James Baldwin's Go Tell It On The Mountain

James Baldwin’s childhood was full of Christianity. At the beginning of Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin, the narrator notes that Baldwin’s, “father was a Pentecostal minister” (58) and Baldwin started to give sermons while he was still in his teen years. This lead him closer to God influencing him to write his first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, which was based out of a church and its members. Religion was an important aspect of James Baldwin’s life and by knowing this, one can better understand the text. Throughout Sonny’s Blues, there are biblical symbols that have deeper meanings.

John realizes in confessing his name he will be an outcast, and have no one's respect. John points out, “I have three children-How may I teach them to walk like men in the world” (IV.703-5). Even his kids won’t have respect for him if he would lie to save his life. In signing his name the community would snicker at his name as they pass the church doors proud not to be a sinner as he was. He would have little to live for in life. He would have few to no friends, his family would be divided and he would be an outcast. As John examines his predicament he must see all the divided families and despair to come unless something was done. In death John put aside his own life to stop the hysteria that would lead to the demise of many more

“A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving is a novel in which religion plays a significant role. One of the main themes in this novel is faith in God and faith in oneself, and the conflict between belief and doubt. It is this need for faith that brings the two main characters together. John and Owen seem to need each other and there is an odd connection between the two that is shown throughout the novel. This connection seems to “curse” them to eternal friendship and forces each other to depend on one another. There are many reasons as to why John and Owen fit together, but few stand out as primary reasons. This is a lack of guidance, religion and faith.

When John was led back into life in the futuristic society, he was mocked and treat as a strange attraction. He was at the awful end of a sick joke - people came from all over to understand this simple “savage” who has spent his life in curiously primitive manners. John was so poorly received, he went as far as wanting to commit

Within Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain, religion is an ever present component to the novel. This is prevalent within Inman, Ada and Monroe, Swimmer, and the mountain town itself. At times, characters will present aspects of religion that do not coincide with the common Christian beliefs within Cold Mountain, such as Monroe’s teachings or Swimmer’s own religion as opposed to Christianity. Each religious person or reference within the story creates a sense of differentiating views as well as an introduction to multiple perspectives of religion, self, and action.

Another Country and Go Tell it on the Mountain are two of James Baldwin's most analyzed novels. Some see both novels as great additions to American literature, while others criticize Baldwin's unique writing style used in both works.

John was born into a hard environment, a split home with no room for the traditional love a child feels. He was forced to mature quick, and was encouraged to be hardy by his grandfather, who was the only survivor out of his brothers. Men during this time period were often expected to withstand dangerous environments or die trying. “His grandfather was the oldest of eight boys and the only one to live past the age of twenty-five. They were drowned, shot, kicked by horses. They perished in fires. They seemed to fear only dying in bed”. This provides one of many instances entailing the dangers of their

This theme of religious conflict carries on to another of Baldwin’s stories. Throughout Go Tell It on the Mountain, Baldwin shows the suffering and temptations that lead to his characters’ downfalls and how their refusal to admit to being anything less than virtuous leads to their spiritual failures (Welsh). Aunt Florence’s confrontation with death is clouded by ambition, as well as the envy and hatred towards her brother, which she does not admit to herself (Leer, 3). Elizabeth’s love for John’s father, while valid, is not strong enough to bridge the gap between her and her husband. Rory is aggressive towards whites, and he is unable to be saved through religion because he does not accept his flaws. John, through his experience on the church floor, is able to be redeemed while battling the hellish side of himself. He battles with his father Gabriel, a walking metaphor for God, and eventually he kneels before the cross (Leer, 7). Gabriel, while the most passionate about religion, is also the most hypocritical and reprehensible character in the

For example, he feels “alone” as he attempts to conquers the river (150), and he enters the Place of the Gods “carefully” , with a bow in hand (151). These constant reminders of John’s trepidation promulgates further suspense regarding the Place of the Gods as well as a distinct need to reveal the truth in order to overcome the

In James Baldwin’s 1952 novel “Go Tell It On The Mountain” the characters in the novel each embark on a spiritual journey. Baldwin has dedicated a chapter to each member of the Grimes family, detailing their trails and tribulations, hopes and aspirations, as each one’s quest to get closer to God becomes a battle. I have chosen the character John because I admire the fierce struggle he endured to find his spirituality. I will examine how he’s embarked on his quest and prove that he has done it with integrity and dignity.

In Go Tell It on the Mountain, James Baldwin works with themes of gender, violence, and change. He does this through Florence, Gabriel, and the symbol of morning. The author is trying to say people’s decision can be determined by external factors.

The Civil Rights Movement that began in the late 1950's was a struggle to bring full civil rights and equality under the law to primarily African American citizens of the United States. In the end, African-Americans won basic rights long denied to them, as well as inspired other discriminated groups to fight for their own rights, which had a deep effect on American society. Many blacks took part in this movement, whether it was through protesting or holding demonstrations. However, some blacks used writing as a means of contributing. James Baldwin published Stranger in the Village as a means of expressing his views of African-American racism. As a result, their efforts helped set the foundation for equal rights among blacks for generations

To conclude, Uncle John alienates himself from his family due to his constant feeling of powerlessness. He believed that the will of God is for him to compensate for the biggest sin the family could he caused and the only reason to

The autobiographical nature of Baldwin’s writings, coupled with the common appearance of Christian ideas in his stories, suggests that he led a largely Christian life. Stanley later validates this notion in saying that Baldwin himself worked as a teenage preacher (Stanley). Confirming his Christian childhood, Baldwin’s status as a preacher strengthens the importance of religion in his life. Lloyd states that Baldwin’s father often recited Joshua 24:25, saying “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Lloyd 5). Lloyd furthers the idea that Baldwin’s early life contained a strong Christian presence, as this Bible quote highlights the prominence of religion in Baldwin’s life. In addition to Baldwin’s status as a teenage preacher, his residence in a house dedicated to serving God explains the religious presence in his works and confirms the idea that he often discussed important concepts of his life in his writing. Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain begins with “[he] would be a preacher when he grew up, just like his father.” This shows not only the religious nature of Baldwin’s writing but also provides evidence of his autobiographical tendencies. The main character’s status as a preacher reveals that Baldwin wrote characters possessing very similar qualities to his own and that his works contained a strong religious presence. Baldwin’s religious lifestyle serves as a gateway for the establishment of strong

In his early childhood, Stephen proactively seeks out his own meaning and identity; however, as he gets older and is exposed to organized religion, his ability to consider his own true meaning is hindered. Before being engulfed by the pressures of religious life, Stephen lives with a youthful optimism and curiosity. He actively tries to find out what the purpose of his life will be. This is evident when he sits