The Age of Reason Literary Elements

Nonfiction, argumentative essays

Late eighteenth century America, although it spread to Europe as well

Narrator: Thomas Paine, the author of the work and a notable historical figure who led to the American Revolutionary War with his publication of the pamphlet "Common Sense."

Critical, straightforward, blunt, sarcastic

In Paine's point of view, the protagonist is the person who reads this book with an open mind and realizes the tyranny of the Church, which is the work's major antagonist.

Paine is attacking the "tyranny" of the Church and organized religion by pointing out the flaws he perceives in them. This argument incited many conflicts, both ideological and interpersonal (most people didn't take Paine's argument too well).

By the end of the work, Paine believes he has categorically disproven the validity of the Bible and the authority of the Church. Whether he has actually achieved this, however, is open for debate.

Paine opens with a disclaimer: he has been intending to publish his thoughts on religion for several years, and he begins the explanation of his beliefs with the phrase "I believe in one God, and no more." However, a few sentences later, there is a "but;" this both foreshadows and marks the beginning of Paine's logical rampage against Christianity.

“I am well aware of the difficulties that attend the subject, and from that consideration, had reserved it to a more advanced period of life.” (Chapter I)

Paine alludes to many passages of Scripture, which is the only authority he references in his argument against that very piece of literature. He also alludes to many historical figures and locations, such as Galileo, Benjamin Franklin, and France.

As most of this work comprises an argument against the validity of the Bible as an authoritative source of knowledge, Paine references a lot of Scripture and uses much imagery that comes from various passages in the Bible. For example, he references the image of the snake (Satan) in the Garden of Eden, a dark spot of sin in an otherwise perfect world. He also cites the temptation of Jesus in the desert, which is accompanied by lots of memorable imagery. Allusions are also made to Moses, the Ten Commandments, the Great Flood, and other events as well.

With this pamphlet, Paine intended to bring enlightenment and freedom to his readers. Ironically, instead of embracing his wonderful new ideas, they called him a heretic and basically turned their backs on him.

Paine writes that his publication of this work parallels his publication of "Common Sense:" the earlier work aimed to awaken the public's sensibilities about their political slavery, while this one aims to awaken those about their morality and religious slavery. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't as big of a hit.

“I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of.” (Chapter 1)

“All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.” (Chapter 1)