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Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, & Hope In Western Literature
In this short but stimulating work, Peter Leithart draws upon insights from history, theology, philosophy, and literature to connect two of the most glorious and unique truths of Christianity—its hopeful eschatology and its doctrine of a dynamic, personal Trinity. First, Leithart shows that the biblical view of history is essentially comic and hopeful, in contrast to the c...more
Paperback, 159 pages
Published
October 27th 2006
by Canon Press
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Jacob Aitken
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This book aims at joy--nothing else. Joy is intensified in the despair of (post)modern life. Leithart also neatly connects joy (think comedy) with the Trinity. Leithart aims to show eschatological moments within the Trinity. And if these moments take place within space-time, then this book also aims at eschatology. An eschatology of hope.
The short thesis of this book is that Western literature moves from Tragedy to Comedy and from Comedy to Deep Comedy.
Beginning with Tragedy:
The pivotal work of ...more
The short thesis of this book is that Western literature moves from Tragedy to Comedy and from Comedy to Deep Comedy.
Beginning with Tragedy:
The pivotal work of ...more
Deep Comedy explores the dominance of tragedy, that is, an essential eschatological pessimism among pagan literature, and of comedy in the Christian gospel, that is, an essentially optimistic eschatology. It is in many ways a plea for a post-millenial Christian hope, though that phrase is not explicitly stated in the book.
A tragedy may be described according to the language of Ecclesiastes as "life under the sun" and a comedy as "life beyond the sun". Leithart sh...more
A tragedy may be described according to the language of Ecclesiastes as "life under the sun" and a comedy as "life beyond the sun". Leithart sh...more
I've been on this Peter Leithart kick for a while now, and he has a lot more titles out there to read. This one is more or less an introduction to the concept of resurrection as expressed in various cultural pursuits (of particular interest is literature for Leithart) since the dawn of Christianity. He compares tragic and comic literature from before Christ's advent with such from after Christ's advent. He shows that before Christendom there was no such thing as comedy in an ultimate sense. Sinc...more
Just finished it. One of the best books arguing for an essentially Postmillennial approach to life-- saturated with the kind of laughter and comedy that only the gospel can provide. It's so tragic that the Church doesn't realize what an effect the deep comedy of redemption could have on our culture. This is another one of those should've-read-it-yesterday kinda books.
A tough read; not sure I understood everything. If anything, I realize I need to read more Shakespeare. Will probably give it another go sometime in the future.
Life hasn't looked this beautiful in a long time. Quite a punch packed in those 150 pages.
I found this very stimulating.
Outstanding.
fantastic!
Beautiful.
Really fun: Dr. Leithart is again at his best discussing both literature and philosophy. Showing how the pagans didn't produce truly 'comic' literature (Homer, Virgil) and the medievals (Shakespeare), in fact, did (he even uses King Lear as example of this).
The analysis is good. I want to re-read it when I know a bit more about philosophy. The ordinary layman will probably be dulled by reading part 2. Otherwise, deeply comedic.
The analysis is good. I want to re-read it when I know a bit more about philosophy. The ordinary layman will probably be dulled by reading part 2. Otherwise, deeply comedic.
Really well done.
Another really penetrating short book showing the complete dichotomy between ancient views of death and existence versus the Christian view and the current postmodern take. This was a helpful corrective to my thinking about life.
This was such a wonderful, wonderful read. It is definitly a "you can never turn back" type of read. The deep gears in my soul kept cuckunching as each chapter came to a close. I am really thankful for this book.
Probably one of the very best books I've ever read.
LOVED IT!
LOVED IT!
Disposes of all the deepest philosophical problems of the western world in a little over 100 pages.
Brilliant and profound in its implications.
Amazing, of course.
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Dr. Leithart teaches Theology and Literature at New Saint Andrews College and serves as pastor of Trinity Reformed Church. He is a contributing editor to Touchstone magazine and has published articles in a variety of mediums, from daily newspapers to theological journals.
Dr. Leithart was educated at Hillsdale College, Westminster Theological Seminary and the University of Cambridge in...more
More about Peter J. Leithart...
Dr. Leithart was educated at Hillsdale College, Westminster Theological Seminary and the University of Cambridge in...more
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