The Hold Of Poverty In James Baldwin's Go Tell It On The Mountain
Stefanie Page
Mrs. Bell
English 10A
October 9, 2013
The Hold of Poverty
Poverty is the root of all destitution, and people in poverty can either strive to make a better life for themselves, or they can make decisions that keep them where they are. In James Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain, Frank, Esther, and Gabriel are all in poverty, even though they are freed people. Even though children of former slaves have the chance to start a new life and future, these people perpetually make decisions in relationships that keep them in poverty. Success is halted for these three people due to their lack of motivation.
Even though Frank had the chance to start a new life and future, he perpetually made decisions that kept him in poverty. Florence described Frank as "determined to live and die a …show more content…
An illustration of this is seen in the author’s description of Gabriel: “Yet what frightened him, and kept him more than ever on his knees, was the knowledge that, once having fallen, nothing would be easier than to fall again.” (125) Though Gabriel fell, he tried to redeem himself; nevertheless, the consequences of his actions with Esther resulted in a chain reaction of broken relationships. His fall with Esther resulted in a collapsed relationship with Deborah. After Deborah died, Gabriel had the chance to start his life anew with Elizabeth and her son, John. However instead of establishing a successful home, Gabriel fell again as he begins a pattern of abusing Elizabeth and their children and blaming John for all their troubles. As a result of Gabriel’s cruelty, the family doesn’t work together towards a brighter future. Instead they are just surviving, and the children look forward to their father’s death. Gabriel’s inability to establish trusting relationships in which family members help each other to succeed keeps him trapped in
Mrs. Bell
English 10A
October 9, 2013
The Hold of Poverty
Poverty is the root of all destitution, and people in poverty can either strive to make a better life for themselves, or they can make decisions that keep them where they are. In James Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain, Frank, Esther, and Gabriel are all in poverty, even though they are freed people. Even though children of former slaves have the chance to start a new life and future, these people perpetually make decisions in relationships that keep them in poverty. Success is halted for these three people due to their lack of motivation.
Even though Frank had the chance to start a new life and future, he perpetually made decisions that kept him in poverty. Florence described Frank as "determined to live and die a …show more content…
An illustration of this is seen in the author’s description of Gabriel: “Yet what frightened him, and kept him more than ever on his knees, was the knowledge that, once having fallen, nothing would be easier than to fall again.” (125) Though Gabriel fell, he tried to redeem himself; nevertheless, the consequences of his actions with Esther resulted in a chain reaction of broken relationships. His fall with Esther resulted in a collapsed relationship with Deborah. After Deborah died, Gabriel had the chance to start his life anew with Elizabeth and her son, John. However instead of establishing a successful home, Gabriel fell again as he begins a pattern of abusing Elizabeth and their children and blaming John for all their troubles. As a result of Gabriel’s cruelty, the family doesn’t work together towards a brighter future. Instead they are just surviving, and the children look forward to their father’s death. Gabriel’s inability to establish trusting relationships in which family members help each other to succeed keeps him trapped in