the irony of being trapped by the consequences of his sinful choices and being trapped by God.
The former is "scattering" but the last mentioned is to be "set reposition." Harry Angstrom is not free because he will neither surrender his sin nor his soul.
Updike, John. Rabbit, Run. NY: Fawcett Crest, 1960.
With the slip of Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, Updike adds the twist that Rabbit thinks he is " salve" and going to heaven, believing that what he does is accepted by God, even while he lies, cheats, and indirectly kills. While a preacher man may warn his flock that sitting in a church doesn't make one a Christian any more than sleeping in a garage makes one a car, this is what Rabbit believes. He was raised in a church, has church going friends, and even returns to church, so he believes he is going where he thinks they are going. But he deceives himself; doubting Thomas and Augustine point out that all unsaved deceive themselves. Updike, however, has created, for the sake of literature, an unsaved person who not only deceives himself, but does so ironically.
a mystic. I give people faith" (130). Later, however, she sets him straight. "Boy, you very have the touch of death, don't you? You're Mr. Death himself. . . . You just wander just about with the kiss of death" (276). This is made clear only later his s
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