Go Tell It on the Mountain Family Conflict Themes

Hey everyone,

I recently began reading "Go Tell Information technology On The Mountain" by James Baldwin and and so far information technology has been an enjoyable and emotional experience for me. I myself accept grown more interested in reading from black classical authors always since I finished reading collected works of Langston Hughes and the fascinatingly beautiful novel "Their Optics Were Watching God" past Zora Neale Hurston. Works such equally these really assistance paint a picture to me what life was similar for blackness people in older times. Older family unit members of mine accept told me stories of the era of segregation and civil rights and their experiences living in poverty and beingness victims of cruelty simply for the color of their pare. When I was conducting my own enquiry in finding more books to read near the African-American experience before the Civil Rights era, James Baldwin's name had popped upward. Watching a video of his argument of what defines a "nigger" was fascinating and had many points that I agreed with (Who is the Nigger? by James Baldwin).

Originally published in 1953, "Go Tell It On The Mount" tells the story of John Grimes, a 14-year-old male child living in 1935 Harlem, New York. He is the son of a preacher and naturally lives in a strongly religious household, withal John grows disillusioned with Christianity, fears his male parent, struggles with impure thoughts and resents his family unit and peer'due south high expectations for him. After reading Part 1 of "Go Tell It On The Mountain", I found the human relationship between the parents and the 2 sons of the Grimes family unit an peculiarly interesting topic that I will analyze in the following paragraphs.

John's Fears and Anxiety

Existence the son a preacher is a tough reality for John. John lacks the aforementioned enthusiasm and devotion towards Christianity, his family and church members agree, which makes him experience guilt everyday. Outside of his family and church, John does not seem to accept a social life or many friends. Probable because of how decision-making his father is, who pressures his children to spend time at home studying the Bible and going to sermons numerously throughout the week. John often feels alone and similar he doesn't fit in anywhere. Though he excels in school and his intelligence gives him condolement because he sees it as a way to escape his domineering male parent. John holds potent resentment towards his begetter, he fears and despises him. His father Gabriel has emotionally abused John throughout his life; telling him that he had the "face of Satan" and pushing unreasonably expectations and responsibilities on young John. Gabriel also made John experience guilty for associating with white people whom John felt were not all bad. John also is fond of the caput preacher's nephew Elisha, whom he finds himself emotionally and physically attracted to. Having these homosexual tendencies forth with the hormonal rages of puberty, creates a strong feeling of shame in John. When he sinned "with his hand", he worries what would happen if his parents would in some way notice out. Because of all the pressure, high expectations, emotional corruption and feelings of guilt John suffers from, John is highly anxious and depressed throughout the start role of the book. These deep complexities of his character make him more relatable and hands sympathetic as a protagonist.

Roy'due south Rebellion

As opposed to his siblings John and Sarah'south obedient nature, Roy is openly defiant and vocal about his feelings.

Roy in many means is similar to John, Roy despises his father yet loves his female parent and like John, Roy harbors negative feelings towards the church building. Even so the differences is that Roy is openly rebellious, speaks his mind, and cares less most what his parents think of him. Roy often skips Sunday school and church building service to hang out with friends in the metropolis. Roy gets into fights and spends fourth dimension with girls. Because of his rebellious nature, Roy is considered the shame of the family which creates more pressure on John to compensate for Roy's badness. Roy regularly argues with his female parent over his father's morality. While Elizabeth would fence that Gabriel is a kind and cocky-sacrificing father, Roy rebuts stating that his father is not kind. In Roy's statement, Gabriel is abusive as he beats Roy, doesn't permit the children to have friends and play in the streets. All that Roy and his siblings are permitted to exercise is sit down inside and read the Bible, practise chores and go to church. Despite his mother's beatings, Roy all the same runs out and gets into mischief. His misbehavior does come back to seize with teeth him when he gets stabbed in the brow after getting into a fight. Roy's injury leads to an argument between Gabriel and Elizabeth over whose responsibility information technology was to keep Roy out of trouble. When Gabriel hits Elizabeth, Roy explodes in acrimony and tells Gabriel that if he ever touches his mother over again, that he will not hesitate to kill him. Roy throughout the kickoff role of the book remains a circuitous and troubled character. He is a fascinating character in his vocal nature and straight-forward arroyo to things. Every bit opposed to John who is often contemplative and hesitant to act, Roy often acts before thinking. He in many ways serves equally a foil to John being his polar opposite in attitude just is like in views.

Gabriel'due south Domination

Gabriel is a circuitous character, while he is perceived as combative by both John and Roy, Gabriel does seem to intendance for his family. Gabriel's position as a preacher in the church building named "The Temple of the Burn Baptized" is the most important value in his life. The church offers him a position of authority which pleases him. Throughout the first role, it is shown that Gabriel enjoys being in charge and acts equally the dominant patriarch in the household every bit well. He often blames his wife, Elizabeth for many problems that exist in the household such as her inability to become the children ready for church service on fourth dimension and for Roy's misbehavior. He even hits his wife in a fit of frustration when she and his sis, Florence challenge his potency. His human relationship with his sons is strained, John fears him and Roy outright despises him. Gabriel is shown to be emotionally and physically abusive to his sons. He told John he had the face up of the devil. He also beats Roy for his misbehavior. Besides he heavily monitors his children'south activities past not allowing them to play outside and accept friends. He expects his children to exist ideal Christians, be obedient and have no flaws. These high expectations coupled with the controlling actions and concrete/emotional abuse are what drive John to be anxious and Roy to be calumniating. Information technology is implied that Gabriel's personality is a product of his upbringing. Having grown upwards in the S, he experienced racism and abuse from white people and tells John that white people are evil. And so it can be theorized that considering of his oppression based on his skin color, he grew to become oppressive towards his wife and children. Despite his flaws, he does appear to care for his children, he was upset when Roy got injured and nursed Roy's wound with water, he dotes on his daughter Sarah and he does work hard to provide for his children. Gabriel is a securely flawed character, probable he is unaware of the impairment he is causing his sons and wife with his domineering personality. It can be theorized that Gabriel suffers from astringent insecurity and low self-esteem which is why he hates being blamed and questioned. Gabriel possesses a potent need for ability and others to defer to him. His flaws make him i of the most interesting characters in the novel so far.

Elizabeth'due south Submission

Caring mother holding her baby.

Throughout the offset role of the novel, Elizabeth is portrayed as a dutiful loving homemaker, wife and female parent. She is godfearing and self-sacrificing and constantly puts the needs of her family before herself. She is strong will non hesitate to subject field her children especially Roy. While she seems stiff and strict to her children, she is shown to be submissive to her hubby Gabriel. Gabriel shows himself to exist abusive to Elizabeth both verbally and physically. He constantly points out her flaws, blames her for their children's misbehavior and constantly asserts his dominance. Towards the climax of the first one-half, when the 2 become into an argument over who is at fault for Roy being injured in a street fight, Gabriel ends the argument by slapping Elizabeth. Elizabeth'due south pride and dignity is constantly being broken past her married man. A possible reason she does not get out her husband could exist that her devotion to maintaining a peaceful family and because her beingness a devout Christian living in the 1930s, divorce would have been a unfavorable action.

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Then far, this has been a very intriguing book. With complex characters that feel human, first-class use of symbolism and imagery and a neat grasp on emotions and psychology, Part one of James Baldwin's "Go Tell It On The Mount" is masterfully written piece of archetype black literature.

Thank You

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Source: https://bespectactledyouth.wordpress.com/2015/07/16/part-1-parental-conflicts-in-james-baldwins-go-tell-it-on-the-mountain/

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