The Illuminator Analysis

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Analysis of the Illuminator
Introduction
Brenda Rickman’s Illuminator is a glowing novel that covers an extraordinary time in the history of England, 14th Century; a time of plague and political unrest. In this point in history, Vantrease utilizes historical fiction to bring out the chronicles of the earliest strings of reformation as well as the themes of love, choice, greed, treachery, politics, and religion among many other critical issues of the time. The book is authored at a time when the feudal order is that to take shape but still the Lord and Bishops still have the power to decide one’s fate. Moreover, at this time, there are no printing presses hence books are a rare to find commodity.
Analysis
Vantrease explores the realities of the Middle Ages as she portrays what it was like to lead a day in the 14th century England. The novel covers the effects of feudalism alongside religious expression. Under John of Gaunt’s protection, John Wycliffe enjoys his duty to implement the ‘much needed’ church reforms. However, this is not the case for his followers like Lady Kathryn of Blacking ham Manor. Lady Kathryn is a widow who is striving to protect her children’s inheritance (Vantrease, 256). Therefore, she chooses to allow an illuminator and his daughter to stay in her house so that she gains the favor of the local abbot. Lady Kathryn is a victim of her choices like any individual in life. As portrayed in the four choices, topping that list is the choice of who we hang around with.

Lady Kathryn’s choice to accommodate the master illuminator, Fin, leads her to trouble. For example, a priest’s body is found in her house; she fell in love with Finn who later cheats on her with her cook, Agnes (Vantrease, 293). When Finn unravels his secret of translating the Bible to English using Master Wycliffe’s manuscript, Lady Kathryn’s world turns wild upon realizing the troubles she might fall into (Chewning, 105).
The illuminator shares the themes of hypocrisy and greed of the church in the Middle Age England as illustrated in other arts such as the Follett books. For instance, in ‘The Pillars of the Earth’ the author illustrates on the hypocrisy of the community in building a Cathedral in Kingsbridge; a project that fails due to the greed of the power-hungry priest.
Conclusion
Vantrease’s Illuminator is a perfect art that explores fictional history to bring out the exact realities of the middle age England. This novel illustrates on how the effects of our choices can influence the outcomes of our lives. From the love triangle to the misfortunes surrounding Lady Kathryn, the illuminator illustrates the theme of choice. Moreover, the novel connects with Ken Follett’s ‘Pillars of the Earth’ to bring out the realities of hypocrisy and greed in the 14th-century church politics.
Work Cited
Chewning, Susannah Mary. “Julian of Norwich in Popular Fiction.” Julian of Norwich’s Legacy. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2009: 101-112.
Vantrease, Brenda Rickman. The illuminator. Macmillan, 2005: 205-306.