After reading Terry Eagleton’s “The Rise of English” I can clearly see that yes it is true that the article tends to explore an outside view of the the relationship between Literature and Religion. However, to my understanding after reading your response I believe you have failed to explain the connection between these two entities. Allow me to help you understand the article a bit more clearly. What Eagleton is trying to tell us, is that Literature by the 1900s had become a weapon, a massive destructive weapon that threaten governments and religions alike. Middle class working individuals, who had the capability to read and educate themselves, became more engage in Literature, opening their eyes and mind to a whole different world and perspective. This perspective (Literature) they have learned would allow many middle class individuals to challenge their own government, by question their authorities; they would also challenge and question their own religion, the very same religion that they saw as a law and or ideal model to follow in their lives. The model (Religion) however, was a model used to control the people, as Eagleton clearly mentions that “Religion is for all kinds of reasons an extremely effective form of ideological control”, this can clearly be seen a form of propaganda used by the Victorian ruling class, the Victorian upper class used religion to maintain order in their towns and to create submission, fear and acceptance of their laws. The Victorian class created a form of “social cement” as Eagleton says, cement that holds people together under fear and submission. But when people started to see the true reality, the religion form of fear used by the Victorian upper class started to fall apart in pieces; it had spread from town by town. Society as a whole was moving outside of the religion realm. The best solution to this problem was to introduce the English literature, like religion, “[literature was] a suitable candidate for this ideological enterprise” Eagleton says because English Literature would introduce a new set of “human values”. Through the many forms of literature, the people would experience a better quality of life. English subject was once considered simply a “Gossip” subject but it became an important academic subject to study in many universities and colleges; it became an arena, an art that would change people’s perceptions through the imagination and teaching of English studies. So when religion was no longer a tool to use to control and have power over the people, the Victorian society introduced the Ideology of literature, a substitution for Religion. The predictions or hopes by George Gordon, became a reality “England is sick and…English Literature must save it. The churches (as I understand) having failed, and social remedies being slow, English Literature has now a triple function: still, I suppose, to delight and instructs us, but also, and above all, to save our souls and heal the state”. England was sick and the rapid expansion of English Literature saved the country from the chaos. I personally question myself, how can the world possibly survive without an English subject? How would people operate without the many fantastic fiction and nonfiction stories written for our pleasure? After all I believe English Literature helps us become a better individual, it helps us spread kindness, love, respect, and most of all unity, it instructs nations to become better allies.