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What Is The Allusion In The Star

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In Arthur C. Clarke’s short story, “The Star,” an unnamed character effectively discusses how he coincides science and religion in his daily life. The protagonist is a Jesuit and an astrophysicist on an exploratory spacecraft. The main character has an internal locus of control because of the duality between his job findings and his original religious views. Within the short story, there are various literary devices used. The narrator uses the biblical allusion of “God’s handiwork,” compares the Phoenix Nebula to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the irony of a supernova destroying an entire civilization to save mankind. The narrator says, “[…] I believed that the heavens declared the glory of God’s handiwork” (Clarke 92). This allusion foreshadows that the character no longer believes in “God’s handiwork” for a particular reason. The reader infers the protagonist’s faith is faltering and he “is sorely troubled” (Clarke 92). It is inferred an awakening event has occurred that deterred the scientist moral compass. The biblical allusion also aligns with the contrasting science and religion theme. The main character is studying the star, Phoenix Nebula. In mythology, a phoenix is a bird that rises from its fiery ashes. The Phoenix …show more content…

The star that was the beacon of light and signaled the birth of the Messiah, instantaneously is the same star that annihilated a whole society. Patricia Ferrara proves this viewpoint in saying,” God did favor mankind above all races, blowing [the] star into destruction in order to signal to man the birth of the Christ child” (3). The main character begins to question God’s decision and if he made right one. The narrator leaves his faith pending when he states, “Yet, oh God, there were so many stars you could have used. What was the need to give these people to the fire that the symbol of their passing might shine above Bethlehem?” (Clarke

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