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Introduction
Berendts novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil portrays Savanna Georgia town as having a lot of assassinations, men in haul, drug abuse, and suicide which are puzzled in the large metropolitan area. In this book, the plot goes around the killing of a secondary school loafer named Hanson, who was a drugs addict. In this case, Hanson was killed by an affluent art dealer Jim Williams; who was his lover and employer.
From the story, William was an affluent socialite who was brought up in Gordon. It can be argued that Berendt journeyed to Savannah where he engrossed himself in the city and as a result meeting appealing people like Luther Driggers; who risked exterminating Savannah residents by putting poison to their water sources; and a lady who carried out voodoo to the adversaries of Williams among others. To know who killed Hanson, Berendt concerned himself with the case where he associated with Williams lawyer. In the first instance, William was found blameworthy and sentence to life imprisonment. After a while, Williams lawyer was sent an unidentified reproduction of the police account illuminating that the officer who detained Mr. William had gainsaid himself (Berendt 50-250).
After Berendt concerning himself more than before with the case, he learned that Mr. William killed Hanson after he had tried to fire him. By telling Benendt the truth, Jim Williams felt that he would be cleansed from his guiltiness. To win in her case, Jim used Minerva to throw magic charm in his favor. In this case, the magic charm was to be thrown on the former Chatham County District Attorney; who had sued Williams against the deadly firing of Hanson. Based on this, as Berendt tried to unearth the gaminess of the case, he found that Williams operations of argument might not fairly be honest (Berendt 70-303).
Voodoo is a life asserting performance that gives confidence to its applicants to comprehend the ordinary courses of life and their spiritual natures. Based on this, voodoo originated in Africa as a religion; which implicated the cult of predecessors of different animistic spirits and the application of dreams, when conversing with such spirits. Additionally, voodoos trust in the existence of one ultimate God who is extremely intangible, invincible but incomprehensible spirit (Rigaud 73-144).
How Berendt portrayed Voodoo practices
In his novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Berendt portrayed voodoo practices through a lady called Minerva. In this case, he said that Minerva thought that permitting people to lay a hand on her; jeopardized her being charmed. By doing this, she showed that she strongly believed in magic and witchcraft. Berendt wrote that the money given to her by Williams attorney was put on the floor or the bench since one could not be allowed to come into contact with her hand. Further, her magic charms could be revealed from the odd strength that smelled from her house. Another instance of voodoo practices of Minerva was portrayed in the novel; when once she asserted that she was conversing with Williams who had died.
In this case, saying that she was in contact with Williams; showed that she was able to speak to the spirits of the dead. It can be deduced from the novel that, Minerva was being used by Williams to charm those who involved themselves with his murder case so that he could win. From this, it can be argued that those traditional Africans who practiced voodoo could experience their magic working. In this case, it is well indicated from Berendts work that Williams won the case mysteriously. It can be said from this that, Minervas practices of magic indicated her strong beliefs in voodoo (Thomas 52-73).
Another incidence where voodoo practices are portrayed is through the sounds which came from the front wall addressing Mr. Mercer. In this case, Mercer accidentally forgot his car keys in the house and when he went back for them, he heard a voice from the wall saying that he used to take a lot of alcohol. Based on this, Mercer agreed that he drunk too much, but doubted whether it was the Lord talking to him. For God to prove to him that he was the one talking, Mercer was lifted unexpectedly to a point where he could see the whole of Savannah. As a result of this, Mercer believed that God was talking to him and from that time he never drunk again (Mbiti 83-97).
Additionally, it is indicated from Berendts novel that, Minerva did not die of hunger or as a result of committing a criminal act, but she convinced herself to die, and since she was a strong determined woman she made it. In this case, it can be said that the supernaturalism among the blacks by no means comes to an end; as what you take outcomes to you and hence you have to persevere.
Significance of the belief in Voodoo in contemporary Savannah culture
It can be argued that the belief in voodoo was significant to the Savannah people since Williams in addition to hiring highly paid criminal lawyers, hired Minerva the voodoo priestess to charm the prosecutor so that he could win the case. In this case, despite Minervas assistance, he had confidence in winning the second trial. Based on this when Williams attorneys were convincing the Georgia Supreme Court to upend the judgment and organize yet one more trial, Minerva was casting graveyard filth on the steps of Williams adversaries dwellings. In this case, the third trial was overturned mysteriously and William was retried one more time, resulting in him being the sole individual in Georgia history who had been tried for a similar assassination four times (Berendt 70-303).
In the case of Mercer, believe in God and the signs on how God speaks to people, significantly helped the people of Savannah stop doing evil and start doing what pleased their gods. From the plot, it is evident that Mercer after hearing voices from the wall and being lifted high to believe that it was God talking; never got drunk again. From this, it can be seen that God revealed himself among the Savannah people in different ways. In addition, it can be said that God in the voodoo religion was intangible, invisible but an incomprehensible spirit.
On the other hand, Mercer claiming God to prove to him that he was the one talking shows that Savannah people used to talk and witness God doing things among them. By this, these people differentiated Gods spirit from other spirits through God proving himself to them. It can be said from this that, Savannah people believed in God who despite helping them to get what they needed, warned them of the evils they committed. In this case, still, those individuals who were uncertain about the reality of this story had to admit that on a religious point at any rate; something incredibly odd was occurring to Savannahs upper crust (Berendt 50-250).
From this information, it can be said that the voodoo religion in Savannah helped the inhabitants to change their conduct, and also enhance their beliefs and trust in God. This as a result has been an important concept of belief systems in the contemporary Savannah culture. On the other hand, by William revealing to Berendt that he killed Hanson, he thought that this would set him free from his guiltiness. In this case, it can be said that the Savannah people believed in the spirits of the dead. Still on the same point, when Minerva claimed to talk with William who was dead she portrayed the act of people speaking with the spirits. From that occurrence, it can be argued that the belief in voodoo is significant to the Savannah people as they respect the dead who influenced their conduct (Rigaud 73-144).
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be argued that Berendt portrayed Savannah people as religious practicing voodoo believers. This is evident as Minerva can be seen as the voodoo priestess, who had the powers to cast spells on anyone she wanted. On the other hand from the incidence of Mercer talking with God, it can be deduced that God among the Savannah people was omniscient, invisible, and powerful. From that incident, this God could warn people to stop committing evils and amend their conduct. Further, it can be seen that the Savannah people employed magic to their benefit as in the case of Williams whose enemies were charmed by Minerva.
Works cited
Berendt, John. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. New York: Vintage Press. (1999): P. 50-250.
Berendt, John. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil . London: Sceptre Publishers. (2009): 70-303.
Rigaud, Milo. Secrets of Voodoo . California: City Lights Publishers. (2001): P. 73-144.
Thomas, Douglas. African Traditional Religion in the Modern World . California: McFarland & Company Publishers. (2005): P. 52-73.
Mbiti, John. Introduction to African Religion , Second sub-edition. Portsmouth: Heinemann Publishers. (1991): P. 83-97.
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