The “Faith” of Moran

While reading through Molloy early on we encounter many of Beckett’s religious allusions. The most obvious evidence of these of course is in the names of those that give Moran his job orders, Gaber and Youdi, also know as Gabriel and Yahweh.

A passage that struck me appeared on page 132 in my edition. The passage is as follows:

“The voice I listen to needs no Gaber to make it heard. From it is within me and exhorts me to continue to the end the faithful servant I have always been, of a cause that is not mine, and patiently fulfill in all its bitterness my calamitous part, as it was my will, when I had a will, that others should. And this with hatred in my heart, and scorn, of my master and his designs. Yes, it is rather an ambiguous voice and not always easy to follow, in its reasonings and decrees. But I follow it none the less, more or less, I follow it in this sense, that I know what it means, and in this sense, that I do what it tells me. And I do not think there are many voices of which as much may be said. And I feel I shall follow it from this day forth, no matter what it commands. And when it ceases, leaving me in doubt and darkness, I shall wait for it to come back, and do nothing, even though the whole world, through the channel of its innumerable authorities speaking with one accord, should enjoin upon me this and that, under pain of unspeakable punishments.”

I was struck by this passage in that it seems to be to me the perfect sentiment that so many feel about their faith. The first line is the best embodiment of this idea, “the voice I listen to needs no Gaber to make it heard.” For many it is not the priest shouting from the pulpit but the voice within themselves that drives them on in what they do and their faith in something more.

Perhaps Moran is just slightly insane and the “voice” he is hearing are just the voices in his head, but I like to think of them as the voice that guides him in all he does. He needs no priest, rabbi or any other spiritual leader, he only needs Gods voice as his guide to feel as if what he is doing is right.

That to me is who Youdi is in the work. Gaber is Youdi’s messenger here on Earth but it is the voice of Youdi himself that Moran listens to and follows. That is what true faith is. Not the blind following of a prophet, but the holding on to your faith in something greater within your own self.
So whether Moran is just insane or not. I loved this passage in Molloy and felt it resonated with faith that Moran has in what he does and who he is doing it for. He is a true believer.