Auster's Theology

Auster’s engagement in theological speculation is predominant in this section of City of Glass. In particular he addresses the idea of the Tower of Babel through the medium of Stillman’s book. As Quinn (or Auster or whomever he has decided to be that day) examines Stillman’s work, the extent of Stillman’s theological intrigues are revealed to the reader. Of particular import is the work of Milton’s contemporary, Henry Dark. Dark believe that the New World was some kind of saintly conduit through which the righteous will pass, its roots extending back only to the arrival of the Mayflower on Plymouth Rock. He drew a parallel from the landing of the Mayflower to Noah and the Flood, and it was only a hop and a skip from there to predict that, as the Tower of Babel was erected 340 years after the Flood, so too would there be a new tower erected in America 340 years after the landing of the Mayflower.

The continuous reference to Babel and the idea of an all-encompassing language of absolute truth are themes that not only run through City of Glass, but define its theological and philosophical undertones. In addressing this idea of a common language of innocence, I reject it whole-heartedly. The idea is rooted in pure philosophy, theology and, most importantly, speculation. However, as insane as Dark sounds, he does put forth one idea that I agree with. Common Messianism dictates that there will come a day when a prophet will deliver us to a new Garden of Eden and usher in an age of peace. But Dark says that that notion is a load. On the contrary, surely all we have is world we live in and everything that is contained within it. If there is to be some kind of age of peace, it will be brought about by the work of man in the places we already live, and not the supernatural.

-Jason