Heylo, new here . . .

um . . .

do I have to list vital statistics or something? name, rank, favorite kind of pin?
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I was writing a last-minute application essay the other day and ended up analyzing Good Omens. Figured I might as well post it.



3. Write a critical analysis of a book, poem, play, essay, or other text you have read outside of school. What goals does this text have and by what means does it achieve them? Your analysis should not be a book report or plot summary. Support your assertions with a close reading of the work itself. Your essay should be no longer than 2 single-spaced pages.


The novel "Good Omens" was co-written by two noted British fantasy authors, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Both men are known for twisted creativity and highly distinctive senses of humor. Between the authors' reputations and the cover copy, which consists of reviews such as "The Apocalypse has never been funnier," the nature of the novel seems perfectly clear: it is purely a work of humor, an attempt at a more lighthearted counterpart to the average Christian novel--worth a read, most likely, but solely for entertainment purposes. So it would seem, in any case, until the reader actually begins to read the book. It is lighthearted, certainly, but far from shallow. From the very first scene, it becomes clear that Gaiman and Pratchett have something to say about religion that is very substantial indeed.

"Good Omens" opens just after the exile from Eden, with a conversation between the serpent demon Crawly (he subsequently changes his name to Crowley) and an angel, Aziraphale. Each has been designated by his respective authorities to ensure that the Apocalypse takes place as planned and that his own side comes out on top. It is almost instantly clear, however, that something is askew; the two, who ought to be archenemies, converse instead like intimate friends. What is more, both the angel, who has taught Adam and Eve the use of fire, and the serpent have doubts about the way they have dealt with the situation. Within three pages, it has become clear that this is by no means a typical religious novel; something must be askew here, if even angels are questioning the intent of God. The rest of the plot takes place in the late twentieth century, where the Apocalypse is well on its way--but far from going as planned. The Antichrist has been mislaid, for one thing, and has consequently turned out a perfectly normal eleven-year-old boy. Even worse (as the Powers that Be see it) Crowley and Aziraphale have begun to question their task in earnest and are beginning to suspect that they really don't want the End of Days to come about at all. As events progress, each of the lead characters--no matter what their faith has been, whether in God or Satan or magic or in the nonexistence of any of it--begin to question the purposes to which they have put their lives. To a certain extent, this is simply because the Antichrist's sheer existence is enough to affect people's lives and throw them off balance. However, it is also representative of the single biggest theme in the book: Gaiman and Pratchett are questioning, if not religion itself, the way people deal with and interpret their religion.

Admittedly, humor is a significant element of the novel. Neil Gaiman has long been recognized for a certain twisted whimsy in his writing, and Terry Pratchett is frequently referred to alongside Douglas Adams, the legendary master of manic humor in science fiction. While "Good Omens" is indeed a very funny book--almost inevitably so, considering its authors-- the intent of its jesting is not simply to be humorous. Nor, however, is it intended to poke fun directly at religion or at religious people. The extensive comedy of the novel is intended to contrast with the deadly seriousness with which most people take their religious beliefs and to suggest that such seriousness--especially about religion, which is meant to be a joyous thing--might not be such a good idea. After all, it could well lead to arrogance such as that displayed by Beelzebub and the Metatron when they confront the Antichrist at the pivotal moment, only to discover that he doesn't want the world to end at all. The two representatives argue that it is part of the Great Plan ("it izz written," hisses Beelzebub) and that one side or the other must choose, but the Antichrist--backed up by Aziraphale and Crowley--points out that, whatever is written, something else could always be written somewhere else unknown to all but God and Satan themselves. "I don't see why it matters what is written," he says. "Not when it's about people. It can always be crossed out." In this one scene, it becomes abundantly clear what message Gaiman and Pratchett intend to send with this novel. It is essentially a warning: no matter how certain the truth may seem, there is always a chance it could be wrong--or that its opposite could be true at the same time. Excessive faith in something as the "one and only" truth will more likely than not lead to arrogance, confusion, and disappointment.

"Good Omens" is, to some extent, a work of humor. It is certainly possible to read it solely as a humorous novel without absorbing any larger message from it. However, it is also a serious story with considerable thematic depth, in which humor is an essential tool with which Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett are able to effectively communicate their ideas about religion.