Summary
James Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain, published in 1953, is a semi-autobiographical novel exploring themes of religion, family conflict, and identity in the Black community. The story centers on John Grimes, a young individual grappling with faith and family dynamics in 1930s Harlem. The setting is significant as it reflects the socio-historical context of the African American Great Migration. The novel depicts the Pentecostal Church as a complex institution, both oppressive and empowering. Go Tell It on the Mountain is recognized among the Modern Library's 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.
Plot
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin unfolds over one day in 1930s Harlem, centered on John Grimes’s 14th birthday. The semi-autobiographical novel is divided into three parts, blending present events with the family's past.
In "The Seventh Day," John faces pressure from his stepfather, Gabriel, who is a strict preacher. Gabriel expects John to adopt a religious role. John grapples with feelings of inadequacy and his emerging sexuality towards Elisha, a fellow preacher, amid the fire-and-brimstone sermons of Gabriel’s church.
"The Prayers of the Saints," the second section, delves into the histories of John's aunt Florence, his stepfather, Gabriel, and his mother, Elizabeth. These flashbacks show Florence's resentment towards Gabriel’s authoritative nature; his concealed sins, including an affair resulting in an illegitimate son; and Elizabeth's traumatic experiences, including the suicide of John's biological father, Richard, after a wrongful imprisonment.
The final section, "The Threshing Floor," depicts John's intense spiritual awakening during a church service. He experiences a profound connection to God. This spiritual rebirth marks his transition from boyhood to adulthood. Although peace with Gabriel remains elusive, John gains a nuanced understanding of his own identity. He subtly challenges the oppressive religious beliefs upheld by his father and finds solace in his bond with Elisha.
Key characters
John Grimes: The protagonist. Age 14, John faces internal dilemmas involving faith, identity, and family expectations. He struggles between adhering to his family's religious beliefs and exploring the wider world. His journey reflects themes of self-discovery and spiritual exploration.
Gabriel Grimes: John's stepfather and preacher at the Temple of the Fire Baptized, Gabriel exerts authoritarian control over the family. His past sins and guilt impact his relationship with John. This dynamic critiques religious hypocrisy and patriarchal dominance.
Elizabeth Grimes: John's mother, Elizabeth maintains resilience amid life's challenges. She contrasts Gabriel's sternness with her nurturing presence, offering John love and stability in a difficult environment.
Florence: Gabriel's sister, Florence harbors bitterness towards her brother and determination to transcend him.
Roy Grimes: John's younger half-brother, Roy mirrors Gabriel's youthful indiscretions. His actions highlight generational conflict and familial expectations.
Deborah: Gabriel's first wife, whose inability to have children adds complexity to the story. Her experiences, including encounters with racial and sexual violence, reinforce themes of suffering and endurance.
Esther: Gabriel's former lover, Esther complicates themes of sin and redemption. Her relationship with Gabriel, leading to an illegitimate son, underscores the moral duality condemned in the novel.
Brother Elisha: A young preacher admired by John, Brother Elisha exemplifies spiritual devotion. His faith offers hope for John and contrasts with Gabriel's oppressive influence.
Ella Mae Washington: A young churchgoer reprimanded for improper conduct with Elisha. Her experience reflects the community's scrutiny and Baldwin's examination of societal norms.
Themes
Faith, religion, and hypocrisy
In Go Tell It on the Mountain, James Baldwin examines faith, religion, and hypocrisy through the character of Gabriel Grimes. As John Grimes’s stepfather, Gabriel represents religious duplicity by preaching Christian virtues while hiding a past of excess and immorality. Despite his role as a preacher, Gabriel lives with unresolved guilt due to his affair with Esther and the neglect of their child. This contrasts with the religious ideals he claims to uphold.
Religion in Baldwin’s work serves as both sanctuary and tool of control. Gabriel uses religious doctrine to justify abusive behavior towards his family. This suggests faith can be manipulated to excuse moral failures. Baldwin explores the cycle of abuse through Gabriel's own upbringing. This implies religious justifications often conceal deeper injustices.
Baldwin presents a complex view of religion. For young John, the church is both oppressive and a source of liberation. His conversion story conveys faith as both a burden and a source of hope. This duality reflects Baldwin's broader exploration of belief and the complexities of the human spirit.
Racism
In Go Tell It on the Mountain, James Baldwin explores racism within the historical setting of 1930s Harlem. This era was significant for African Americans, who faced widespread social and racial discrimination. The novel focuses on the Great Migration, when African Americans moved from the South to Northern cities. This experience serves as both a literal and figurative journey for Baldwin's characters as they seek identity and acceptance in a divided society.
Baldwin examines racial injustice through the personal histories of characters like Gabriel, Florence, and Elizabeth. These first-generation African Americans carry the impacts of discrimination and the legacy of slavery. Gabriel exemplifies internalized racism through strict and sometimes abusive family control. This highlights how societal oppression can create bitterness and internal strife. A generational divide appears in Gabriel’s pervasive distrust of white people compared to John's fleeting acceptance by his white teachers. This contrast underscores varying perspectives on racial integration.
John's experiences compared to Gabriel’s past depict the struggle to reconcile historical prejudices with contemporary aspirations. As John seeks solace and identity within the church amid Harlem's racial dynamics, Baldwin comments on race as a persistent source of division. Through this narrative, Go Tell It on the Mountain portrays the personal and collective battles against racism. It influences identities and relationships, fostering hope for a future without historical injustice.
Sexuality, sin, morality
In Go Tell It on the Mountain, James Baldwin examines themes of sexuality, sin, and morality through the character of John Grimes. Baldwin addresses the impact of religious doctrines that view non-heteronormative desires as sinful. John experiences significant turmoil as he confronts emerging homosexual feelings, interpreting them as violations of religious laws.
The book critiques the belief that sexuality is immoral outside of marriage. John's remorse for solitary actions reflects the community's heavy moral expectations. Baldwin depicts the psychological effects of these beliefs, especially evident when John feels ashamed and fears damnation.
The narrative also delves into the broader challenges faced by other characters regarding sexuality and morality. Characters like Florence and Deborah encounter societal criticism for sexual experiences outside marriage, including non-consensual incidents such as Deborah's trauma. Baldwin questions societal definitions of purity by depicting these women as complex individuals, challenging simplistic moral judgments.
John's internal struggle, torn between admiration for Elisha and fear of divine punishment, highlights Baldwin's exploration of sin and morality. This prompts reflection on whether sin resides in the actions themselves or in society's harsh judgments. Baldwin calls for a more nuanced view of morality that goes beyond mere sexual behavior.
Quick facts
Cranford was originally serialized in Charles Dickens's magazine Household Words between 1851 and 1853, before its publication in book form in 1853.
The fictional town of Cranford is inspired by Knutsford, Cheshire, where Elizabeth Gaskell grew up.
Charles Dickens encouraged Elizabeth Gaskell to expand her initial Cranford story into a full novel.
Cranford portrays a predominantly female society, humorously called an “Amazonian society,” with very few men playing significant roles.
The narrative has an episodic structure and is driven by interconnected vignettes rather than a cohesive plot.
Cranford is known for its gentle humor and satirical yet affectionate portrayal of social etiquette and class dynamics during the Victorian era.
The novel emphasizes themes of friendship, female empowerment, and the resilience of women in Victorian society.
Illustrated editions of Cranford by artists like George du Maurier and Hugh Thomson significantly contributed to its popularity.
The character Miss Matty Jenkyns exemplifies Victorian gentility, kindness, and resilience, making her central to the novel’s appeal.
In the novel, the tragic death of Captain Brown occurs as he attempts to save a child from an oncoming train, an act of heroism.
Cranford has been adapted numerous times for radio, the stage, and the screen, notably, a critically acclaimed BBC television series in 2007.
Narrative technique
James Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain features a nonlinear narrative structure that intertwines past and present to explore the histories and experiences of its characters. In "The Prayers of the Saints," the novel shifts between the perspectives of John’s stepfather Gabriel, his mother Elizabeth, and Aunt Florence. This method provides insight into their individual stories and highlights themes of identity and family heritage.
Baldwin uses symbolic language and imagery with intent. The mountain symbolizes spiritual struggle and transcendence, linked to the novel’s biblical allusions. Religious language and references to biblical stories create connections between the characters’ lives and religious allegories. The narrative style incorporates elements of stream of consciousness, offering insight into the characters’ internal conflicts and emotional responses.
Metaphoric language further influences the narrative. For example, Baldwin characterizes John as "a fish caught in a net," reflecting his entrapment in familial and societal expectations. These narrative techniques explore themes such as race, faith, and self-identity.
Film adaptation
The 1984 PBS adaptation of Go Tell It on the Mountain brought James Baldwin's work to the screen for the first time. Although Baldwin was not directly involved in production, he expressed satisfaction with the adaptation for maintaining the novel's integrity. Starring Paul Winfield and Olivia Cole, the film closely follows the novel, particularly in portraying the character of John, which Baldwin based on his own experiences.
About the author
James Baldwin (1924-1987) was an influential American writer and civil rights advocate. Born in Harlem, New York City, he was raised in a close-knit African American community. His early life was marked by a challenging relationship with his stepfather, a preacher, which he explored in his semi-autobiographical novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953). In addition to novels, Baldwin’s work spanned essays, plays, and poems. He often addressed race, sexuality, and personal identity. His essays, such as Notes of a Native Son and The Fire Next Time, critiqued racial relationships in America. In addition, Baldwin openly discussed his homosexuality, raising awareness about sexuality and intersectionality. Baldwin spent his later years living in France. His work continues to influence discussions on race, identity, and acceptance.
