Dec 20, 2009
Go Tell It on the Mountain | Go Tell It on the Mountain
At a glance:
- Author: James Baldwin
- First Published: 1953
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Psychological realism
- Time of Work: 1880–1935
- Setting: An unspecified southern state and New York City
- Principal Characters: John Grimes, Roy Grimes, Elizabeth Grimes, The Reverend Gabriel Grimes, Brother Elisha, Florence Grimes
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction, Bildungsroman
- Subjects: African Americans, Maturation or coming of age, Family or family life, New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Parents and children, Racism, Sex or sexuality, Suicide, New York City, Sin or Original sin, 1930’s, Spiritual life or spirituality, Ministry or ministers, Inner cities or inner-city life, Oppression, Fathers, Adultery, Christianity, Faith
- Locales: Harlem, NY, South (U.S.)
The Novel
Go Tell It on the Mountain describes a long day in the life of John Grimes, who awakens
on his fourteenth birthday as the novel opens. He hopes that someone will remember that this day in
March, 1935, is a special one, his day. Only his mother remembers; she gives him a chance to be by
himself for the day.
During the day, John, who is given to introspection, ponders his life and what he wants to make
of it. Religion and art are the two contradictory impulses that seem to war for control over his future.
The spiritual and physical attraction he feels...
[The entire page is 3280 words long]
Join eNotes
The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:
eNotes Pass
©2000-2009
Enotes.com Inc.
All Rights Reserved
