Who Has Seen the Wind Essay

In the novel, Who Has Seen the Wind,  the theme "one's

understanding of God matures" is evident in Brian's life as the novel

develops.  Brian's understanding of God matures as the novel

progresses.  In the beginning, Brian's concept of God is immature.

Brian thinks God, who he calls R.W., is an imaginary friend.  As

the novel continues, he is encouraged to think about God when he

talks to Saint Sammy.  Finally, at the end of the novel, Digby

straightens out Brian's thinking of God.

In the beginning of the novel, Brian's understanding of God is

childlike and immature.  Brian thinks God is an imaginary friend.

Brian has a very creative imagination, in which R.W. rides a

vacuum cleaner.1 He also thinks that there are many Gods, each

having many arms.2 When he talks to Forbsie about God he is

misled because Forsbie's tells Brian that God is all grapes and

bloody.3  Brian also goes and visits Mr. Hislop, the pastor of the

Presbyterian Church, who tells him God is a spirit.  One day Brian

imagines that God comes and visits him.  God tells Brian that he

will get revenge on Art and his grandmother because they were not

nice to him.4  Brian's knowledge of God is still young and

immature.

In the middle of the novel, Brian talks to Saint Sammy and is

encouraged to think about God.5  Saint Sammy is a religious man

who is familiar with God's Word.  He relies on God to show him

the right way to deal with Bent Candy.  Brian is in such awe of

Saint Sammy's knowledge and closeness to God that he then desires

to seek after God.6  The knowledge and closeness that Saint Sammy

has to God encourages Brian.  Brian is spiritually uplifted by Saint

Sammy's encouragement.

Finally at the end of the novel, Digby helps resolve Brian's

thinking of God.  Brian sometimes gets "a feeling" about God.7 This

"feeling" comes as a result of Brian's maturity.  Digby encourages

him by telling him that he will understand better as he grows older

and matures more.  Digby knows that Brian is young and learning.

He sees that Brian is confused about God.8  Digby also doesn't

understand God but, he is willing to help Brian out.  Brain's

thinking of God is made clearer to him by Digby.

As the novel progress, Brian spiritually matures in that, his

understanding of God matures.  At first Brain has an immature

thinking of God, in which he believed God was his imaginary

friend.  In the middles of the novel, Saint Sammy encourages him to

learn more about God.  Finally, at the end of the novel, Digby helps

clarify Brian's thinking of God, which allows him to seek God in a

new direction.