Chapter VI The Mountain

(Presentation synopsis)

Religion as an intrinsic part of history and art

The three main characters in this story symbolize the most common relations towards
religion:
Amanda Ferguson the main character, a pious person turned religious

fanatic in the course of the story

Her father an atheist to his very end, obstinate to the extent that he does

not even recognize the artistic and historic value of religion

Miss Logan a rational, not particularly religious person, not exclusive
when it comes to different interpretations of the world, unlike the other two

characters
The main plot itself sounds considerably ridiculous a well-off woman with a
companion undertakes the endevour of climbing the Mount Ararat, merely for the sake
of her father whose soul is lost in the afterlife. (according to her beliefs, not his)
The subtle irony is present throughout the story in the portrayal of the main character
who takes herself too seriously.
The difference in opinions between her and her father is first seen in the way they
view art and what each of them considers to be art at all. (Monsieur Jerricaults Great
Picture v. the Panorama both based on the same historical event, but portraying it in
considerably different ways)
Different interpretations of art and religion different interpretations of history
Although she admits there is an alternative way of viewing the world (her fathers
way) she still insists that her religious (and all other) beliefs are the only correct ones.
Superstition Amandas superstition equals to the wisdom of ages(p.144), everyone
elses customs and beliefs are false adorations(p.150).
The wine incident (p.158) fully discloses her narrow-mindedness when she condemns
the Archimandrite of the Monastery of St. James in Arghuri for fermenting Noahs
grapes, forgetting that Noah himself did it first and that it is done around the world.
Here she is symbolic of a great number of religious people who interpret the Holy
Scripture literally, thus putting the form before the meaning and giving it greater
importance.
The earthquake (pp.162,163) shows her in a new light, almost equal to a religious
terrorist who justifies taking any number of lives as long as it is viewed as the act of
God. (the look on her face suggests that she already knew what was about to happen,

and is quite pleased - her face bore an expression of prim pleasure which shocked her
companion)
It is later confirmed that al the inhabitants of Arghuri are dead, just as Miss Fergusson
predicted.
The earthquake left the vines intact they are not a temptation in themselves, the
temptation exists only in us humans. (if it were indeed the act of God, this would be
the reason for not destroying them, but then again, there are always two explanations
of everything, p.154)
Her fall and subsequently death appear to be staged, not unlike the rest of her life, in
the spirit of religion. (I cannot imagine a happier place from which to be taken unto
Him, p.165)
Here also everything is subdued to mere form and all that she is concerned with are
appearances.
Another of the many explanations of her death is that she, like the inhabitants of
Arghuri, was punished for trying to climb a mountain inaccessible to man. (On this
subject, if on nothing else, Christian and Mussulman agreed. p.155)
In the end, Miss Logan finds that choosing the right explanation of the world might
not be as easy as her employer and her father made it out to be.
there were two explanations of everything, [that] each required the exercise of
faith, and [that] we had been given free will in order that we might choose between
them. This dilemma was to preoccupy Miss Logan for years to come.