I think Waldo is by far the most interesting character in the novel up to this point. Although his relationship with religion is taken to the extremes, I think it is still very plausible. Like most people, he turns to religion as his “center” that will explain unknowns and show him how to live. However, he cannot reconcile the inconsistencies in the Church. At the beginning of chapter five, he questions the Bible stories and if there can be an absolute truth. He asks, “Could a story be told in opposite ways and both ways be true? Could it? Could it? Then again:--Is there nothing always right, and nothing always wrong?” (33). . At this point it has been two years since his confessed his hatred for God and he has somehow revived his religious fervor. I think his repetition of “could it?” shows his sense of desperation in trying to reconcile the inconsistencies and stay close to God. Throughout the novel he seems to be forcing religion upon himself as an answer to the unknown. Waldo even consoles himself by repeating that although he doesn’t understand, God does and that is all that matters. In the chapter entitled Times and Seasons, we see more of Waldo’s own explanations for his strong vacillations. As someone who was raised Catholic, I could identify to a point with the stages Waldo explains. I think most of us view him as extreme because religion in general was more extreme in the time of the novel. There is not so much emphasis on hellfire and death in modern religion so Waldo seems somewhat morbid when he focuses them. Although this is hard to identify with, I think his need for truth is very universal.