Reflection 3: Ken Follett- Pillars of the Earth.
As I spent the past week reading non-stop to complete this enormous book I regretted not having started earlier. I quickly learned how amazing this epic-tale really was, and that it would inevitably teach me a lot about life. After completing the novel I feel that I am part of the whole story; I could easily been one of Tom's sons or maybe one of King Stephen's Knights or maybe one of Aliena's many suitors. The whole story is centered on the Kingsbridge Cathedral, and every character is somehow tied to the Cathedral through some connection. Undoubtedly, the Cathedral holds a communicative value, for it tells the story of people's lives through stone. It contains the hard work of thousands of people, forgave the sins of even more, and most important it is the fulfilled dream of many men. .
Throughout the book I had the impression that Ken Follett must be a very disturbed man to be able to imagine situations so disturbing and to create characters who gave a new definition to the word "inhumane." I could not imagine knowing a person so brutal and merciless like William Hamleigh who surely committed the seven deadly sins time and time again. I think his character taught me the most about life, the things we must be careful for in life, who we can and cannot trust, and most of all to live a life opposite of his. We must also consider the fact that William didn't exactly have the most noble of parents raising him. Percy and Regan Hamleigh were exactly like their son, doing everything out of selfishness to benefit themselves and no one else. Even though he hated him, William also carried many of Bishop Waleran's traits. .
On the other hand, there were those who opposed the Hamleigh's, mostly very good people who were caring and lived honorable and noble lives. Tom Builder and Prior Phillip were without a doubt the most inspirational characters through my eyes.
