Sin: it's (s)in the bed, it's (s)in the streets, it's (s)in the movie theaters… sin is everywhere in Go Tell It On the Mountain. It's a huge preoccupation for the highly religious characters in the novel: they see the world as a big, treacherous threat and a constant temptation.
It works like a motor, propelling the narrative forward. One person's sin leads to another person's birth; another person's sin leads to a fourth person's death. Almost every relationship can be explained by the sin that's behind it. Juicy, right? Let the airing of the dirty laundry commence.
Questions About Sin
- Gabriel thinks that God has forgiven his sins, but do you think he's forgiven himself?
- Why are most of the sins in the novel sexual? What is it about sex that makes it extra sinful, more even than violence or dishonesty?
- Why is sin so strongly tied to the city and the North?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
The novel shows how sin is a product of urban living.
The novel shows how sin is everywhere, in both urban and rural settings.