American Literature

    James Baldwin starts his novel with John, the main character of the story, entering his fourteenth year and realizing that he should do something that his father expects him to do. From the time that he is aware, he had been told that he should become a preacher and serve the Lord. Confused of what his father wants, he realizes on his birthday whether he wants to satisfy other (his desire) or to become a man of church. He recollects some incidents from his childhood and state the impression on his mind of being a man of God and the visitation he made to the Temple of the Fire Baptized at Harlem every Sunday. The author expresses the feelings of a child rendered into an elegant adult observation without stripping them raw of truth. The resulting effect of wanting to forgive is nonetheless very effective and a sign of rejection of Johns independence of mind from the knowledge that he already had.

    The major principles of the novel are search for identity and quest for love. It can be noticed that all of the characters commit mistake and are paid for it at the end. In terms of its mood, it traces the growth of John from childhood to adolescence and exposes the spiritual predicament faced by all the characters that influence him. This can be seen when John experiences a crisis identity. His father expects him to become a preacher without even consulting John. The word fire mentioned in the novel with the author anger at racism, religion and broken communities. Consequently, at one point of the story, John fears that he might go too far and said I can climb back up. If its wrong, I can always climb back up (Baldwin, 1953). Thus, this novel can be better understood not only about a story of a black boys growing up in poverty and racism but also a human misery who does not understand. A story that is powerful works from beginning to end and give a new language to American experience.