Transcendent Theology in James Baldwin's Go Tell It On The Mountain
This research examines the spiritual experience of John Grimes, the protagonist in James Baldwin's Go Tell It On the Mountain. John's spiritual experience is heavily based within the last chapter of the novel called "The Threshing Floor." This paper begins with assessing various key passages throughout the entire novel that convey John's conflicting struggle to understand his relationship to God. Through John's spiritual encounter, Baldwin conveys a message on the value of a loved-based quest towards one's faith in God. My paper also takes an objective look at the black fundamentalist theology of storefront churches. By exploring sociological works, this research attempts to present the unpromising environment of post WWI Harlem for the adolescent protagonist. Through a multifaceted approach, this research illuminates the numerous agents surrounding John's spiritual experience.
School:
Morehouse College
Department:
English/African American Literature
Research Advisor:
Chris Freeburg
Department of Research Advisor:
English
Year of Publication:
2008