Faith in The Hard to Catch Mercy

Faith in The Hard to Catch Mercy

Merrick FultzMerrick Fultz

Baldwin’s PrefaceBaldwin’s Preface

“This is a Christian novel--or least, a God-centered one[…]Again and again the question of Christ’s humanity and our own ‘Christness’ is approached. Certainly not answered, only approached. The reassuring certainties of Willie’s Calvinism are eroded away by Anna’s Earthy animism. In turn, Anna’s faith is corrupted by Willie’s. Good is confronting Evil. Questions are being asked. God’s Mercy endures. I wanted you to know that.”

“This is a Christian novel--or least, a God-centered one[…]Again and again the question of Christ’s humanity and our own ‘Christness’ is approached. Certainly not answered, only approached. The reassuring certainties of Willie’s Calvinism are eroded away by Anna’s Earthy animism. In turn, Anna’s faith is corrupted by Willie’s. Good is confronting Evil. Questions are being asked. God’s Mercy endures. I wanted you to know that.”

Mechanized EdenMechanized Eden

“Apparently, Cedar Point’s beauty now ranked somewhere between the Taj Mahal and Paris France, and it was populated solely by upstanding Christian people. He repeated it would take only the gentle nudge of God’s hand to breathe the life of commerce and industry into such surroundings[…]This place could be turned into a garden” (34).

“Apparently, Cedar Point’s beauty now ranked somewhere between the Taj Mahal and Paris France, and it was populated solely by upstanding Christian people. He repeated it would take only the gentle nudge of God’s hand to breathe the life of commerce and industry into such surroundings[…]This place could be turned into a garden” (34).

Hat Shop EdenHat Shop Eden

“My cousin said, ‘Amy, you got you some kind of strange garden growing here. Better than Adam and Eve’s, to my mind. Flowers don’t wear out. No snakes” (146).

“My cousin said, ‘Amy, you got you some kind of strange garden growing here. Better than Adam and Eve’s, to my mind. Flowers don’t wear out. No snakes” (146).

African EdenAfrican Eden

“The streets is paved with gold. I remember that clear as yesterday. I walking to my house on a street paved with gold and when I hungry I just pick apple off the tree. Aint been nothing but a garden” (48).

“The streets is paved with gold. I remember that clear as yesterday. I walking to my house on a street paved with gold and when I hungry I just pick apple off the tree. Aint been nothing but a garden” (48).

CharactersCharacters

LizaAnnaWillieUncle JimmyBrother

LizaAnnaWillieUncle JimmyBrother

LizaLiza

Opposite of Anna: “’It would be best if you would leave,’ Liza was addressing Maum Anna. She now stood beside the bed clutching the Bible to her breast” (150).

Liza as the Serpent: “’Haig make ‘em steal biscuit,’ Maum Anna confided in me alone. ‘Haig slip out her skin, and ride Sammy back, ride ‘em all night long’” (189).

Opposite of Anna: “’It would be best if you would leave,’ Liza was addressing Maum Anna. She now stood beside the bed clutching the Bible to her breast” (150).

Liza as the Serpent: “’Haig make ‘em steal biscuit,’ Maum Anna confided in me alone. ‘Haig slip out her skin, and ride Sammy back, ride ‘em all night long’” (189).

AnnaAnna

Claims to be devout: “’Ain’t but the one Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Lamb and the Redeemer. What for Anna need all them root and charm?’” (47).

Uses Christian/superstition hybrid: “’There’s a verse, Bible verse in Ezekiel and you say it correct three time and look ‘em in the eye that suppose to stop the flow’” (130).

Claims to be devout: “’Ain’t but the one Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Lamb and the Redeemer. What for Anna need all them root and charm?’” (47).

Uses Christian/superstition hybrid: “’There’s a verse, Bible verse in Ezekiel and you say it correct three time and look ‘em in the eye that suppose to stop the flow’” (130).

Anna continuedAnna continued

Shrank because she sacrificed her powers: “She low. I see that. I see them powers ‘most gone. I ask her where they go and she say she give up them powers for Jesus Christ” (303).

Vision of Heaven resembled Africa: “She figures it be more open field. She counting on them open savannah like she remember from Africa” (304).

Shrank because she sacrificed her powers: “She low. I see that. I see them powers ‘most gone. I ask her where they go and she say she give up them powers for Jesus Christ” (303).

Vision of Heaven resembled Africa: “She figures it be more open field. She counting on them open savannah like she remember from Africa” (304).

WillieWillie

Vision of Christ has been formed by pictures (38).

His religious ideals are shown to be hypocritical when concerning Amy (134).

Abandoned religion upon Amy’s death: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. God and His Jesus could keep the eternal part. He could keep his whole Goddamn religion” (162).

Vision of Christ has been formed by pictures (38).

His religious ideals are shown to be hypocritical when concerning Amy (134).

Abandoned religion upon Amy’s death: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. God and His Jesus could keep the eternal part. He could keep his whole Goddamn religion” (162).

Willie continuedWillie continued

He has more faith in Anna than the Bible: “Maum Anna had admitted the night before that there was a Lydia, and I trusted her far more than I did the Bible” (223).

Then back to Christianity: “I’d been mistaken to put such faith in a somewhat heathen cross, especially now that the heathen was no longer around” (285-286).

He has more faith in Anna than the Bible: “Maum Anna had admitted the night before that there was a Lydia, and I trusted her far more than I did the Bible” (223).

Then back to Christianity: “I’d been mistaken to put such faith in a somewhat heathen cross, especially now that the heathen was no longer around” (285-286).

Uncle JimmyUncle Jimmy

Begins novel with blasphemy: “’Christ is the redeemer,’ I calmly counseled. ‘Hog slop.’ ‘You saying Christ ain’t the Redeemer?’ ‘Ain’t no such person. Never was a Jesus Christ’” (28).

In the end, takes role of God: “’He’ll provide,’ my mama said. ‘I’ll provide,’ Uncle Jimmy said” (280).

Begins novel with blasphemy: “’Christ is the redeemer,’ I calmly counseled. ‘Hog slop.’ ‘You saying Christ ain’t the Redeemer?’ ‘Ain’t no such person. Never was a Jesus Christ’” (28).

In the end, takes role of God: “’He’ll provide,’ my mama said. ‘I’ll provide,’ Uncle Jimmy said” (280).

BrotherBrother

“The ‘Hard to Catch Mercy’ referred to in the title is not the villainous horseman, but God’s mercy, a mercy we deny ourselves when we let fear and anger rule our lives” (Preface).

Death seems to bring him comfort: “and I remember thinking, ‘Good, I’m dead’” (55).

“The ‘Hard to Catch Mercy’ referred to in the title is not the villainous horseman, but God’s mercy, a mercy we deny ourselves when we let fear and anger rule our lives” (Preface).

Death seems to bring him comfort: “and I remember thinking, ‘Good, I’m dead’” (55).

Brother continuedBrother continued

He harbors no fear or anger, but rather an understanding: “It’s me they want” (342).

He quietly sacrifices himself for the “Liars and murderers” (342).

He harbors no fear or anger, but rather an understanding: “It’s me they want” (342).

He quietly sacrifices himself for the “Liars and murderers” (342).