Innocence by Sean O'Faolain

Innocence by Sean O'Faolain is about a young boy and his perception of sins.The author recalls his first confession and how his idea of sinning changes through the years.

Sean O'Faolain is born as John Francis Whelan in Cork City, County Cork, Ireland. "Innocence" is a classic short story he penned which talks about sinning and its dire consequences.

Innocence is in a way a tribute to the innocence of the Irish character. The Irish exhibits the kind of innocence that strikes us all as appealing and at the same time, maddening. Novelist O'Faolain puts it nicely by saying, "Ireland is learning, as Americans say, the hard way. Ireland has clung to her youth, indeed to her childhood, longer and more tenaciously than any other country in Europe."

Synopsis

The short story "Innocence" is a delicate and heartfelt story of childhood. It talks about a little boy's introduction to confession - his inhibitions and excitement at the possibility of being able to confess his sins.

The narrator relates his experience of entering the confessional box. He confesses his sins since he was seven years old. He recalls when he was young, sinning comprises of disobedience to his parents, calling his father a pig and other mild mistakes. He knows that his son lies and cheats at a rummy game. But those sins are considered trivial and inconsequential.

He recalls the embarrassment he felt of confessing his sins to the priest who speaks in a loud voice, loud enough for everyone to hear him. He talks of his misadventures in the confessional box as he mistook his sins for adultery. Then, the relief that came later with knowing he was wrong.

He recalls the memories of his childhood with relish and compares them with that of his young boy who is about to go to his first confession. O'Faolain says of his boy "I hate to see him prepared for his confession 'coz one day he will be really wicked and I cannot prevent it".

Lessons from the Story

There is more to sinning than mere forgetting to pray morning prayers or calling dad a 'pig'. Sins force one to lie because of the need to hide something from the people we love. Towards the end of the story, O'Faolain likened sins to a sullen window, dark buildings. Innocence became the lone star, distant, remote and bright.

O'Faolain 'Innocence" is a story that can be both tender and gently humorous. It reminds us of innocent faith of yesteryears. Those times when we think sinning is nothing more than mere disobedience to parents. When we grow up, the reality that confronts us though is different. And sinning becomes a more serious consideration.

The story goes beyond fond recollection of youth and innocence. It also offers us great insight into sin and the consequences of sinning as exemplified by the narrator's adamant feeling towards admitting his faults and using lies to cover up his sins.

Source:

Miette's Bedtime Stories Podcast. "Sean O'Faolain: Innocence". http://odeo.com/audio/51349/view