Mark Bosco, in his essay “Charting Endo’s Catholic Literary Aesthetic” examines why this is this case. Endo’s work evidently paid off as he wrote Silence, what many including Graham Greene consider to be one of the greatest works of the Catholic literary aesthetic. Endo read much of the work by the Catholic writers and spent time in France studying this particular aesthetic. The writer David Lodge identifies four key attributes of this Catholic aesthetic namely, “the idea of the sinner at the heart of Christianity, the doctrine of mystical substitution, the implied criticism of materialism, and the tireless pursuit of the erring soul by God” (Bosco 81). Yoshihiko Yoshimitsu, an influential teacher of Endo, was also familiar with this aesthetic and helped introduce it to him. During this period many writers including Graham Greene, Francois Mauriac and Flannery O’Connor found success by utilizing what became known as the Catholic aesthetic. In the early 20th century, much of Europe experienced what was known as the Catholic Literary Revival. In this essay we will look at both these aspects of the work. In many ways, Father Rodrigues’s decision to apostatize is congruent with the “transcendence of sacrifice” as described by Jill Robbins. Furthermore, as a work of theology Silence raises many interesting points and questions, particularly about the meaning of sacrifice. However few acknowledge one of the significant literary accomplishments of the book: Endo not only perfects the Catholic modernist literary aesthetic, he expands and further modernizes it. As a work of literature, Silence is considered a masterpiece by many for a number of reasons.
Silence endo full#
To truly grasp the full aesthetic power of the work, readers must examine it as both a work of literature and theology. Silence can, and has been analyzed in various ways through the years. By following the deeply personal theological struggles of Father Rodrigues we as readers are forced to face the same existential questions and moral dilemmas facing him. However, the true genius within Silence is the religious and spiritual introspection which it inspires. As a 20th-century novel, Silence presents readers with a historically accurate yet captivating account of the harsh realities of both 17th century Japanese society and Catholic missionary work. Shusaku Endo’s Silence follows the experience of the young Catholic missionary Father Rodrigues and his companion Father Garrpe in their attempt to help the brutally oppressed Christians of 17th century Japan.
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