Character Clues

Character Analysis

Names

In Christian communities, parents often pick names from Scripture for their kids. It's no surprise, then, that the characters in Gilead have names like John (an apostle), Edward (named after the 18th-century Protestant theologian and preacher Jonathan Edwards), Glory (duh!), and Rebecca (the wife of Isaac in the Bible).

You probably noticed that there are three dudes named John Ames in this book, not even counting Jack Boughton. John Ames, his father, and his grandfather all share the same name. They're not exactly interchangeable characters, but the fact that they all share the same name heightens the sense that there's a deep tradition in Gilead that's carried on from one generation to the next.

Marilynne Robinson takes the names a step further. Edward, for example, changed his name from Edwards after losing his faith. John Ames Boughton was named for the narrator, John Ames, in a gesture of love from Robert Boughton to Ames, his dear friend. The name became ironic, however, as John Ames usually just can't even with the young man. The shared name becomes a source of tension and division.

Thoughts and Opinions

John Ames has thoughts and opinions, and he doesn't mind sharing them with his son. They're important for his purpose: he wants his son to know his father. When Ames opines and reflects, he's not giving his son superficial trappings; he's giving him a window into his heart and mind. Ames has thought deeply about what he believes.

Ames is also a complex figure. A Republican who will vote for Eisenhower if he lives long enough, Ames nevertheless tends toward a more liberal theology. He despises the topic of predestination, even though it's a big part of his heritage (1.14.35). He reads and respects atheists like Feuerbach (1.2.43). He's no Edward, he says, but he's "no fool either" (2.21.104). He subscribes to The Nation. He wants you to know he's a reasonable Christian.