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Jonathan Edwards Use Of Imagery In The Great Awakening

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This is a typical sermon of the Great Awakening, emphasizing the belief that Hell is a real place. Edwards hoped that the imagery and language of his sermon would awaken audiences to the horrific reality that he believed awaited them should they continue life without devotion to Christ. The author's tone throughout this selection is threatening, cautionary, condemning, unsympathetic, and strict. Jonathan Edwards uses threatening imagery in order to provoke change. The most famous image used is that of a "loathsome insect." He says that God looks at people as if they were loathsome insects and in fact hates us more than we would hate such an insect. He firstly compares the wrath of God to damned waters, with God holding back "the fiery floods".

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