The Amen Corner: Summary, Analysis, Characters, and Themes Explored

This report provides a summary of James Baldwin's play, 'The Amen Corner'. The play revolves around Margaret, a female pastor, and explores themes of religion, family, and personal relationships. The story begins with Margaret delivering a sermon and advising a woman to leave her husband. The narrative then moves to Margaret's apartment, where her husband, Luke, unexpectedly appears, revealing the complexities of their past and the reasons behind their separation. The play examines Margaret's devotion to her religious beliefs, her relationships with her son David and her congregation, and her eventual realization that religion should not be a cause for family separation. The play highlights the characters' struggles, their relationships, and the dramatic events that lead to Margaret's understanding of the importance of family bonds.

Running head: THE AMEN CORNER
THE AMEN CORNER
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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The most popular African American’ novelist, as well as essayist James Baldwin’s first
attempt to write a dramatic play, was through the American Corner. It was written during the
time of 1950, published in the year 1968 and first performed on stage in the year 1965.
From the first chapter, we get to know that the character Margaret is the female pastor of
the church. She is the main protagonist of the story. The story revolves around the character of
Margaret in itself. In the opening chapter of the dramatic play, we get to know that Margaret is
giving a sermon. The session is taking place in the church amidst many people. Hymns were
being sung which was being accompanied by the background song which was played by David,
the eighteen-year-old boy of Margaret. There comes the point when Mrs Ida Jackson goes
forward near the Pulpit while holding onto her baby who is severely sick. She goes forward to
seek advice from Margaret about saving her sick child. On hearing this, Margaret advises her to
save her child from being sicker; she must leave her husband (Baldwin, James 4-8). Thus, from
the first chapter, the readers get a clear idea that the character Margaret was very much devoted
to her religion and had little issues over marriage as she advised the lady to leave her husband.
The second setting of the chapter takes place in the apartment of Margaret which is attached to
that of the church, in the presence of Margaret, her son David, her sister Odessa and the presence
of the three elders of the church. Margaret’s husband Luke arrives very much unexpectedly. In
the meeting where everybody was present, he cleared the misconception that Margaret has told it
to everybody that he was the one to leave her along with her son. On the contrary, it was
Margaret who left him. Both of them together had another child who died, and the blame of the
tragedy was given on Luke. It is by blaming Luke, Margaret had abandoned him to pursue a full
religious kind of life. However, Luke then breaks down because of illness and has been made to
lie down on the bed of the apartment of Margaret. Though everybody pleads in front of

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Margaret to stay and even care for the Luke who was on the stage of dying, Margaret leaves him
for the trip to Philadelphia to aid another church. It is through the confrontation with Luke, the
misconception that tends to lie about both Margaret and Luke becomes very much clear. After
knowing the truth, everybody then starts questioning the honesty of Margaret. David even leaves
her as he wants to join the Jazz Band and pursue his career as the musician rather than being
devoted to religion. On losing her husband, son and even her congregation, Margaret tends to
understand that religion should not be taken as the reason for breaking up from the bond of the
family rather it should be taken as the reason to stand up and stay aside by the side of the family
members.
The story revolves around the character of Margaret in the dramatic story. The dramatic
play revolves around the values as well as of the final realisation of the Margaret character in
itself.

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References
Baldwin, James. "The Amen Corner.”." Zero 2 (2000): 4-8.