I know that, if I took your oath, I should be damned." "There are those who would envy your insight," he says, "into the workings of grace. But then, you and God have always been on familiar terms, not so? I wonder how you dare. You talk about your maker as if he were some neighbor you went fishing with on a Sunday afternoon.
In Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall," the speaker expresses a deep skepticism about the nature of faith and the relationship between individuals and God. They highlight a perceived intimacy that the other person shares with the divine, suggesting that this familiarity borders on presumption. By comparing their connection to a casual outing, the speaker implies that such ease in addressing God is unusual and perhaps inappropriate.
The dialogue reveals a tension between differing perspectives on belief and divine authority. The speaker's discomfort with taking an oath illustrates a conflict between personal morality and the expectations of faith. It suggests a struggle with the concept of grace and the complexities of spiritual commitment, inviting readers to reflect on their own views of faith and the nature of righteousness.
