Questions About Go Tell It on the Mountain

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Answered Questions (5)

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Brent Forkner In addition to being brutally beaten by police, I believe that Richard was raped in the Tombs. I think that accounts for his breakdown, inability to r…moreIn addition to being brutally beaten by police, I believe that Richard was raped in the Tombs. I think that accounts for his breakdown, inability to receive comfort from Elizabeth, and inability to speak about it.(less)

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I read this book over 40 years ago, so I don't remember much about it. It was during my 'Baldwin' phase. I seemed to think i was more impressed with Giovanni's Room.' With racial tension back in America, could his work be coming back into vogue ?

Robert Irish I'm not sure how this book has much to offer with the racial tension in America. Certainly, it speaks of the African American distrust of the White, a…moreI'm not sure how this book has much to offer with the racial tension in America. Certainly, it speaks of the African American distrust of the White, and justifies it pretty well, but that's not what's central here. The central them focuses on the internal workings of the Black community in its relationship to faith in God and each other. (less)

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I'm not sure I get what happens in part three. This part is so different of the rest of the book and I feel it ends so abruptly. What are your interpretations?

Brent Forkner The Threshing Floor recounts an experience I have never had--that dreamscape immersion in spiritual and emotional turmoil. It reminded me in a way of …moreThe Threshing Floor recounts an experience I have never had--that dreamscape immersion in spiritual and emotional turmoil. It reminded me in a way of Elizabeth Gilbert's meditation journey in Eat Pray Love. But I thought that James Baldwin's telling had more concrete references to John's life, the hatred he felt against Gabriel, the struggle he has with his feelings for Elisha, and the promise of salvation. I think it's clear from Gabriel's journey towards salvation, that the author does not really believe in salvation, but he believes in the uplifting spiritual and emotional experience that happens in the church sometimes.
Leaving John on the threshold of his home, where it seems likely he will learn about his real father, continue to struggle with Gabriel's violent anger against himself and his mother, and suffer with Gabriel's favoring Roy--means that John's life is not really changed by this event. He is not uplifted, he is not changed, he will not conquer anything, and his joy will evaporate. As he grows older and must confront his own sexuality as well as the poverty and injustice he has been born into, John's salvation event will fade into the past, just as Gabriel's salvation became a story, a memory, and not redemptive.(less)

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I loved the first chapter. I could relate to John's feeling as a misfit, an outsider, estranged from his family. Then comes the rest of the book. Aside from the compelling narratives of his father, mother and others, the remainder feels like a swamp of endless religious images and religious verbiage that could have been more effective if halved. Why was this necessary?

Barbara K. I felt the same way, exhausted by all the religiosity. But maybe it's necessary to portray that culture, the totality of the fervor, almost orgasm?…moreI felt the same way, exhausted by all the religiosity. But maybe it's necessary to portray that culture, the totality of the fervor, almost orgasm?(less)

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Does anyone know the film John watches in the first chapter?

M. I'm answering myself but I feel like it might be "Of human bondage" (1934), if anyone's interested!…moreI'm answering myself but I feel like it might be "Of human bondage" (1934), if anyone's interested!(less)

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Unanswered Questions (4)

Can someone explain me the end of the book?

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What did you think were the weaknesses in Baldwin's work?

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