Indecision in Potrait of the Artist as a Young Man

In James Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, the protagonist Stephen Daedalus morphs from a boy unsure of how to traverse the gap between his Catholic roots and spiritually artistic tendencies, to a man who molds words to fit the language of his soul. His indecision is immoral in the sense of the Catholic environment in which he is raised, as his reluctance to follow unequivocally the doctrines of the church and it's administrators is in direct conflict with their definition of faith. However, his indecision is morally superior to his early and rash decisions, both to visit whores to satiate his sexual hunger and also his decision to plunge into the doctrines of the church, even though he feels some hesitation. This hesitation is derived from his artistic soul, whom he frequently refers to as a feminine entity, and it is this indecision that allows him to gather enough information and experience to focus his beliefs and expression. In Portrait, it is temporary indecision that lets Stephen circumvent the animalistic tendencies of man towards power and lust, and decide on his own true spiritual process.

Indecision in Beloved

There is a sharp contrast between the decisive and indecisive in Beloved, with the positive emphasis falling on the indecisive. Beloved has a decisive love for Sethe and Sethe makes a decisive action when she kills her baby. These two parts of the story have a negative connotation, one of unrelenting emotion that takes over one's mind and strangles it. The decisive action also severs the household from the community, casting a shadow of isolation over 124. Paul D and Baby Suggs, however, are indecisive creatures, going where the wind takes them (or the flowers), and relying on the strength of their people to guide them. They do not experience perilous ends, but they do not achieve great things either. The only decision that is positive is Denver's decision to stop relying on the destructive half-love of Beloved and Sethe, who have no eyes for anyone but the other. Denver's actions portray the importance of rationality, and that one can be too decisive or too indecisive.

Indecision in The Stranger

In The Stranger, by Albert Camus, the main character Meursault does not fight a great deal of indecision as does Rodya in Crime and Punishment. Meursault is outside societal bounds, and acts as the feeling comes to him, with complete truth. However, because he is a member of society, societal rules apply to him and govern him, and when he kills an Arab on the beach he is convicted of pre-meditated murder. His lack of conformity, which can be construed as a lack of adressing the consequences of his actions, leads to his isolation in prison. This takes away the ability to live life which he realizes was the most important part of his life. Unlike previous characters I've examined, Meursault's downfall is his lack of indecision, his mistake of not thinking about the societal boundaries that, in the end, he realizes bind everyone, even those who are not a part of it.

Indecision in Crime and Punishment

In Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, indecision plays a major role in the life of Rodya Raskolnikov. Throughout the novel he changes his mind, should he murder the evil pawnbroker, should he turn himself in, is he evil, etc., are all questions he asks himself to determine his course. His indecision eventually causes a subtle breakdown in his mind, that manifests itself in his schizophrenic behavior. However, his indecision leads him to abandon his assertion that logic is always the best course, and that he doesn't have all of the answers, which drives him to latch on to Sonya and the idea of God and redemption in the end, as to Dostoevsky's purpose in writin gthe novel. In the sense of the author's intentions, Rodya's indecision was moral, even though it caused great harm to his family and friends, because he eventually went to divine sources for help. Therefore, his acceptance of God equalls his atonement for his sins and the nullification of his immorality and the indecision that harmed his family.