Author Archives: Jonathan Sircy

Robinson Crusoe: A Covenantal Outline

You can find my earlier posts on Daniel Defoe’s novel Robinson Crusoe here. THEMES Crusoe shows us that divine providence often works through, rather than in spite of, hardships. Crusoe’s experience on the island demonstrates that hierarchies among people are natural, but intolerance is a sinful distortion of that natural hierarchy. While Crusoe believes thatContinue reading “Robinson Crusoe: A Covenantal Outline”

The Apostles Creed: A Covenantal Overview

I am reading James K. A. Smith’s book Imagining the Kingdom as a background source for my Covenantal Shakespeare course. Smith argues that our actions reflect the attunement of bodies and hearts more than our rational minds. This means that we should consider the kinesthetic (bodily) and aesthetic (imaginative) practices we take part in everyContinue reading “The Apostles Creed: A Covenantal Overview”

Five Reasons for Studying Shakespeare Covenantally

Three kinds of people would be interested in studying Shakespeare covenantally. Those who are familiar with covenantal theology and want to see it applied to culture more generally Those who are familiar with Shakespeare and want to see his works interpreted from new persepctive Those who don’t know much Shakespeare but want to read andContinue reading “Five Reasons for Studying Shakespeare Covenantally”

Covenantal Shakespeare: An Overview

I continue to put together a Covenantal Shakespeare course. Last week, I completed my commentary on the play. Now I am pulling back from the particular literary work and trying to write a general introduction to the course with a more specific explanation about why studying Shakespeare through the covenant matters. Introductions to the covenantContinue reading “Covenantal Shakespeare: An Overview”

The Educated Imagination: A Covenantal Review

I’ve just finished rereading Northrop Frye’s 1962 lecture series The Educated Imagination. Because Frye is such a clear writer and a synthesizing thinker, his work has given me a more holistic vision of covenantal literature would look like, though the actual content of his work is at odds with that vision. Here’s where I wouldContinue reading “The Educated Imagination: A Covenantal Review”

Covenantal Economics and Covenantal Literature

I am reading Dr. Gary North’s The Covenantal Structure of Economics to prepare for a similar project on literature. I was struck by this resounding theme in Dr. North’s book: “The concept of planning must be front and center in Christian economic theory” (29). This planning must be future-oriented. It’s not irrational. It’s based onContinue reading “Covenantal Economics and Covenantal Literature”

Julius Caesar: Act 5 Commentary

The play’s final act begins and ends with Antony and Octavius, the counterparts to Brutus and Cassius respectively. Antony and Brutus are mirrors of each other: close friends of Caesar, one to the extent that he will get revenge for his death, the other to the extent that he was willing to kill his friendContinue reading “Julius Caesar: Act 5 Commentary”

Julius Caesar: Act 4 Commentary

Act 3 revealed the Roman plebeians as an unruly mob. They do not appear again. Instead, Act 4 shows us the men who will lead these plebeians: the imperial triumvirate in scene 1 and the republicans in scene 2. Both sides are divided. Antony and Octavius dismiss Lepidus, the third man in their partnership. He’sContinue reading “Julius Caesar: Act 4 Commentary”