The Spire

Explore the presentation of Jocelin in the Spire

At the beginning of the novel Jocelin is happy, he has a vision (he believes to be sent from God) of the Spire. At the beginning of the novel Jocelin is filled with love for others even if this unreciprocating, by characters such as Roger, the builders, the novices, who believe he is 'too proud' and least notably, but revealed at the end, by Anselm. When he plans for the spire aren't going as well as planned, his joys turns to irritation.

Even from the start of the novel, Golding’s aim is to illustrate Jocelin's lack of self awareness to the reader, Golding demonstrates this aspect to Jocelin’s nature during Jocelin’s encounters with other characters. Firstly, when he overhears the two novices calling him 'too proud' he immediately jumps to the conclusion that they are talking about someone other than him. And laughs along. Also in Jocelin's reaction to the his carved head of stone by Gilbert, when he says he's 'not as beaky as that' when the reader knows he is as he is often described as peering around his nose. this lack of self awareness, along with Jocelin's disregard and ignorance towards logic, even in such an early stage of the novel is Golding’s way of forecasting Jocelin’s inevitable downfall.

Golding also represents Jocelin as a character who is extremely deluded, he believes his advancement through the church ranks to Dean, is because he has been chosen by God, later it is revealed that it is because his Aunt had an affair with the king and because 'she pleased him' she asked that Jocelin become dean of the church as a present to her sister, (Jocelin’s mother). The 'warmth' at his back, is immediately interpreted by Jocelin as the presence of hides guardian angel sent by God to comfort and guide him in his task, it is at this point that the reader begins to question Jocelin's reliability as a narrator. On one hand, Jocelin’s extreme faith in God is admirable and an inspiration, when all evidence points to what is logical and rational, like when the pillars are bending and singing and he is strongly advised by Roger to stop the building, Jocelin 'sticks by his guns' and insists that the pillars float. Similarly, he believes the Holy Nail, (from the Bishop in Rome, believed to be taken from Jesus’ crucifix) will solve the answers to the weight of the building. However, Golding shows Jocelin’s perceptions to be illogical to the point of being farce, How can a nail hammered into the top of the construction, make the non existent foundations support an 180 ft spire?

If there is one obvious aspect to Jocelin’s nature that Golding highlights throughout the building of the spire, it's his arrogance and pride. There is major intentional irony by Golding in Jocelin's 'Lord; I thank thee, that Thou hast kept me humble' and 'don’t you think you might strain my humility by making an angel of me?' asked to Gilbert

This shows itself in his dealing with others, he called Father Adam, 'Father anonymous' and a clothes peg, no more than a voice that scratched itself into the air' and his dismissal of Pangall’s misery, a loyal servant to the church. this goes on to show Jocelin’s obsession with his work. As the novel progresses, Jocelin spends an increasing