The Living Church Podcast Marilynne Robinson and Rowan Williams on Jack - Part 1
Oct 1, 2020
Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, engages with renowned novelist Marilynne Robinson, best known for her work in the Gilead series. They dive deep into Robinson’s latest novel, Jack, exploring its complex characters and rich themes. Topics include race as a foundational American sin, the distinction between systemic racism and individual blame, and the powerful influence of African-American culture. They also touch on the enigmatic nature of joy and the significance of gratitude in human connections.
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Characters Grew The Series Organically
- Marilynne Robinson wrote the Gilead-related novels gradually as characters kept demanding more story.
- She found their three-dimensionality durable enough to justify separate books for key figures.
Racism As Structural Moral Failure
- Rowan Williams reads Jack as a theological exploration of racism as a systemic, not merely personal, failing.
- Robinson agrees literature can expose tensions between individual kindness and collective brutality.
African-American Culture Is Foundational
- Robinson emphasizes African-American culture's deep, constitutive role in American identity across language, religion, and music.
- She warns against reducing that population to their victimhood and overlooking their creative contributions.
