This Gothic novel (published in 1824) tells the story of Robert Wringhim, a zealous Christian living in rural Scotland. The novel is divided into three parts, the beginning and end are 'The Editor's Narrative' while the middle is the supposed transcription of Wringhim's confessions.
Hogg satirises the duality of 19th century society; the extremes of religious fanaticism are portrayed through Wringhim, whilst the conservative objectiveness of the narrator represent secularism and rationalism. The plot of the story is relatively simple compared to the more complex allegorical aspects, essentially Wringhim meets a man who looks just like himself, a twin. There is a strong supernatural theme throughout the book, but Hogg's fluctuating narrative disguises this as mystery at times. Wringhim's doppelganger persuades him to commit various sins, such as the murder of his brother George, all the while assuring Robert that his actions are justified in keeping Christianity pure. Wringhim's terribly misguided actions cause him great distress but he avoids punishment as his doppelganger is able to create sufficient alibis for his innocence. Hogg is keen to illustrate the dangers of fundamentalism and false messiahs, yet at times the dialogue of his characters appears more as sermon than speech; this is however acceptable due to the religious interests of the characters themselves.
The epistolary novel may appear repetitive to the modern reader, the first section of the novel describes intimately the strange events of the evil Wringhim and then Wringhim's confessions re-tell this story through his own perspective, the final editor's narrative serving as a conclusion to the novel. Hogg uses Scottish dialect which may frustrate some readers, but it does, in my opinion, add an air of authenticity to the work, a sort of cultural identity.
Confessions of a Justified Sinner may be a comparatively obscure Gothic novel, but its allegorical message is common up to this day. The reader is left to question whether Wringhim actually perceives his doppelganger or whether it is a mere delusion brought on by his over-zealous religious practice. This novel shows an intriguing dark side to religion that was so often overlooked by other authors of the time, Hogg demonstrates the nightmarish consequences of self-justified sin.
