Go Tell It on the Mountain

John Grimes is the central figure in Go Tell it on the Mountain. The present is observed from his perspective before occasionally switching to his other family members. The events of the story take place before, during, and after his 14th birthday in March of 1935. During this time, John struggles with his sexuality and his faith before seemingly reaffirming his faith in his father’s church. He describes this reaffirmation of faith as being saved, though he still faces many of the issues which plagued him at the beginning of the story. The tumultuous period in John’s life calls into question many ideas he takes for granted. He has been raised by a deacon in a Pentecostal church so has always believed himself to be a good Christian. However, he cannot process this long-held faith with his cruel father’s abusive attitude and his own sexual yearning for Elisha, the young male leader of the Sunday school. John’s relationship with his father, his family, and his own sexuality makes him feel tortured. He has been raised to believe that sinners go to hell; his father’s cruelty makes him feel as though he is a sinner, while he worries that his sexuality will condemn his soul to Hell.