American Pastoral is all about worship, from formal religions to greed, wealth, power, and the struggle for freedom. It also tackles the question of Dawn and the Swede's inter-religious marriage.
Several of the characters in the books take religion super seriously. But for the Swede, the novel's tragic hero, religion is at best a nuisance and at worst a downright threat. For him, the American experience is not just freedom of religion, but freedom from religion.
Questions About Religion
- What does Merry's religious path look like? How do you feel about her religious choices? How does the novel represent Jainism?
- How does the Swede feel about religion?
- What do you make of Lou's arguments against inter-religious marriage?
- What are some of the things worshiped in the novel besides God?
- Do religion and politics intersect in the novel? Can you find any examples?
Chew on This
In Jainism, Merry is able to find a theological perspective that meets her political perspective… at least for the time being.
Lou's arguments against inter-religious marriages are rendered as absurd (but still dangerous) in the scene where he and Dawn negotiate the religious path of her future children.