I need help.

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11-15-2010, 10:45 AM
serhanbener

I need help.

"The better to cloak his transgression, He redoubled his pretensions to the semblance of virtue, and never appeared more devoted to Heaven as since He had broken through his engagements. Thus did He unconsciously add Hypocrisy to perjury and incontinence; He had fallen into the latter errors from yielding to seduction almost irresistible; But he was now guilty of a voluntary fault by endeavouring to conceal those into which Another had betrayed him."(Chapter 6 of The Monk)

What is the meaning of "by endeavouring to conceal those into which Another had betrayed him.""?
Does that mean "after learning Mathilda's secret he was still concealing that secret and participated in her crime."?
11-15-2010, 11:10 AM
OrphanPip

The sentence is a bit complex. He lists three sins he's guilty of: hypocrisy, perjury and incontinence. He says the perjury and incontinence were errors he was tempted into, but the hypocrisy is worse because it came from his willing commitment to covering up sin instead of being an error he was tempted into by "Another." Which in the literal sense was Mathilda, but here he is blaming Satan. Mathilda, as a demon, functions as an embodiment of Satan in the novel.
11-15-2010, 11:10 AM
kiki1982

I don't know the book, but I can say that 'endeavouring' means to try to, having a certain aim.

So, in order to cloak/conceal his yielding/giving in to irresistable seduction, he now adds hypocrisy to his list of accomplishments. He seems now even more devoted to Heaven than before.

So, he is now guilty of a voluntary fault (he voluntarily chooses to be hypocritical and to seem more devoted to Heaven whereas he is not) by concealing the faults (those) into which another had led him or had tempted him.

Is that a little bit what it should be?
11-15-2010, 11:38 AM
serhanbener

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiki1982

I don't know the book, but I can say that 'endeavouring' means to try to, having a certain aim.

So, in order to cloak/conceal his yielding/giving in to irresistable seduction, he now adds hypocrisy to his list of accomplishments. He seems now even more devoted to Heaven than before.

So, he is now guilty of a voluntary fault (he voluntarily chooses to be hypocritical and to seem more devoted to Heaven whereas he is not) by concealing the faults (those) into which another had led him or had tempted him.

Is that a little bit what it should be?

I think we all thinking the same. MANY tHANKS FOR YOUR HELP.:out: