Compare and contrast Gabriel's relationship with his first wife Deborah to his relationship with Elizabeth, his second wife. How is each bound to the other in these relationships? In other words, explore what each woman might feel her obligation is toward Gabriel and what Gabriel's obligations are to them.
The relationships Gabriel shared with his first wife, Deborah, and his second wife, Elizabeth, are very different. With Elizabeth, Gabriel seems more as the caretaker than an equal companion because Elizabeth met him in a very needing time of her life and Gabriel has been the provider for the family ever since. Elizabeth does not argue with anything Gabriel says for she believes that everything his does, even beating his children, is his way of trying to bring others to a life with Christ because she truly thinks as she states in talking to her children "your father (Gabriel)...knows best" (p.18). Elizabeth feels indebted to Gabriel for when she was left with a child to raise on her own, Gabriel came to her aid and married her and provided for her and the children. Gabriel's relationship with his first wife, Deborah, was very different for Deborah was older and more experienced in her walk with Christ. He felt as if she was a saint and someone that could help him really grown in christ and find his role in life during his fragile time of first living with salvation. Gabriel sees Deborah as a "saint" and feels that she is partially responsible for his new life in Christ because he knows she prayed for him with his mother and in order for him to feel more on the same level as her she tells him that "He blessed me when He saved your soul and sent you out to preach His gospel" (pg. 96). Deborah feels a obligation to Gabriel, but it is to keep him growing in Christ so that he may be a blessing to other people and this is why Gabriel has much more regard for Deborah's thoughts and feelings for he feels that she is helping him more so than he is helping her for Deborah provides the necessary encouragement and confidence in his walk with God that he needs to carry out his purpose in life. She is who helped him first believe in himself that he could lead a church. I believe that the way the two wives depended on Gabriel and how they spoke up their own opinions was a big determinant for how Gabriel will respect them and regard them.
ReplyDeleteTo compare Gabriel's marriage to Deborah and his marriage to Elizabeth is sort of like comparing day to night.He married Deborah around the time that he became a man. He was only twenty one. Though he had known her is whole like, he never though that he would marry her. She was just a friend of the family and she was even a little older that he was. Deborah was always there for her. "She seemed to be put on earth to visit the sick, and to comfort those who wept," (pp.94). He would often tell her that she was godsend. He depended on Deborah in that marriage and she was obligated to him. His relationship with Elizabeth was totally different. Elizabeth depended more so on Gabriel. Elizabeth and Gabriel met around the time where she really needed someone and depended on him throughout their marriage. Elizabeth feels obligated to him since he came into her and her child's life and took care of them. Both women feel obligated to him, in my opinion. But the only difference is is that one wife does the care taking in the relationship while the Gabriel is the caretaker in the other relationship.
ReplyDeleteYour blog, Briana is pretty straightforward and easy to understand, but I can sense that it was a bit rushed. I think you mistakenly inserted like, instead of life when you said "Though he had known her is whole like, he never though that he would marry her". You also have a grammatical errors after the period of the first sentence. You connected with most of the points but you forgot to contrast Deborah's side of the relationship. Elizabeth's side was mentioned, but Deborah was not. The only contrast between Deborah and Elizabeth that I see you wrote about is when you state that "But the only difference is is that one wife does the care taking in the relationship while the Gabriel is the caretaker in the other relationship", and I totally agree with that. I also think that Elizabeth was obligated to Gabriel because he took the time to care for her and children. My only response to this blog is for you to try and expand your sentences a little more so your grade you doing these blogs can be higher.Also, who would you say Gabriel loved being married to, Elizabeth or Deborah? I say Deborah because their relationship was balanced between the two. The both worshiped one another, and enjoyed helping one another.
DeleteThe relationship between Gabriel and his first wife Deborah, and the relationship between him and his second wife Elizabeth are first compared by both of them being much older than Gabriel. Gabriel felt the need to care for two women whom he dearly loved based on the things that they've gone through, no matter their age difference. Both women sort of coached Gabriel into becoming more of a man. In contrast, Gabriel met Elizabeth in her time of desperate needs; he knew Deborah most of his life because she had been his sister's close friend and his mother's regular visitor (94). Gabriel worshiped Deborah in their relationship, whereas he felt more almighty in his relationship with Elizabeth. Elizabeth depends on Gabriel in their marriage, while his marriage to Deborah was equally balanced. Gabriel was the person whom provided for and took care of the entire family with Elizabeth, but when he was married to Deborah being taken care of. In, summary, it seems as though when Gabriel was married to Deborah he had a lot of growing up to do after his mother passed away, but when he sought interest in Elizabeth he was already a man and willing to take the next step. Deborah's obligations towards Gabriel is to encourage him and help him on his journey to be the best preacher he can be, or as she calls him "Reverend". Deborah is always there whenever he needs her, and Gabriel is the exact same way. Whenever he needs words of encouragement wisdom, Deborah is there for him. Elizabeth's obligations towards Gabriel is more so of gratitude. Gabriel came to her when she really needed someone, and he is soon married her; she feels strongly thankful for him coming into her and her children's lives. Gabriel s obligations towards Elizabeth is to provide for their family.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between him and Deborah compared to him and his new wife is very different. His current wife did not watch Gabriel grow fro when he was young into becoming a man. I think that is what is makes the big difference between Deborah and that of his current wife. I believe this because even when he was living a sinful life, Deborah was there along side with his mother. Both Deborah and Gabriel were going through troubled times. Deborah was shameful and embarrassed of white men raping her while Gabriel was drinking, having sex with women, and living a horrible life. During the conversation that Deborah and Gabriel he says ," Sister Deborah all that sinful time-was you a-praying for me ?" I find this section very important because it shows Deborah's true hospitality for Gabriel. On the other hand the current wife is not the same as Deborah because she is more of a submissive wife. The time that they met was when Gabriel was already established as a pastor and his sinful ways had been put behind him. For that, I doubt that his current wife knew anything about that. Because of this reason, I believe that his new current wife has this certain role that she expects Gabriel to play and that everything he says is right. To me, I view Deborah and Gabriel's relationship as more of adult-to-adult where as his current wife relationship towards him as more of student-teacher. In this case, the wife is the student and Gabriel is the teacher. Elizabeth might feel that her obligation towards Gabriel is just being supportive, to please him and simply to just obey him. Even though, his justifications may or may not be right. Deborah's might feel that her obligation may be to support him as well, but to also inform him of reasons why he should not act on certain things. Deborah would tell him what is right and what is wrong. In Deborah ad Gabriel's relationship they taught and learned from each other. In Elizabeth and Gabriel's relationship it seems as Gabriel is the one doing all the teaching.
ReplyDeleteI think the relation between Gabriel and his first wife Deborah is different than the relationship between him and his second wife Elizabeth. Him and his first wife Deborah are more like equals in the relationship and were both going through troubled times and needed each other to lift them up. While the new with Elizabeth is more of Elizabeth submitting to Gabriel and obeying his every command and they both have certain roles to play.
ReplyDeleteGabriel relationships with his first wife, Deborah and second wife Elizabeth were opposite from each other. With Deborah she is much older and more mature in Christ compared to him.So he figure that could help with his walk with thorough Christ. In this marriage they were equal. With his second wife Elizabeth he was a father who provides for her and her children,when they met she was down on her luck and he was there for her. In these marriageThey were imbalance because she needs him. Both women played parts in Gabriel growing into a man. Deborah's obligations towards Gabriel is to keep him encourage in becoming the best pastor and a better man in Christ. elizabeth obligations towards Gabriel was showing her appreciation for he has done. Gabriel's obligation towards Elizabeth was to take care of her and her children.Gabriel obligation to Deborah is to love her.
ReplyDeleteThe relationships in which Gabriel sustained with Deborah and Elizabeth, respectively, are different yet somewhat similar. In both relationships Gabriel is tied to either Deborah or Elizabeth and vice versa in a way which causes the bond become strained. With the limited insight of Gabriel and Deborah’s relationship, it is evident that he treats Deborah with more respect than he does Elizabeth. He treats Deborah differently because he believes that he was led by the Lord “to ask her to be his wife” (Baldwin 109). Deborah’s dark past has led Gabriel to believe that she should be entitled to some prize to be raised from her lowest point in life. It is clear that the basis of their relationship is pity placed by one another. Deborah is not the only one in the relationship that is felt sorry for. Her obligation is most likely to be Gabriel’s guidance, besides God’s, to keep him on the right path. Following Gabriel’s mother’s death and leading up to his calling to become a priest, Deborah has watched him struggle. She quite often provides a support system for Gabriel since his mother has passed and his sister Florence has left for New York. It is believed that not until Gabriel asks her to be his wife that she has ever thought to want to marry him so when he asks she is startled. But it is a different story for Elizabeth. In the beginning of the novel there are very few instances where the couple shows their love for one another. The only form of admiration is when Roy asks his mother if their father is a good man in which she quickly responds by saying that “you don’t know no better man, do you?” (17). This quote suggests that Elizabeth had no better options in choosing a husband while Gabriel was her best bet at happiness. The connotation of her remark can be interpreted in different ways but it can be inferred that a different remark could have been used. Had she said that indeed he was a good man, the reader would not have doubt that what she said had an underlying meaning. It is also inferred that Gabriel abuses both his wife Elizabeth and their children leading him to show, along with many other problems, his disapproval of the family he has. Overall, as Deborah and Gabriel’s relationship has some sort of happiness tied to it, Gabriel and Elizabeth’s relationship shows a lack of mutual respect and admiration.
ReplyDeleteI really like your response. I truly agree with your thought that Gabriel was much more of an option to Elizabeth, and there is no true love between them.
DeleteI believe Gabriel’s wives were both conflicted. It is as though he had polar opposite wives. When Gabriel was with his first wife, Deborah, he was young, naïve and had much to learn. The first marriage truly helped Gabriel grow and become the great pastor he is today. This is much to the fact that his wife is older than him and more experienced in the church in some sense. In the beginning of the book, John looks at an old picture of his father and Deborah and wonders what he can do to receive love from his father like Deborah had. Deborah and Gabriel are definitely more on an equal level, which is the opposite when Gabriel is with Elizabeth, his second wife. From the start of their marriage, Elizabeth was dependent on Gabriel. This is possible the reason she chooses to remain silent and submissive to everything Gabriel says and does. Elizabeth, in some views, is in complete debt to Gabriel for everything he does for her. Gabriel’s relationship with Elizabeth is much more of him being a provider and who Elizabeth puts her dependency on.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post completely. The dependence and independence in the relationships affected how much Gabriel cared about each woman.
DeleteWhen comparing Elizabeth and Deborah I feel as if they are completely opposites. Elizabeth was not independent while Deborah was independent. Although Gabriel was the man in the relationship when it came between him and Elizabeth, Gabriel was sometimes in wrong but she did not say anything because she only had him and their kids. Now, Deborah and Gabriel's relationship was one of a kind because they knew each other for many years; "He had known her all his life; she had been his older sister's older friend, and his mother's faithful visitors; she had never, for Gabriel, been young." (94). Since they had known each other for many years, it seems as if their relationship was very sturdy because she has been by his side even when he stepped out and wasn't himself anymore; "We sure was, Reverend. Me and your mother, we was a-praying all the time." (96). Deborah never gave up on him, she is faithfully at every service of his and even participates and reads scriptures out loud for him. Deborah is a very supportive wife for him because if he is down, she is able to pick him up and guide him in the right direction and if she is down, he is able to do the same for her. When Gabriel was married to Elizabeth his obligation was to make sure everybody was okay and satisfied but now that he is married to Deborah his obligation is to not only make sure she is satisfied but to actually love her the way she loves him.
ReplyDeleteI felt the exact same way, they were opposites.
DeleteThe relationships between Gabriel and his two wives differ greatly. Deborah and Gabriel's relationship was based at a time where Gabriel was developing as a man which, in turn, caused him to look to his older, saintly wife more respectfully than Elizabeth. With Deborah as his wife, he was more challenged to improve his connection with God. Gabriel viewed Deborah as a helpful and equal part of the relationship with praise and encouragement directed towards him. "For a moment Gabrial was terrified by the eyes on him, and by the elders at his back, and could not think how to go on. Then he looked at Deborah, and began" (99). She made him a better version of himself. On the other hand, Elizabeth looked to Gabriel as the caretaker and leader within the marriage. She is more submissive and takes up for his actions directed towards the children because she believes he knows best. She does not go against his authority. The marriage is based on a pay back system of sorts; she believes she owes Gabriel this respect because he took her in during her struggles as a single mother. Gabriel takes a more developed, authoritative role with a know-it-all attitude. For example, Gabriel slaps his wife and hits his child with a belt than uses references to God to portray his actions as duties of God (43-4). The marriage is based on a one-sided vision and their relationship can be viewed as more of a father-daughter relationship rather than husband-wife dynamic. In comparison, both women relied on Gabriel for saving after a troubling past. Gabriel took care of both women, and religion was a key factor in both life styles. Respect determined which relationship each character fell in to.
ReplyDeleteWhen comparing the relationships of Gabriel and these two women, we must first look at their similarities. Both women are used as guides in Gabriel's life. When Gabriel marries Deborah, he is not quite mature enough to fathom the responsibilities of life. Deborah represents a mother-like figure to Gabriel, so when he is with her, he seems at peace. When comparing the two situations, you can think of it as Deborah is to Gabriel, as Gabriel is to Elizabeth. Before Gabriel even marries Deborah, he has an epiphany about "a new beginning, a blood-washed day" signifying he is "beginning his new life as a man" (93). Gabriel then marries Deborah in that same year, because she resembles "the Lord's peculiar treasure and most holy vessel" (94). He uses her as a guide to becoming a man and being able to live on his own, since she is so much older than him. He even goes so far as to say that he never intended on marrying her, meaning she was just there for him so why not? On the other hand, Gabriel marries Elizabeth in her time of need. She needs a caretaker and a provider, and by this time Deborah has taught him all he needs to know about providing for others. Therefore, he is ready to take on the task of manhood and helping her and having a family. Elizabeth looks up to Gabriel and Gabriel looks up to Deborah. Each of them have no choice, because they are at such a crucial point in their lives. In conclusion, these two relationships can be seen as reciprocals. When Gabriel needed someone, Deborah is there, and when Elizabeth needs someone, Gabriel is there.
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ReplyDeleteGabriel's relationship with his first wife, Deborah was not the same as the relationship he had with Elizabeth. With Deborah, Gabriel had a more experienced relationship with Christ because Deborah was more involved with the church and was older than Gabriel, meaning she was more experienced and knew how to help Gabriel with his troubles. Deborah, who was known as the "holy woman" was a guider for Gabriel because she pushed him in the right direction to become a better person (104). Gabriel had known Deborah even before marriage and thought of her as a "godsend to 'him'" (94). In contrast, Gabriel depended on Deborah while Elizabeth depended on Gabriel. When married to Elizabeth, Gabriel was more of the responsible person in the marriage. Elizabeth thought of Gabriel as the best man anyone could have. His second marriage was different than the first, because it didn't have that equality as the first marriage, where Gabriel and Deborah guided each other for the best. Deborah is obligated to take care of Gabriel and to have him become a religious man to feel protected and secured. But, Elizabeth's obligations toward Gabriel is just being caring and there for her husband only for him to stick around for her. Gabriel's obligations towards Deborah was to obey her as as well as to help her, forming equal opportunities in their marriage. Gabriel's obligations towards Elizabeth was to take care of her because just like he need Deborah at first, Elizabeth needed Gabriel in her life. The only comparison between these two marriages is that both marriages had a more experienced individual that took care of the other when one was in need. The other comparison is that both women were older than Gabriel which helped Gabriel become more of a real man.
ReplyDeleteThe relationships Gabriel shared with his first wife, Deborah, and his second wife, Elizabeth, was like night and day. With Elizabeth, Gabriel seems more willing to take care of his wife being that Elizabeth met him in a very needing time of her life. Gabriel was aware of her weakness and took on the responsibility of taking care of the family like a husband should. However its ironic Elizabeth seems to lack a voice in her marriage. She is portrayed to always have her own opinion but keeps it to herself as if her opinion doesn’t matter. She does not argue with anything Gabriel says for she believes that everything his does like disciplining his children in such a strict way, is his way of trying to bring others to a life with Christ. This is evident in her statement, "your father (Gabriel)...knows best" (p.18). It seems as if Elizabeth feels indebted to Gabriel for when she was left with a child to raise on her own, Gabriel came to her aid and married and provided for her and relieved her from some of stress. However, Gabriel's relationship with his first wife, Deborah, was very different for Deborah was older and more experienced in her walk with Christ. He felt as if she was a saint and someone that could help him really grow in Christ and find his role in life during his fragile time of first living with salvation. Deborah feels a obligation to Gabriel by continuing to encourage him to keep growing in Christ so that he may be a blessing to other people. In turn this is why Gabriel has much more regard for Deborah's thoughts and feelings for he feels that she is helping him become closer to salvation and fulfilling his purpose in life. She is the one that helped him first believe in himself. The one that instilled in him the notion that he could lead a church.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you showed that the roles were almost switched in each relationship. Also your example of how Elizabeth always thought that her thoughts were inferior and unimportant because of her dependency on Gabriel.
DeleteGabriel's relationship with Deborah has some similarities and differences from his relationship with Elizabeth that is caused by time, situations, and relationships with God.
ReplyDeleteGabriel and Deborah met when he was younger and Deborah showed to be a good family friend when she took care of Gabriel's mom in place of Florence. Deborah was also there during the transformation of Gabriel now becoming a man of God. To Gabriel Deborah was probably the first holy woman he encountered which affected their relationship by making it strong and loving. In a way Gabriel looked up to Deborah because she was older and had a strong relationship with God. While Deborah and Gabriel began to see each other, on p. 109 it says "After the death of his mother, he began to see her all the time. They went to the house of God together and because there was no one, anymore, to look after him, she invited him often to her home for meals, and kept his clothes neat...". The quote makes Deborah seem more as a motherly figure to Gabriel and shows readers that Gabriel depended on her throughout their whole relationship.
This is an apparent difference from the relationship Gabriel has with a Elizabeth. With Elizabeth it seems as if Gabriel just needs her to take care of their children and nothing else. In the novel, Elizabeth does not appear to be as supportive as Deborah when it comes to Gabriel's preaching. Elizabeth just does her duties as wife and shows up to the church with her husband so no one will talk about her. The most obvious difference between the two relationships is Deborah and Gabriel had more love than Elizabeth and Gabriel. I feel because of the right timing of Gabriel's young age, the situation that now that his mother died, Deborah right on time became the new woman in his life, and because of both of their strong relationships with God the relationship Gabriel and Deborah had had no choice but to be strong.
The similarities between the two relationships are they both take care of Gabriel. In society, since Gabriel is a man it would not be a surprise if a woman was taking care of him and the household he lived in. Both Elizabeth and Deborah take care of Gabriel's needs by doing their womanly duties. Their obligations to Gabriel are also similar because the women both want to make sure he is taking care of and they both want to support him as a leader in the church. Neither of the women went against Gabriel's religious views.
Gabriel’s obligations to the women were different for each one. His obligation to Elizabeth was to be a good husband father, and make sure she did not go a astray from being a good mother and housewife. Gabriel's obligation to Deborah was to unconditionally love her because she had prayed for him and leaded him in to God's direction.
I agree with you completely. you give excellent views on his duties and obligations toward each women and vice versa.
DeleteGabriel's marriages happened in two completely different time periods in his life. His first marriage to Deborah was when he was still a young man with desires and insecurities. Deborah looked to him for guidance, respect, and God's path. She catered to his needs and asked for nothing, but the ten commandments from God. However, Gabriel married Elizabeth after his sins were buried and hidden. He married Elizabeth as support for her and her newborn son. Elizabeth looks to him for financial stability and support. Elizabeth and Deborah looked to Gabriel for support, but he married the two women on two different terms.
ReplyDeleteI agree, at the times he married both women it was at two different stages of his life. He was child like and still had a lot of growing to do when he was married to Deborah. His relationship with Elizabeth was different because he was older and wiser. He knew his job was to be the bread winner and she could lean on him this time around.
DeleteThe relationships between Gabriel's first and second wives are very different but also have some similarities. For instance, Gabriel's first wife Deborah was more of a mother-son relationship. She taught him responsibilities that he probably wouldn't have learned if they never got married. However, with Elizabeth, Gabriel took the role of a caretaker. He taught Elizabeth the things that he learned from Deborah. Gabriel still hasn't fully know all of his responsibilities though. He sees Elizabeth as a sinner because she had a child before he married her. However, he's a sinner himself because he judges her and doesn't accept John. With Deborah, he's more loving because she's a lot older than him. She taught him everything he knew. Of course he wouldn't bite the hand that fed him. Elizabeth didn't do anything for Gabriel except bare his children. He was the man of the relationship so he kind of controlled her as a puppet and took advantage of her silence. Gabriel lacks respect for Elizabeth because i guess he doesn't feel the need to respect her since she's not older than him like how Deborah was. Deborah was an independent woman while Elizabeth was completely dependent on Gabriel
ReplyDeleteGabriel’s relationship with each of the woman (Deborah and Elizabeth) is very different. Gabriel and Deborah grew up together because they were family friends. Gabriel’s first wife, Deborah, was seen as more of a mentor than an actual wife. Although wives are supposed to support their husbands, they are also supposed to depend on them. However, in this case, Gabriel depended on Deborah more than she did on him. Deborah is older than Gabriel and with that being said she is wiser and more experienced especially when it comes to her faith. Gabriel saw Deborah as more of an opportunity to help with him grow on his Christian walk and strengthen his faith. In Gabriel’s eyes, Deborah is this perfect saint and for that reason Deborah felt obligated to help him strengthen his faith. Deborah continually prayed for Gabriel and his salvation, and she was always willing to help him. Gabriel depended on Deborah because Deborah was strong and such an encouraging person who always told Gabriel that she believed in him. Since Gabriel was young when he first married, he needed some kind of guidance and encouragement to help get him where he needed to be. Part of his success is due to Deborah because she was right there alongside of him when he was going through some tough times. Deborah always supported him no matter what. As for Elizabeth (Gabriel’s second wife), Elizabeth seems to be the exact opposite of Deborah. Elizabeth plays more of the supporting wife who depends on her husband than Deborah did. Gabriel serves as the provider while Elizabeth is the mother and caretaker of the home. Elizabeth and Gabriel met each other when Elizabeth was struggling trying to provide for her child after she was forced to raise her child by herself due to the father of the child leaving them. She depends on Gabriel for everything. She especially admires and respects Gabriel because he sort of came to her rescue. In a way, Gabriel is like her hero since he picked up the pieces and helped her in her time of need. For that very reason, Elizabeth feels as though she is obligated to support him and not question him. She believes it is her duty to be the wife who always stand by her husband and support his every decision. Although these two women each had different roles in their marriages with Gabriel, it is evident that both of these women love and support him dearly.
ReplyDeleteGabriel's marriage with his first wife Deborah compared to his second wife, Elizabeth, was more of a romance. They uplifted each other, and each of them depended on one another. They loved God and was blessed with his love flowing through there love. With Gabriel's second marriage to Elizabeth, it was more so of her depending on him. I feel Gabriel had less respect for her because she might have seemed to be less of a woman compared to Deborah. Elizabeth needed support, but she didn't give back support. She just did her duties, and didn't seem happy or in love. To Deborah, their were no obligations to Gabriel because she just wanted to do things for him; she loved him. To Elizabeth, what she did for him were obligations. Supporting Gabriel, getting his suits prepared, cooking, etc was what she was supposed to do. Gabriel loved Deborah, he deeply appreciated her for her prayers, and looking after his mother; looking after him. He loved her unconditionally. He wanted to be there for her, if not more, just as she was there for him when he was lost and found. With Elizabeth, Gabriel's focus was to be a good father, and to help keep her on the path of a good mother.
ReplyDeleteGabriel's relationship with Deborah and his relationship with Elizabeth are different in many ways yet similar in a few. The relationships are similar because both women help Gabriel further himself in his own life in different ways. One main difference is the way that Deborah came into Gabriel's life. She was a caretaker for his mother once his sister, Florence, decided to leave and embark on a new place in her life. She was a bit older than he was and was seen as more of a family friend. Their relationship blossomed and looked more like a mother/son relationship. Deborah was older and wiser about many topics especially in her faith and relationship with God. Gabriel wanted a strong and promising relationship with God just like Deborah. His bond with her was more for him to gain a tighter spiritual bond with God and she was able to help him with this. He stated once they were married " this was a new beginning, a blood washed day"(93). This shows that he depended on Deborah to help him get to a higher place spiritually. He loved Deborah and appreciated the tight knit bond that was formed between them because she was able to help him reach a place in his life of which he's always hoped for. She was able to walk alongside of him as he got to know God and form a tighter relationship with him. He looked up to her for guidance, which was different in the relationship he formed with Elizabeth. Elizabeth was more dependent upon Gabriel than Deborah. The roles have reversed, Gabriel depended on Deborah and now he has someone that is depending on him for survival. She looks at him for approval and seems as if she can't really do anything without his opinion. Elizabeth is in need of someone that can take care of her and Gabriel has all of the skills needed to take care of someone as Deborah took care of him. His relationship with Elizabeth is the same relationship he had with Deborah yet he is the one taking the main action and providing for his wife and family. I believe his relationship with Deborah taught him a lot about himself and allowed him the ability to take care of Elizabeth in her time of need.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between Gabriel and Deborah and Gabriel and Elizabeth are almost complete opposites. His relationship with Deborah consisted mostly of his own growth because in that relationship he learned much about the wrongs of his ways. Also with Deborah he saw her as an equal or even someone to be feared because he was fearful of telling her about his affair and his child Royal until after he had died. On the other hand in his relationship with Elizabeth he is very critical of her. Constantly doing as he pleases and never fearing what she has to say or thinks. Correspondingly she never opposes any of his actions no matter how bad they are. He also is very hypocritical with Elizabeth because he sees her as sinful because she has a child with no father even though he had left Esther without a father to raise her child.
ReplyDeleteGabriel's marriage with his first wife Deborah in a way compared to his second wife. Elizabeth went to him for security, out of a longing for love and compassion. She and Gabriel were both looking for comfort and forgiveness.Gabriel and Deborah grew up together because they were family friends. Elizabeth on the other hand was more of a romance. They both loved god and were dependent on each other. Whereas Deborah is very independent and was more of a mentor. Deborah is wiser, older and experienced with her faith. For Elizabeth, Gabriel's role is to provide for their family. He finds his self doing what she pleases and notices her sins. Both relationships in contrast taught Gabriel alot about himself.
ReplyDeleteGabriel’s was a lucky man, who was able to find love once but also again after the death of his first wife Deborah. Deborah was a well put together women who Gabriel knew his entire life, because she was his older sisters friend. Even though Deborah was older then Gabriel their relationship benefited one another a lot. Deborah was a God fearing women who loved to pray and share her thoughts with her husband. Since these two were so close and shared a deeper understanding of one another. Gabriel started to become a man of Christ as well. He found himself while married to Deborah and she felt that, that was here obligation to her husband because he would also be able to bless others. Now Gabriel’s second wife Elisabeth was very different, because Gabriel actually brought her closer to God. Since Gabriel was such a Christian man she felt as if he could do no wrong even when he disciplined the children because she explained that“ your Father Knows best” (18). I think that she also is so obligated to her husband because he rescued her at a time when she was struggling with her first child
ReplyDeleteAt first Gabriel did not fall madly in love with Deborah when he first met her because Deborah was Florence’s friend. Deborah was sentenced to a live of shame and dishonor when she was assaulted by a white man when she was younger. Since her rape, Deborah was rejected from society and she became an avid Christian. Deborah and Gabriel became close after his mother died. “They went to the house together, and because there was no one, any more, to look after him, she invited him often to her home for meals and kept his clothes neat…” (93). Deborah seemed to be a caring, gentle woman considering the fact that she prayed for Gabriel to give his life to God even when Gabriel barely recognized her. The book states, “She had watched him, and prayed for him during all those years when she, for him, had been nothing but a shadow” (96). Instantly Gabriel realizes that Deborah is a genuine woman of God and she does not deserve to be mocked because of what someone did to her. Gabriel sincerely cared about Deborah and he felt obligated to raise her from her status of shame and dishonor so he decided to marry her. I felt that Deborah and Gabriel complimented each other and they also treated each other with the upmost respect. On the other hand, his marriage to Elizabeth was different. The relationship was not equal because Gabriel was dominant over Elizabeth. He made Elizabeth was obligated to raise the children to his standards and take care of the home. Gabriel did not respect Elizabeth nor did he have any obligations towards her. Gabriel’s relationship with Deborah and Elizabeth are polar opposites. His actions toward Deborah showed that he truly cared about her and respected her while his actions towards Elizabeth showed that he treated her like she was below him.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship Gabriel engaged in between Deborah and Elizabeth had its differences but also had similarities. Each relationship occurred at different times/stages in his life. Considering that Deborah already been delivered from sin, Gabriel viewed her as someone who could assist him in strengthening his relationship with God and help him find his true purpose in life. Because Gabriel and Deborah met in the church, Deborah felt that she was responsible for his salvation and life as a whole. Gabriel had a hard time in recognizing his abilities and believing in himself. Ultimately, Deborah served as his confidant and backbone in every situation while continuously helping him grow stronger with in his faith. Gabriel’s relationship with Elizabeth took a slight turn in which Gabriel was no longer being taken care of, but was being a caretaker. When Gabriel and Elizabeth met, Elizabeth was experiencing hard times. She was a single mother who needed assistance. In her eyes Gabriel came right in time and helped her back to her feet in the midst of them marrying and establishing a stronger bond in their household. And as a result, Elizabeth went along with everything Gabriel said. She agreed even when she did not want to because someone took the time to come comfort her and she did not want to face the fact of being left alone. Both women played the traditional roles of a wife. But it was clear that Gabriel had more dominance over Elizabeth than Deborah. Daphanie Bibbs Week:5
ReplyDeleteGabriel's marriage with his first wife Deborah can be somewhat compared to the marriage to his second wife. Elizabeth needed Gabriel for security and comfort, and he came to her in her time of need. Both of them were looking for forgiveness, reconciliation and a sense of belonging or want. Gabriel and Deborah however grew up as family friends. Deborah was there for Gabriel no matter what and vice versa. It wasn't that she always agreed with Gabriel, but you can tell that she wanted to keep the peace and display a Christ-like attitude and approach to everything. Whereas Elizabeth did things for Gabriel to display a type of gratitude or appreciation for everything that he had done.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that there was no true love between Elizabeth and Gabriel. Elizabeth felt like she was more in debt to Gabriel.
DeleteThe difference between Gabriel's first relationship with Deborah and his second relationship with Elizabeth is pretty obvious. Even though he was not attracted to the repulsive physical nature of Deborah at first, he noticed her God given qualities which made her seem like an angel from heaven in his eyes and thus, leading him to fall madly in love with her. Gabriel's relationship with Deborah was the ignition of his ministry and his strong life of prayer. They prayed together, read the Bible together, went to Church together, and supported each other like a genuine relationship should consist of. Because of this, Deborah felt obligated to support Gabriel in every way possible. As a result, a bond was formed between them. However, in Gabriel's second relationship, Elizabeth is obligated not to support Gabriel in the same manner as Deborah, but rather to serve him. She has numerous amounts of duties each and every day and it Gabriel has high expectation of her to get it done every time he comes home. Not saying that Gabriel doesn't love Elizabeth, but it seems like the relationship between Gabriel and Deborah was more authentic. Gabriel and Deborah were more "Equal" in terms of role importance in their relationship compared to Gabriel's relationship with Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth and Deborah were both children of God and they both supported Gabriel. The difference is with Elizabeth she lived in Gabriel's shadow she not only praised God but she praised Gabriel. Without him I believe she would be lost and wouldn't know how to continue with life. Elizabeth's obligation was to be his wife and only that. She didn't pray with him like Deborah did. Deborah is his wife and a friend. She is Gabriel's back bone his supporter, his comforter. She is all these things without living in Gabriel's shadow, she is independent, she can stand on her own two feet. Deborah obligation to Gabriel was "to help him to stand" (105). Deborah was always there when he needs him whether he wanted or knew her to be or not. Like when she would pray with his mother for him hoping that one day he would come to Christ (96) or when Gabriel had to preach on the 12th day and he asked her to sit where he can see her and she did exactly that and to also read the scripture aloud for the congregation (98-99). She believed in him even when he didn't believe in his self.
ReplyDeleteGabriel’s relationship with his first wife Deborah and his relationship with his second wife Elizabeth are very different. When Gabriel first turned into a man at 21 he married Deborah and which he never thought he was going to marry her because he didn’t think they would ever have that sort of connection with one another. With both of the women their relationship with was describe by their age because they were older than him but he still was able to act according to the level they were on. However, his new wife wasn’t their throughout his life looking after him but even through Deborah was older she was a family friend so she was able to watch him grow up into the man he has become so she has a feel for what he believes in and his family foundation. Deborah had been through things in her life that caused her to be shamed herself but it kinds of feel like by marrying Gabriel she felt more comfortable and able to relax her insecurity. In this marriage, it doesn’t seem as though Gabriel was ready to be married because he had a lot to things to deal with such as his mother dying and sinful life he was living. I believe that Deborah obligation towards Gabriel was to encourage him letting him know that he will become a reverend and he will be good at it. However, when he was married to Elizabeth he was more mature with his role of a family. He was able to provide and take care of his family because he had time to look back at his previous marriage and see how he needed to change something’s around so that this marriage can work out.
ReplyDeleteGabriel’s relationship with Deborah differed from his relationship with Elizabeth because Gabriel felt that he had found his soul mate with Deborah. She was his better half. “You sure is a godsend to me, Sister Deborah”, Gabriel would sometimes say (Baldwin 94). Deborah knew him because she grew up with him and she helped him to grow even more because she took care of him when his mother died. It was like they needed each other in order to survive. However, with Elizabeth it’s like he is the sole caregiver in the family. She seems to stay in the background and do as he says because he “rescued” her. Both women come from religious and troubled backgrounds. The difference is Deborah felt more like Gabriel’s equal whereas Elizabeth doesn’t. Gabriel’s obligation to them both was to take care of them because he is their husband. It was easier with his first wife because she was already caring for him. So, all he had to do was provide.
ReplyDeleteGabriel's two marriage symbols the two different places in life he was during each time. When he was married to Deborah, she was older and she had known her his whole life. She watched him grow up and she had faith in him even though she had seen him go through his darkest hours. She was a sturdy and holy woman who, while she wasn't the prettiest, was definitely there for Gabriel to support and hold him down. Elizabeth however is the opposite. She met Gabriel when she was in a very needy position and she never doubts his word. Elizabeth and Deborah are like the difference between a child and a women when it comes to how Gabriel treated them and how the relationship was. Deborah was his equal partner and Elizabeth is his loyal wife.
ReplyDeleteIt is evident that the relationship Gabriel has with his first wife Deborah is nothing like the relationship he now shares with his second wife Elizabeth. When Gabriel was first married it was easy to see that he loved, cared for, valued and respected Deborah. Gabriel loved and valued her as much as he did not only because she cared for him but she believed in and supported his dreams of becoming a pastor. They had knew each other all their lives and even when he did not know it she was looking out for him and praying for him. "He smiled watching her, and felt a great tenderness fill his heart...when she smiled now it was a heightened joy. He done blessed me already, Reverend. He blessed me when he saved your soul and sent you out the preach His Gospel." "Sister Deborah he said slowly, all that sinful time you been prayin for me?" (Pg 100) In their conversations readers can see that they care greatly for each other. On the other hand his marriage with Elizabeth seems to be more of an obligation he must fulfill. Gabriel and Elizabeth met at a time of need in her life and Gabriel took it upon his self to aid her. She feels obligated to him for all the support and help that he has given to her and the family. It seems this time around Gabriel did not marry for love instead out obligation, creating all the difference in these two marriages.
ReplyDeleteGabriel had two very different relationships with his two wives. His relationship with his first wife, Deborah, was spiritual. Deborah was the one that made him grow spiritually. She helped him see that he would be able to run a church. Gabriel sees Deborah as a saint. He thinks that Deborah was sent to Earth to help others. He sees Deborah as a saint. Deborah was with him during his troubled times. She helped him get through all of the problems that he was facing. Gabriel’s relationship with his second wife, Elizabeth, was very different. Gabriel came into Elizabeth’s life during a very rough time for her. She was single mother that has no one to take care of her or the baby. Gabriel married her and took care of her and the baby. In this relationship, Gabriel is the caretaker and the decision-maker. Elizabeth does not object to anything that Gabriel says. She believes that he is always right and is doing the right thing for everyone.
ReplyDeleteGabriel's relationship with his first wife Deborah and his relationship with Elizabeth, his second wife each have similarities and differences. With his first wife Deborah he was more familiar with her but she was also older than him which often made their relationship resemble that of a mother and son. Deborah seemed to help Gabriel grow in maturity. Being older than Gabriel, Deborah was a figure that Gabriel looked up to and admired very much. Elizabeth on the other hand was younger than him and he seemed superior to her in many ways. Elizabeth was dependent on Gabriel during their marriage and Deborah was in fact the total opposite. Gabriel and Deborah's marriage was very balanced. Each one is bound to the other in these relationships by the effects they have on each other in the log run. Deborah is bound to Gabriel and Elizabeth is bound to Deborah as well because Deborah makes Gabriel than man he is for his next marriage.
ReplyDeleteGabriel’s relationships with his first and second wives were like night and day. Deborah, his first wife, was more experienced in life and in her faith with God in contrast to Gabriel. His first marriage was an equal balance between both parties; they wanted and needed each other. Since Deborah was so established in her relationship with God, Gabriel thought that being with her would assist him in getting closer to Him. She is there to ensure that he is the greatest pastor he could possibly be. Gabriel chooses to treat Deborah with a great deal of respect because of her past, he feels obligated to treat her like a queen. Now with his second wife, Elizabeth, he was more than her husband, he was a father to her children. Unlike his relationship with Deborah, him and Elizabeth’s relationship was not equal, she needed him but he did not need her. Gabriel was right by Elizabeth’s side when he met her, she was down and he helped her to get back up again. It is Elizabeth’s duty to show how grateful she is of him and the things he has done for her and her children. All in all Gabriel had obligations to his wives as they had obligations to him but both wives shared one purpose and that was to help him become a better man. Olivia Sherman: Week 6
ReplyDeleteThe two relationships Gabriel had with his first and second wife are totally different. The way the each interacts with Gabriel is different. His first marriage to Deborah was during a time where Gabriel was in need of someone to guide him in the right direction after his mother died. She was there when he made his transition into the ministry. “The Lord had given him Deborah, to help him to stand, so the Lord had sent him to her, to raise her up, to release her from her dishonor which was hers in the eyes of men (105). Gabriel is very much in need of Deborah, she serves as the older more experienced person of the relationship. Gabriel serves as the only good man in her life besides God because her womanhood was taken from her early on. The marriage of Gabriel and Elizabeth was mainly based on the dependence of Elizabeth on her husband. Gabriel came into her life where she was in need of a man. His obligation is to provide food on the table for the family by working so much and bring the word of God into the house. As the husband Gabriel expects her to keep the house and children in order, he says “I got the right to ask the mother of these children to look after them” (42). She expects herself to be the wife that can voice her opinion, but instead she just keeps everything to herself. She just seems to agree with everything that her husband says. Elizabeth expects that Gabriel provide for the family and be there for her emotionally, whereas he isn’t he is always working.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between Gabriel's relationship with Deborah and his second wife, Elizabeth is staggering. Elizabeth loved being in Gabriel's shadow acting like the lonely puppy following you around not to announce itself in any way possible. She acted like a sick puppy who was love struck where she was enable to act on her own terms while Deborah took stand and made herself stand out. Deborah was like the typical housewife that is there to support the husband(Gabriel) through his endeavors and basically act like the Carbon backbone in his life. Even though Deborah wasn't the prettiest of all woman Gabriel fell in love of her because of her spiritual beauty. "You sure is a godssend to me, Sister Deborah" (Baldwin 94). She would do things like press his suits so he could look the best in front of other people and pray for him, "We sure was Reverend. Me and your mother was a-praying all the time" (Baldwin 96).
ReplyDeleteGabriel’s relationship with Deborah in his first marriage is very different, from his relationship with his second wife Elizabeth. Gabriel’s relationship with Deborah was very spiritual. Deborah helped him to see the spiritual side of life so that he may grow spiritually and have the ability to be a pastor. Deborah is viewed by Gabriel as a saint because he feels as though God placed her on earth to help those who are in need and having hardships in their life. Also, Deborah stood with him when we was facing tough times in his life. She managed to help him cope with all of the things that was going wrong in his life. Gabriel’s relationship with Elizabeth was much different than with Deborah. Elizabeth didn’t wanted to be a friend and a spiritual guider like Deborah, she only wanted to be the Gabriel’s wife. She saw him as a person she could go to in a time of need. When these two individuals met Elizabeth was a single mother who didn’t have anybody to turn to. Gabriel had the ability to help this woman get her life out of shambles by marrying her and made them have a stronger unity in their home. Elizabeth agreed to everything Gabriel said, even if it ludicrous because she didn’t want to have to face the fact of being alone again and finding another man to take her in.
ReplyDeleteGabriel’s relationship with his first wife, Deborah, was a more equal partnership than his relationship with his second wife, Elizabeth. Their dependency on each other for support, spiritually, is seen through their conversation and how they saw each other as a gift from God. Deborah told Gabriel that she “don’t never kneel down” without thanking the Lord for him (95). And Gabriel told her something similar; he said that she was a “godsend” to him (94). They shared a mutual respect that is not seen in his relationship with Elizabeth. Although she depends on him to be the provider for the household, and he depends on her to keep their household in check and look after everyone, he does not have the same respect for her. When she tries to reason with him about the plight of their son, Roy, he slapped her (43). He wanted her to fear him enough to hold her tongue on matters that she degreed with. Elizabeth sees Gabriel as the leader of their family and even tells the children to think the same, telling them that Gabriel “knows best” (18). Although both of his wives are treated differently by him, Gabriel could do no wrong in their eyes. Although both relationships are different, shouldn’t Gabriel treat Elizabeth with just as much respect and consideration that he did with Deborah?
ReplyDeleteGabriel has multiple marriages in his life. It was quite odd to me that he married Deborah. Even Gabriel himself didn't expect marriage to Deborah considering the fact that she is his older sister's friend (Baldwin 93). The marriage between Gabriel's and Deborah is like a lost child in need of shelter or perhaps more like pity than real love. Gabriel is a habitual drunkard. He picks fights often, and he wishes for death (90). His life is quite miserable. Then it was time for him to become a man. He moves to a new place and begin to preach (93). This is where he decided to marry Deborah. Deborah gives him the guidance and comfort that he lacks. She feeds him food, invites him to her home, and she helps clothe him. This seems more like a mother and a son's relationship rather than a relationship between a husband and a wife. Deborah feels obligated in providing Gabriel with a sense of security and comfort. He asks her to pray for him and she says she prays for him all the time (96). In a spiritual sense, she makes him feel less of a sinner because he has someone that care and pray for him. Gabriel then later married Elizabeth. This marriage was similar to Deborah and Gabriel's, because one side was supporting the other. Gabriel finds himself supporting Elizabeth and her children. Elizabeth did not do much for Gabriel. Her main role is to be a mother to his children and Gabriel's role is make sure everyone is well fed. He becomes the caretaker to care of Elizabeth like how Gabriel was his caretaker.
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ReplyDeleteThe relationhsip between Gabriel and his frist wife Deborah and the relationship between him and his second wife Elizabeth are compared to the fact that Gabriel knew Deborah in the past before they got married which was a postive aspect in the sense that they were able to fully get to know each other and know that they would always be there for each other. They both went through hard times when they got married. In the peak of Gabriel losing his mother and Deborah being raped, they were able to support each other when life was hard. This brought them closer as a couple. Being that Deborah was more involved in church than Elizabeth, it brought Gabriel closer to God which is why Gabriel respect and admires Deborah more than Elizabeth. Gabriel depended on Deborah to bring him down the right path in life, but Elizabeth depended on Gabriel. She needed Gabriel in her life because it was hard for her to find a relationship and Gabriel was the first catch. Gabriel and Elizabeth's marriage doesn't consist of any love or happiness. It is evident that Gabriel abuses both his wife and children but Elizabeth still has respect for him although he has none for her. Which shows the big difference in his relationship with her and Deborah, the level of respect. In contrast, the relationships are similar because both women were of older age than Gabriel which meant they were more experienced to take care of him.
Amanda Lloyd: Week 6
ReplyDeleteGabriel’s first wife, Deborah, serves mainly as support and the prefect woman for Gabriel. Throughout this section, Deborah is described as being very unattractive and mocked for this by people in the church and outside it, but Gabriel sees her as his perfect match. Gabriel believes that because Deborah is so unattractive but very religious as he is, this is God showing him how beauty for women can be sinful, as the ones he “lusted” after before he was saved. Also, Deborah provides Gabriel with support for he mentions in the section that without her he would have never gotten where he is now. Gabriel does the same for Deborah as he provides her with the love of a man she has never truly felt and has someone to live with that share the same amount of belief that he does for the Lord. However, Gabriel’s second wife, Elizabeth, turns out to be the exact opposite of his first wife. Elizabeth is described as very pretty, not deep in her faith, and would seem to be the kind of girl that was very outgoing and popular. Elizabeth seems to provide Gabriel with the same support that Deborah did, but instead of a religious support in his career it is more of her playing the supportive wife role for her husband. Elizabeth also provides Gabriel with a family he never had, from what we know so far, that he really did not have with Deborah who he stated was like his mother. And what Gabriel provides differs also from what he provided Deborah. Gabriel provides Elizabeth with home and a family and stability…he is basically doing what is expected from being the husband.
Both these women though are not very content with their overall marriage to Gabriel but seem to stay with him because deep down they know he means no harm and that he tries his best at what he does and think is right for him and his family. Also, I think that both of them sub-consciously stay with him because they want to help him whenever he feels down…they want to be there for him.
The marriages Gabriel had with his first wife, Deborah, and his second wife, Elizabeth, appears to be very different. In Gabriel's first marriage he seemed more loving and caring toward his wife, while in his second marriage the relationship seems more forced. In his first marriage Gabriel feels that he needed to rid Deborah of the brand she had been given and to share in the holiness given to them. Deborah may feel that she needs to support him and continue to push him and help him become a better man, as she has seen him make the transition of unholy to holy. Deborah may feel like she needs to support him to make sure he does not go astray since he has no one else except for her. As stated before, Gabriel's first and second marriages are very different. In Gabriel's second marriage I think he only feels the need to provide and protect his family, but while doing so, lacks the love that was within his first marriage. Elizabeth may feel the need to make Gabriel happy and not question him or his motives. Gabriel's second marriages feels more of a partnership than a marriage containing love for one another. Elizabeth may feel as though she owes him and, therefore, the relationship feels forced and almost unreal.
ReplyDeleteThe relationships Gabriel shared with his first wife, Deborah, and his second wife, Elizabeth, are very different. Gabriel was not attracted to Deborah at first; he noticed qualities about her, which made her seem like the women he was meant to be with. They prayed together and supported each other in there relationship. Because of this, Deborah felt that she should support Gabriel in every way possible because of the bond that they built. Deborah is independent and she can stand on her own, unlike Elizabeth who was needy of Gabriel at the time of their meeting. Gabriel’s relationship with Elizabeth is much more of him being a provider to her and her kids, where as with Deborah, she was able to stand on her own while still being there for Gabriel. Both women feel that they should be grateful toward Gabriel for what he has done for them. To compare both of the relationships, it seems that a true love or bond was made between Gabriel and Deborah and a lack there of was made between Gabriel and Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteGabriel and Deborah’s relationship were very different from his relationship with Elizabeth, but also had some similarities as well. Gabriel and Deborah had an everlasting love mainly due to the fact that she was there for him during the time of his mother’s death. Not only were they brought closer to each other because of the death, but also because she brought him to God. When God is present during a relationship it could not possibly be held together by any stronger glue. Gabriel felt as if his love was placed in his life for a reason. My impression of Deborah is the perfect wife, but she also could be characterized as more of a mother figure. She is intelligent, supportive, independent, affectionate, and the icing on the cake is that she follows God. In my opinion Deborah felt as though her obligation to her husband was to be next to him every step of the way, to take care of him and to make sure everything was in order. She was quite older than Gabriel and she made it her goal to strengthen his relationship with God. A husband and wife were supposed to be able to provide and lean on each other, but that was not Deborah and Gabriel’s relationship. It seemed as if he only depended on her and she had no reason to really depend on him. On the other hand Gabriel’s relationship with Elizabeth was different. She took care of the kids and relied on Gabriel for a lot. In this case the roles were reversed. Gabriel was now wiser and more mature and he knew it was his turn to provide for his other half. They depend on each other throughout their relationship, not just one way. He worked and brought the money home and relied on Elizabeth to have the house in order. Although the two relationships are different the similarities were the love they had for one another.
ReplyDeleteGabriels relationship between Deborah and Elizabeth are completely different, though they both looked to him for love and support. His relationship with Deborah was more so about his own personal growth, than love and affection. He was still young as a character and had not fully developed. He did not yet fully understand the wrongs that he had done; the wrongs of his ways. Deborah was a very strong and independent woman of her time. She thought it was her duty to take care of him and follow God. His relationship with Elizabeth is different. He is not personally growing from this relationship. He is supporting Elizabeth and her baby. He only relied on Elizabeth to keep home and house while he worked all day for the family. Elizabeth was not as independent as Deborah. Both of Gabriels wives contributed much to his life.
ReplyDeleteIn comparing Gabriel's relationship with his ex-wife, Deborah, and his current wife, Elizabeth, we see that the relationships are completely different. This difference is mainly caused by the timing in each character's lives. Around the age of 21 Gabriel began his relations with Deborah. Deborah has been a life long friend of Gabriel's family and ultimately took Gabriel in after his mother died. Gabriel found sanction in Deborah and held an obligation to her. In this sense, Deborah took him in at his lowest moment, prayed for him an with him to help him through. She was there for him in his very first days of his preaching career, so for this Gabriel owes her. Just as he held a obligation towards her, she held one to him. Being a lifelong friend, Deborah took on the role of the mother figure. It was her responsibility to make sure Gabriel stayed on the right path. When Gabriel married his second wife, Elizabeth, there was a shift in power. Due to the grooming of his first marriage, Gabriel has become a man of dignity and integrity, he became the caregiver to Elizabeth. Elizabeth in return has an obligation to Gabriel due to her past. Elizabeth birthed a son, John, before her marriage to Gabriel, when he was raped. Gabriel married and inevitably took care of a child that is not his. For this, Elizabeth has a unspoken obligation to stay with Gabriel for taking her when she was looked at as an outcast to society. He has a obligation to her, being simply that she is the mother of there three children.
ReplyDeleteGabriele's relationship with his ex wife Deborah and his current wife are completely opposite. He married Deborah after he became a man. Gabriel becoming a man was him finding God after his rebellious and sinful lifestyle. Marrying Deborah gave him peace to his newly found manhood; he said "You sure is a godsend to me, Sister Deborah" (99). The couple managed to balance themselves and use their strong faith to keep them moving forward. Deborah's obligation to her husband was to be the best preacher's wife. She "kept her communication to yay or nay, and read her Bible, and prayed." After Deborah's death her married his second wife Elizabeth. Their relationship alludes to Mister and Celie in Alice Walker's "The Color Purple." Gabriel is very dominative against his wife, and he feels as if he has to reign over her. Elizabeth is very submissive and follows all of the orders of Gabriel, this is the only way that can keep their relationship healthy. Elizabeth's obligation to Gabriel are to be a loving wife. He blames her for problems with the children, but she can only do so much as a mother. Gabriel's obligation to his wife is to be a fiery preacher who needs his wife to follow all of his orders. The relationship between his wives are different, but both are obedient to him as a christian woman is supposed to.
ReplyDeleteGabriel relationship with his first wife was completely different then his relationship with his second wife. When he was married to Deborah, he was immature and he wasn't experienced. Both women were older than him, but that was not a problem for him. Both women helped Gabriel to mature and become a better man. I believe his relationship was better with Elizabeth because he was more mature and experienced. They had a good relationship and it was balanced unlike his relationship with Deborah.
ReplyDeleteGabriel relationships differed in many ways. Elizabeth was more submissive and dependent on her husband. She seem to be a homemaker, with no other duties. Elizabeth was the idea christian woman who respected her husband no matter what.Deborah on the other hand dealt with Gabriel during some of his hard times, she had seen a bit more life than Elizabeth and didn't have some many passive ways Elizabeth possessed. They were both loved in my opinion equally, Gabriel just played different roles in one relationship he pulled the weight and in the other he didn't have to so much.
ReplyDeleteGabriel’s marriage to Deborah was one where he fed on her support and praise of his journey to God. Deborah, being a close family friend, was familiar to Gabriel yet not his first choice as a wife. Nonetheless, he was guided by God to ask her hand in marriage and justified this decision by asking himself “what better woman could be found?” (Baldwin 105). Gabriel developed a deep respect for Deborah because of her being 8 years his senior and due to her unending catering to him throughout the duration of their relationship. She was nurturing, supportive, and “the Lord had given [Gabriel] Deborah […] to help him stand,” in order to continue his transformation. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is younger and somewhat fears Gabriel’s authority. An example of this is when she retrieves money hidden in a vase to give to John for his birthday and her words to him are “[y]ou better go on now […] before your daddy gets home” (26). There is also a point in the storyline where Gabriel slaps Elizabeth and belittles her overt what he believes to be her lack of control over and care for their children. With both ladies, Gabriel saw it fit to, in essence, rescue them by marriage in order to strengthen their faith. Also apparent is the lack of passion present in both marriages.
ReplyDeleteWith Gabriel's first marraige to his first wife Deborah was very different and also somewhat similar to that of his second marriage to his second wife Elizabeth. Deborah and Gabriel had known each other for quiet sometime before actually getting married, they built their relationship for several years. Deborah was the first "pure" or "holy" women Gabriel had ever encountered which intrigued him and pursered him to marry her. Once married, their marriage began and was built to be very strong and loving. He felt as if she was a saint. Deborah's obligations to Gabriel were to simply help him follow the correct path in following Christ and finding himself through God. Gabriel's role was to support her like any repectiable husband would, and to follow her path in persuing Christ. Now Gabriel's marriage to Elizabeth was different in a since taht she was more dependent on Gabriel than Deborah was. Elizabeth was more of the house wife, the mother, the caretaker. While Gabriel was more of the provider in this marriage. Since Gabriel was the provider, Elizabeth agreed and "supported" her husband in his disicions and actions even though they might not have been right. Elizabeth in intitled to forever being gratful for what Gabriel has done for her and her children, while Gabriel continues to do so.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between Gabriel and his two wives can be compared because both wives were older than he was. For the first wife Deborah, she was there to help me become more of a man and help him grow in Christ. She was there his whole life as a friend of the family and seemed to worship her. The relationship he has with Elizabeth was different from the one with Deborah because Elizabeth was more of caretaker and dependent on Gabriel during their marriage. He was also in more need when he met Elizabeth. Elizabeth also believes in Gabriel and everything that he does. Another difference between his two marriages is that during his marriage with Deborah he was still full of insecurities as a man and there relationship was more God-based. Deborah looked for respect and a God-filled guidance with Gabriel. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was there for stability. Elizabeth also needed support because of their newborn son she had just gave birth too.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship Gabriel shared with his first and second wives were completely different. With his second wife Elizabeth, Gabriel seemed more willing to take care of her because when they met Elizabeth was in a very crucial time in her life. In this situation, Gabriel did what any good husband would do; he was aware of this rough patch for Elizabeth and took the initiative to take care of the family as he should. On the other hand, within the marriage Elizabeth didn’t seem to have a voice or a say so. She was portrayed as being a conformist because she never spoke on a situation even though she did have her own opinion. It just seemed as if she thought her opinion didn’t matter. She does not question anything Gabriel does because she believes everything that he does is right. For example, the way he disciplines his children in such a strict way, she doesn’t oppose to it even though she may not like it. However, Gabriel’s marriage with Deborah his first wife was the total opposite from that of his relationship with Elizabeth. Gabriel and Deborah grew up together so Deborah watched and was there with him when he developed into a man. While growing up together, Gabriel never thought that he would marry Deborah. He always saw her as just a friend of the family but she was always there for Gabriel. “She seemed to be put on earth to visit the sick, and to comfort those who wept,” (pg. 94). Gabriel depended on Deborah in their marriage. In both marriages both women feel obligated to care for Gabriel but they both express it in different ways.
ReplyDeleteGabriel worshiped Deborah in their relationship, whereas he felt more almighty in his relationship with Elizabeth. They both were able to allow him to grow in their prospective relationship because Gabriel was just becoming a full grown man when he married Deborah and both these women were older than him. These women were influential in the life of Gabriel. Elizabeth was more passive than Deborah. Deborah felt obligated to tell Gabriel when he was in or when he was out of good standing with her, whereas Elizabeth felt obligated to do whatever he said.
ReplyDeleteThe relationships Gabriel shared with his first wife Deborah and his second wife Elizabeth were very different. In his marriage with Deborah, she was his guider, but with Elizabeth, Gabriel was the leader. With Gabriel’s relationship to Deborah he looked to her as his teacher, his guider, and someone he could depend on, while on the other hand the roles changed in his marriage with Elizabeth, she depended on him. Deborah was much older than Gabriel and far more mature and experienced. She could help him overcome his troubles and guide him on his road to a life that would bring him closer to God and salvation. However, in contrast Gabriel was the more responsible one in his marriage to Elizabeth. Elizabeth looked to him for security, solace, and dependence. With Gabriel’s first marriage there was a sense of balance, he took care of Deborah as she did for him. In his marriage to Elizabeth , there was no balance, Gabriel’s role was to take care of her, and be a “husband”, provide foe her and give her support and security, but she gave Gabriel nothing in return.
ReplyDeleteGabriel's marriages between Deborah and Elizabeth were extremely different in the fact that Deborah started out as a friend of the family and seemed to be unattractive to Gabriel. But after getting to know her he falls in love with her religious side and how she prayed for him to get better and follow in the path of Christ. She was his support in his new life and he loved and needed that. As in to comparison to Gabriel's relationship with Elizabeths was vice versa. She was the vulnerable one this time in entering her relationship with Gabriel because she was going through things with being a single mother and Gabriel took he her and took care of and was the caregiver throughout there relationship up until now. Elizabeth played the stereotypical female role in the marriage as did Gabriel did as a man.
ReplyDeleteThe differences between his first and second wife is how they met and how they impacted him. Gabriel met Deborah was because she was a friend of the family, at first he didn't see her as much a being a person that he would marry but when he got to know her he fell in love with her. She was the true definition of what and how a wife was supposed to do. Unlike Elizabeth who only wanted him because she was at a down point in her life to where she needed anyone to have because of her problems.
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ReplyDeleteGabriel have two different marriages with two different type of women. With his first wife, Deborah, there was a connection between the two that Elizabeth cannot replace. Deborah was Gabriel's backbone. She was there during his sinful days as a boy, his mother's death, and during his transformation from sinner to a Reverend. Between the couple there was genuine love and support for one another. In Gabriel's eyes, Deborah was sent to him from God. They uplift one another as a husband and wife should in a marriage. However, in his second marriage with Elizabeth, there a bit of resentment towards her. She doesn't really support her husband as Deborah did. Instead she does what she is told. Elizabeth compared to Deborah was just an ordinary wife and mother. Elizabeth's only obligation is to watch over the children and make Gabriel look good to the other saints. She does so by going to church whenever he is there and by creating the idea that Gabriel is the greatest, holiest man. On the other hand, Deborah was his right hand "woman". Instead of just listen to Gabriel preach, she takes part of his service by reading the passage aloud and making sure his clothes are neat. Deborah was more of a wife compared to Elizabeth
Gabriel’s prayer reflects back on his life with his first wife, Deborah, who was an older childhood friend of Florence. Gabriel married both Deborah and Elizabeth because he saw them as signs from God. He asked Deborah to marry him because the Lord had led him to ask her to be his wife. He felt the Lord had given him Deborah to help him stand and the Lord had sent him to Deborah to raise her up and release her from dishonor. He asked Elizabeth to marry him because he saw her as a sign that God had forgiven him and was returning to him that which was lost. Gabriel’s relationship with Deborah was different from his relationship with Elizabeth. He seemed to care for Deborah in the beginning, but later spoke of hating her after the arrival of Esther, whom he had an affair with for a short time. Esther became pregnant and he gave her money to leave town. Gabriel hated that Esther was having his child but that Deborah, his wife, could not have children. He wanted a child because he felt God had promised him a royal line, but he would not publicly recognize Royal as his on because he felt Esther was a harlot. Gabriel never doubted Deborah’s faith in God, but questioned whether Elizabeth had truly repented. He did not think she regretted her past which included giving birth to John, who is not his son. Gabriel sees Elizabeth as hardhearted, hard to bend, and full of pride. He saw Deborah as a holy helpmeet to him, God’s anointed. Deborah’s presence was a help to him when he began preaching and she was there to offer silent support. He remembers that Deborah demanded nothing of him – she demanded what she gave which was nothing. He felt Deborah never gave him the opportunity to unburden himself so he never told her about Esther and Royal. Gabriel felt Deborah had completely surrendered herself to God, but did not think this was true of Elizabeth. He feels obligated to see that Elizabeth repents and that by taking care of her and John he can atone for his past. He wanted Elizabeth to say she would do things differently than she had done in the past, but he was unwilling to meet Elizabeth’s demand that he treat all of the children the same. Gabriel resented John because he was not his son. His resentment causes him to worry that John might be beneath the power of the Lord when this had not happened to Roy and it did not happen to Royal. Gabriel’s resentment toward John makes his relationship with Elizabeth a difficult one. Elizabeth is a good wife and mother, but Gabriel does not appreciate her efforts. He blames her for Roy’s behavior. He was more appreciative of Deborah, who would have raised Royal as her own had she been told he was Royal’s father. Gabriel has never told Elizabeth about his past but he reminds her of her past and holds it against her, but unlike others in his home town, he did hold the attack on Deborah against her and defended her when the elders ridiculed her.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel we learn about Gabriel's former wife, Deborah, and his current wife, Elizabeth. There is a distinct difference in both relationships. As I read, it became evident that one relationship influenced the outcome of the other. At the young age of twenty one, Gabriel married Deborah. Deborah was an older, more experienced woman who was a family friend. After her troubled past, Deborah had begun her walk with Christ and she encouraged Gabriel to live a Christian life as well. He was sinful. He drank and had intercourse out of wedlock. His marriage to Deborah is what led Gabriel to be the Christian he is today. They both grew from those experiences and tried to live a Christlike life together.
ReplyDeleteHe and Deborah's marriage did not last however, he was soon married to Elizabeth. Only this time around he is the "Deborah" in the situation and Elizabeth is just as he was when he first married Deborah. He had begun his walk with Christ and it was now his job to raise and encourage a Christ like family. Because Gabriel is a pastor, Elizabeth hangs onto his every word. She feels that he can do no wrong. Anything he does is looked over because of his role as a pastor. She feels obligated to let him be the head of the family. For he is the leader of their flock. She feels that all she can do is support her husband. Because she is so submissive and just lives life peacefully, this works for Gabriel.
In the novel Go tell it on the mountain Gabriel was very devoted to his first wife Deborah even though she violently raped by a gang of white men. Even though he had this devotion he lacked the faithfulness that came with marriage and created a child with another lady named Esther. Will he was married to Elizabeth he was still unfaithful with her because he didn't tell her about his past. Gabriel was having pity on Deborah by marrying her because he knew of her unfortunate incident. In his relationship with Elizabeth he acted as if he was holier than her and that she needed him for her own salvation.
ReplyDeleteGabriel’s two marriages exhibit a slight comparison, but also display a huge difference. Gabriel and his former wife, Deborah, possessed more of supportive atmosphere. He believed that God had sent her to him in order to help him progress towards his future, and to bring her out of the shame of her past. Deborah supported him on his journey of becoming a reputable minister. She would take his suit to the cleaners, pray for him and with him, and even fasted with him. She did these tasks unasked, and simply as a gesture of her kindness. Her faith in the Lord also matched Gabriel as he would grow to call her his sister in the Lord. On the other hand, Gabriel and Elizabeth showed an opposite view when compared to his and Deborah’s. Elizabeth came to Gabriel after her Richard, her previous boyfriend, killed himself. Elizabeth works hard to raise the family while Gabriel is the source of support. It seems as if he looks to raise her like a child of his own, and she feels obligated to subject to him because he took her after going through her situation. Deborah felt obligated to support Gabriel in his effort in becoming a key religious figure, and Elizabeth felt obligated to Gabriel because of what he has done for her. However, while Deborah was seen as the caregiver in her marriage with Gabriel; he is now the caregiver in his current marriage with Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteDeborah's life with Gabriel seemed to be full of distress. While both of them were together, Gabriel was the same foolish man that Florence left him. Gabriel has had drunken, bloody angered nights in jail and with a harlot. He has this strange plead for the Lord after his destructive lifestyle and that is the day that he claims: " my dungeon shook and my chains fell off." Deborah was there when Gabriel had his spiritual guidance and was referred to as " Sister Deborah". The way that he proposed was after a strange dream telling him to " Come higher". Deborah wept and an answer was drug out. She found out that her husband may have had a "bastard living..in the same town" (p.98). Elizabeth 'on the other hand 'was married to Gabriel for " a long while". I feel like Elizabeth was bolder than Deborah. when asked questions she gave her opinion. She says that she wasn't going to let him" make her sorry" ( 131) . The thing that both wives have in common is the fact that they were married to someone who, as Florence says, " never thought a minute about anyone but himself " (99).
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between Gabriel and Deborah are completely different from his relationship with Elizabeth. Gabriel and Deborah were somewhat on the same of spirituality and were able to help each other grow further in God. Deborah was a friend of the family and much older than Gabriel so she also helped him transition from the stage of being a boy and becoming a man. Although Deborah was helping Gabriel strengthen his spirituality, he still had his ways of rebelling and going and getting drunk. The only obligation Deborah had to Gabriel was making sure he stayed strong and on the right path to Christianity. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was more dependent on Gabriel because when she met him, she had already given birth to John, so she basically needed him for support. The obligations she has towards Gabriel were to submit to him and basically be the housewife who must cater to his every needs, and agree with whatever he says.
ReplyDeleteThe relationships Gabriel shared with his first wife, Deborah, and his second wife, Elizabeth, was completely different. Gabriel seemed more willing to take care Elizabeth, being that she met him in a very needing time of her life. Gabriel was aware of her weakness and took on the responsibility of taking care of the family like a husband should. In turn, Elizabeth is a very submissive wife to Gabriel. However, she seemed to lack a certain "voice" in her own marriage. She is portrayed to always have her own opinion but keeps it to herself as if her opinion doesn’t matter. She does not argue with anything Gabriel says for she believes that everything his does like disciplining his children in such a strict way, is his way of trying to bring others to a life with Christ. This is evident in her statement, "your father...knows best"(18). It seems as if Elizabeth feels indebted to Gabriel for when she was left with a child to raise on her own, Gabriel came to her aid and married and provided for her and relieved her from some of stress. However, Gabriel's relationship with his first wife, Deborah, was very different because Deborah was older and more experienced in her walk with Christ. He felt as if she was a saint and someone that could help him really grow in Christ and find his role in life during his fragile time of first living with salvation. Deborah feels a obligation to Gabriel by continuing to encourage him to keep growing in Christ so that he may be a blessing to other people. In turn this is why Gabriel has much more regard for Deborah's thoughts and feelings for he feels that she is helping him become closer to salvation and fulfilling his purpose in life.
ReplyDeleteGabriel's relationship with Deborah has some similarities and differences from his relationship with Elizabeth. This was due to circumstances, relationship with God, and time. His first marriage to Deborah was when he was still a young man with desires and insecurities. Deborah was there during the transformation of Gabriel now becoming a man of God and also took care of his mother in the absence of Florence. Deborah is the first holy women that Gabriel encountered after he turned to god which made their relationship stronger. Gabriel looked up to Deborah because she was older and had a stronger connection with God. In some parts of the story Deborah was portrayed as his new mother instead of his wife. "After the death of his mother, he began to see her all the time. They went to the house of God together and because there was no one, anymore, to look after him, she invited him often to her home for meals, and kept his clothes neat…”(109). The quote shows that Gabriel is dependent on her throughout their relationship. This is the major difference between Gabriel's relationship with Elizabeth. Gabriel just wants Elizabeth to take care of their children and that’s all. Elizabeth does all her duties and shows up to church with her family so no one will talk about her behind her back. Elizabeth is younger to Gabriel and is more dependent on him then Deborah was. From the reading you can tell that there was more love between Gabriel and Deborah then there is between Gabriel and Elizabeth. I believe the main reason for this was the timing. Deborah entered Gabriel’s life at crucial point, when his mother died and took over as the new women in his life. Their relationship was a strong because Deborah and Gabriel had a strong relationship with God. Both women had the same obligation to Gabriel, to take care of all of his needs and fulfill their duties as housewives. Gabriel’s obligations to the women were different. To Elizabeth he was to be a good husband and father to her kids and keep her on the right path. To Deborah his obligation was to love her unconditionally because she was the one to lead him to God.
ReplyDeleteGabriel’s relationship with his first wife Deborah and his second wife Elizabeth are very different. They were different because Gabriel had different responsibilities and dependencies in both marriages. His first wife, Deborah, was married to him because he had sympathy for her as she was raped by the white men. In this marriage, he was at a young age so it was the beginning of his marriage life so he was a lot more dependent on his wife Deborah than during his second marriage. He was reliant on her and she was obligated to him during that marriage. While in the second marriage, Elizabeth depended more on Gabriel as she thought his ways of doing things was right despite anything that he was doing to his children. She believed that his way of raising the children up was for the good of raising them into religion and god’s favor. He was more of a caretaker of the family than rely on his wife actually which was the major difference between the major differences. He was the one who is obligated in this marriage since he had to take care of the children as well as Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteThe relationships Gabriel had with his first wife Deborah and his second wife Elizabeth were totally different. He felt that he and Deborah were a math made in heaven and supported each other through their faith. Deborah supported him in his mission to be a minister and helped him in any way possible. Elizabeth was more of a regular mother and wife who did not do anything that was not asked. Elizabeth was dependent on Gabriel, and there was no balance between the two.
ReplyDeleteThe relationships between Gabriel and his two wives are very different from one another. Deborah and Gabriel’s relationship is what many would not consider a true love relationship. Gabriel’s only conviction to his relationship with Deborah is that the church members pity her situation since she cannot bear children. Gabriel wants to be in a relationship with her only to show the church members he is a better man, spiritually, than they are. He is not sexually attracted to Deborah, which is problematic since she loves him as a wife loves her husband, but he does not feel the same way. Deborah prays that they can have a child together, but is unsuccessful. Gabriel’s view of Elizabeth is far different. Elizabeth saw him as the religious priest he tried so hard to be, but in reality he is a very flawed man who tries time and time again to escape his past. He is constantly reminded of his guilt in the death of Royal. Although he had nothing to do with his death, he feels that his lack of action caused for his son to die. Gabriel also has difficulty in expressing his love towards John since he is not his real son, and this lack of love causes for him to appear as a cold disheartening father and husband. Elizabeth and Gabriel had a different view of one another before their marriage, and a realization of their mismatch when it is to late.
ReplyDeleteGabriel's wives present different lifestyles of Gabriel. Deborah relation with Gabriel was not true in the love aspect. He did it for a religious standpoint and had an affair with another woman while being in that relationship. The relationship with Elizabeth and Gabriel was completely different. Elizabeth saw the man as a religious one and not see his past crimes or deeds.
ReplyDeleteGabriel's relationship with Deborah and Elizabeth are totally different. In his relationship Deborah, Deborah was the extremely holy one with Gabriel as the pastor still committed sin. Deborah was quite and meek, she rarely ever spoke out or interacted with others. On the other hand, Elizabeth is considered the sinner in their marriage because she had a son out of wedlock. To both women, Gabriel felt it was his obligation to "rescue" them from the evil of the devil. He married Deborah because she had been raped and he married Elizabeth, a harlot, from being a single parent. And they both return the "savior" by doing as he pleases and making him happy. however, neither one of them can truly make him happy. Deborah cannot give him kids and Elizabeth does not repent for having John. In a way the marriages are sort of paralleled but surrounded by different dynamics.
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