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Essay / ""Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin he adulthood; John Grimes, the protagonist of James Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain, experiences the said journey of self-realization and discovery, which builds to the culmination of the holy spirit entering his body, him allowing himself to see the flaws in his father's character John, like most children, grew up thinking that his father was infallible and incapable of doing evil; as he begins to mature, he understands that his father is; sometimes sinful and unrighteous, even though he is a preacher When the holy spirit enters his body, John enters a dream state in which he confronts his father and reveals his true feelings for him: "And I hate you. I don't care about your golden crown (Baldwin 234).Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay John begins to see his father as an imperfect human being, unlike how he viewed him. while being a child, a powerful and reliable man taking care of his family like a king taking care of his subjects, these character flaws cause him to reject Gabriel and force him to reluctantly accept that his father is not the man who he thought he was. John goes on to say, "I don't care about your long white dresses, I saw you under the dress, I saw you." (Baldwin 234). It is widely known that the color white in the Bible symbolizes purity and holiness, which John associates with his father. John seeing his father without his white robes and “naked” represents the fact that he has unearthed what lies beneath the facade. Gabriel supports the public. John's realization of his father's sinful, two-faced character is difficult to accept, because it contrasts so violently with the saintly, fatherly priest figure he had known growing up, thus forcing him to examine the other adults of his life. and even his own religious ideology. John is raised by Gabriel in an almost puritanical manner, always unaware that Gabriel's hospitality is a projection of self-loathing from his past. However, John fears for his life when he believes he has committed himself. the “mortal sin, having seen the nakedness of his father” (Baldwin 232). Without a proper father figure in his life to educate him, John is completely unaware of the sexual changes he is undergoing and the implications they bring. Perverted by the images of Gabriel naked, he further draws parallels between the story of Noah and Ham and himself and begins to wonder if he himself is cursed as Ham was. John explains that all humans carry this curse, but not before almost limiting the curse to African Americans. John not only looked at Gabriel's nakedness, but also "mocked him and cursed him in his heart." (Baldwin 232).Keep in mind: This is just a sample.Get a custom essay now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayJohn's remarks about seeing his father naked show revulsion the most fundamental thing he has for his father. By wanting to dishonor his father, who, according to him, cursed him as Noah did his son, he chooses the most painful of abuses and insults his virility. John no longer submits to his father's pious speeches and begins to understand when he is treated badly. John's revelation forces him to lose the respect and obedience he once had for his father, making him realize the reality of who people really are, not what they show to the public, which which will help him as he progresses towards adulthood. Cited Baldwin, J. (1953).. (1998)..
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