IneffableReadings

Every day its a gettin closer...

10 days till good omens 30!!!

FINALLY ANATHEMA HAS BEEN INTRODUCED!!!! Anathema is the descendant of Agnese Nutter and a witch. She is only eight and a half right now so there is not much to say. She is mentioned in one of Agnese's prophecies by name; this is also the last of Agnese's prophecies.

We learn a great deal about Crowley in this part of the book. So far in the book we have only seen him interact with Aziraphale but now we get to see how he interacts with other demons. When the three discuss their evil deeds Haster and Ligur talk about tempting priests and politicians to secure souls for Satan. Crowley on the other hand had taken down the internet in all of Londan at lunch, causing mass frustration. Creating a domino effect so they all took out that frustration on others. Putting tarnishes on their souls. Crowley is not evil, he is not even all that demonic. As the book goes along we see that he does not want to cause devastation to masses. He mostly just inconveniences people. 

We learn how he absolutely loves the Twentieth century because it's “anything but boring”. He is a very style centered character, he has a vintage 1926 bentley, he wears suits, as seen in the show. When he gets his orders to deliver the Anti-christ he is very upset. He gets awkward and worried and has half a mind to just not deliver the child to the hospital. 

This chapter opens with God discussing the many theories surrounding the creation of the universe. I really like the way this opener is written, it sets the tone for the book very well. We then meet demons Hastert and Lingur. Two demons waiting in a grave yard for Crowley. The tone is ominous, setting up that whatever is about to happen is of vital importance. In this first part we get a good idea of Crowley and how he operates on earth after being here for 6,000 years. He loves life on earth and has grown quite accustomed to it. He is flashy, wearing snake leather boots and has yellow snake eyes causing him to wear dark sunglasses even when he doesn't need to. He is also responsible for the creation of the M25 highway surrounding Londan. 

Haster and Ligue give Crowley the Anti-Christ. Telling him that Armageddon now must be set in motion and it's up to him to deliver the child to a group of satanic nuns who will pass the child along to an American Diplomat, The Dowlings. Crowley is incredibly hesitant. He takes the baby and gets his instructions from Satan through the radio of his 1926 Bentley. 

The Nuns he brings the child to is the Chattering Order of St. Beryl. This is where Crowley drops the child off to Sister Mary. At the time that Corlwy arrives the American diplomat has also arrived. Everything seems to be going as planned until Mr and Mrs Young arrive. They are a local family who are having their first child. 

The main ideas and themes explored in the first part of In The Beginning is the idea of inherent good and evi as well as free will vs destiny. Crowley and Aziraphale first meet after the events of Adam and Eve and discuss their points of view on what has happened.  

During their conversation Aziraphale brings up the idea that demons are inherently evil and due to that are incapable of doing “good.” He states “Yes, but you're a demon. I’m not sure if it's actually possible for you to do good,"" it's down to your basic, you know nature.” Aziraphale has a very black and white outlook on good and evil. He takes what God or higher ranking angles say and because they are his "superiors” it's not worth trying to understand. During the duration of the novel this thought process is challenged. Getting closer to Crowley and learning that demos have the capacity to be “good.”

Destiny vs Free will is also brought up in the context of Adam and Eve. Cowley argues that because this was a "first offence” God was too hard on them. That the punishment didn’t fit the crime. He goes on to say that this may have been orchestrated by God, that it was planned to occur. Whether this was free will on the part of Adam and Eve and Crowley or if it was fated to happen. If they were always meant to be tempted and then, inevitably, eat the fruit. Crowley says “You’ve got to admit its a bit of a pantomime, though,” “I mean, pointing out the Tree and saying ‘Don’t Touch’ in big letters. Not very subtle, is it?”