"Truth for its own Sake"シャーロット・ブロンテの『ヴィレット』における反カトリシズム(2)

Abstract

Part II of this essay focuses on the Roman Catholic "Lies" and "Falsehood" in its moral theological aspects, as conceived by Bronte and by the Protestant polemists in Mid-Victorian England. Section 111 discusses lies ("formal lies") and falsehood ("matarial lies") in the Catholic moral theology. It was said that the guilt incurred in each case was distinguished by the presence or absence of the justifiable causes ("ex justa causa"). Protestant critics, such as Charles Kingsley, were strongly offended by this distinction since they mistakenly supposed that "Truth for its own sake" was not a virtue pursued by the Catholic faithful. As for other misleadings of non-verbal kinds, Catholic rules of conduct were also objectionable to the English Protestants because they allowed "matenal simulations" (non verbal misleadings with justifiable causes). Section 111 summarizes varieties of "material lies" and "material simulations" so tactfully deployed by Madame Beck and Father Silas in Villette. Lastly, Section IV examines that Father Silas applied the same principle of "ex justa causa" to the use of knowledge obtained by the confessionals. Lucy's refusal to disclose the content of her own confession seems to indicate her indirect reproach to Fr. Silas for his violation of the sacramental seal.