How is fire an important symbol in the novel, The Violent Bear It Away?

Fire is both an important object and symbol in the novel. Fire serves as both an element of destruction, and an element of cleansing. Tarwater destroys Powderhead, as well as the spot where he is raped and much of the surrounding woodland, by way of fire. Yet, fire also serves to be a force of cleansing in conjunction with the name of the novel, “The Violent Bear It Away”, taken from a passage in the Bible (Matthew 11:12). Here, there are two possible interpretations. First, evil in all its forms is at constant war with God and Heaven, and only those who understand and believe in the love of God –those “violent” with faith –can overcome this evil, directly or indirectly, and bear it away. Second, those who have been blind to the Truth will suddenly have it revealed to them through the grace of God, and will bear away this Truth to witness it to the world.