Augustine’s Confessions demonstrates the conversion of a man from sin to piety. While Augustine credits God’s hand for his transformation, another man guides Augustine’s conversion as well. Though unknowingly, Alypius’ influence on the life of Augustine prompts him to better himself, inciting purpose in his search for truth which in turn leads to his conversion. Despite Augustine’s many claims of interactions and signals from God, Alypius’ youth and innocence, his more modest sin, and his dependence upon the teachings of Augustine generates the evolution in Augustine’s character from a state of doubt to one of faith. Throughout his writings, Augustine praises the Lord for driving him towards the religious path. Especially through his
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His mother, for instance, often pleads for his baptism, for his conversion, and for the cessation of his sinful ways. Rather than thank his mother for her unremitting support, he cries to God, “I believed you were silent, and that it was only she who was speaking, when you were speaking to me through her” (Augustine 27). Divine intervention appears to take place, as if God forced his mother into saying these words rather than her own free will. Again when he hears the children chanting “tolle loge,” he presumes God intended for him to hear them. In both these cases Augustine implies that these people act as God’s pawns in order to sway him towards Christianity. Augustine, however, never indicates this in his relationship with Alypius. Alypius he regards in a similar way to himself, where God favors him and incites events to occur to sway him towards piety. At one such instance, when Alypius implicates himself in the addiction to gladiator fights, Augustine states, “from this you delivered him by your most strong and merciful hand” (Augustine 101). His portrayal of Alypius, different from his portrayal of everyone else, reinforces the concept of his bond with him. As this bond strengthens, their relationship grows from a similar quest for truth, and Augustine attempts to find the answer not only for himself, but for his younger
His mother, for instance, often pleads for his baptism, for his conversion, and for the cessation of his sinful ways. Rather than thank his mother for her unremitting support, he cries to God, “I believed you were silent, and that it was only she who was speaking, when you were speaking to me through her” (Augustine 27). Divine intervention appears to take place, as if God forced his mother into saying these words rather than her own free will. Again when he hears the children chanting “tolle loge,” he presumes God intended for him to hear them. In both these cases Augustine implies that these people act as God’s pawns in order to sway him towards Christianity. Augustine, however, never indicates this in his relationship with Alypius. Alypius he regards in a similar way to himself, where God favors him and incites events to occur to sway him towards piety. At one such instance, when Alypius implicates himself in the addiction to gladiator fights, Augustine states, “from this you delivered him by your most strong and merciful hand” (Augustine 101). His portrayal of Alypius, different from his portrayal of everyone else, reinforces the concept of his bond with him. As this bond strengthens, their relationship grows from a similar quest for truth, and Augustine attempts to find the answer not only for himself, but for his younger