Theme and Narrative in Gilead: Finding the Blessings and the Heart to Forgive Anonymous College

The narrative of Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead is expressed in the form of a long, heartfelt from a dying father to his young son. Intended to be read after his imminent passing, John Ames III writes to capture his moral sentiments and life advice through a series of stories and memories, all influenced by his upbringing in a pious family and occupation as a pastor. After expressing his guilt and solace for leaving his family with next to nothing monetarily, Ames hopes the letter will leave his son with something of moral value (8). Written in the ordinary town of Gilead, Iowa, the letter is the embodiment of the father’s life’s worth of knowledge and lessons, and it is essentially the only thing he leaves in the physical world for his son. Throughout the novel, there are a variety of stories and memories compiled in a stream of consciousness fashion. However, one story line remains prominent from cover to cover, and stands out for its themes of forgiveness and personal progress: Jack Boughton’s return to his childhood home of Gilead and his subsequent departure.

Son of longtime friend Robert Boughton, John Ames considers his namesake, John Ames Boughton, or Jack, his own son. While it is initially unclear why Jack has returned...