The role of the narrator in “man of Nazareth” by Anthony Burgess

Abstract

The paper deals with description specificity of the narrator in the novel “Man of Nazareth” by Anthony Burgess. Azor is definitely one of the most significant characters in the novel. We can assume that the images of the author and the narrator seem to be identical and Burgess`s main ideas are sent by Azor. The article gives a particular attention to the analysis of the narrative features of Azor. Under the guise of the narrator Burgess engages in polemics with evangelists, giving the author’s interpretation of the gospels, which he understands in a different way. His interpretation of the characters is not very different from the well-known versions of apocryphal stories. But at the same time, the narrator becomes some kind of victim of the author. Giving his own interpretation of the Apostles’ archetypal features and the image of Jesus Christ, Burgess also compromises the origin nature of the narrator. The author gives him the name of the son of Sadoc, the ancestor of Jesus Christ, tearing the Old Testament connection.

Keywords: English literature of the twentieth century, Аnthony Burgess, Man of Nazareth, the image of the narrator.