Edward Ames Character Analysis in Gilead

Edward is John’s older brother, 10 years his senior. A philosophy professor trained in Germany, Edward became an atheist and introduced John to Feuerbach’s writings in an attempt to jolt John out of his traditional Christian faith. Growing up, he’d been expected to follow his father into ministry, but after renouncing Christianity, he paid the church back for supporting his education. Edward’s renunciation of the faith created a rift between him and his father, but his father eventually forgave him.

Edward Ames Quotes in Gilead

The Gilead quotes below are all either spoken by Edward Ames or refer to Edward Ames. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

So my advice is this—don’t look for proofs. Don’t bother with them at all. They are never sufficient to the question, and they’re always a little impertinent, I think, because they claim for God a place within our conceptual grasp. And they will likely sound wrong to you even if you convince someone else with them. That is very unsettling over the long term. […]

I’m not saying never doubt or question. The Lord gave you a mind so that you would make honest use of it. I’m saying you must be sure that the doubts and questions are your own, not, so to speak, the mustache and walking stick that happen to be the fashion of any particular moment.

Related Characters: Rev. John Ames (speaker), John’s Son (The Boy), Edward Ames, John’s Grandfather, John’s Father

Page Number and Citation: 179

Explanation and Analysis:

I have wandered to the limits of my understanding any number of times, out into that desolation, that Horeb, that Kansas, and I’ve scared myself, too, a good many times, leaving all landmarks behind me, or so it seemed. And it has been among the true pleasures of my life. Night and light, silence and difficulty, it seemed to me always rigorous and good. I believe it was recommended to me by Edward, and also by my reverend grandfather when he made his last flight into the wilderness. I may once have fancied myself such another tough old man, ready to dive into the ground and smolder away the time till Judgment. Well, I am distracted from that project now. My present bewilderments are a new territory that make me doubt I have ever really been lost before.

Related Characters: Rev. John Ames (speaker), John’s Son (The Boy), Edward Ames, John’s Grandfather, Jack (John Ames) Boughton

Page Number and Citation: 191

Explanation and Analysis:

Edward Ames Character Timeline in Gilead

The timeline below shows where the character Edward Ames appears in Gilead. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Christian Faith, Mystery, and Ministry Theme Icon

Memory, Vision, and Conviction Theme Icon

...faith unsettled.” That’s been especially fashionable over the past century or so. Once, John’s brother Edward gave him a book called The Essence of Christianity in an attempt to shock him... (full context)

Edward, 10 years John’s senior, studied at Göttingen. John didn’t really know him as a child.... (full context)

One day, Edward and their father had a confrontation at the dinner table. Their father asked Edward to... (full context)

...son. When he was young, he read it in secret because it was associated with Edward’s atheism; but he doesn’t believe there is anything harmful in it. He has made some... (full context)

Estrangement and Reconciliation Theme Icon

John recalls a time after Edward returned from Germany, when the two of them started playing catch on a side street.... (full context)

John has always tried to avoid saying anything that his brother Edward would find naïve. This practice as served him well. After all, some religious people speak... (full context)

When John was young and Edward was studying in Germany, his father watched him like a hawk and lectured him about... (full context)

...understanding has been one of the greatest pleasures of John’s life. He believes that both Edward and his grandfather inspired him to do this. However, his “present bewilderments” make him feel... (full context)

...a sermon his father gave after everyone knew there’d been a breach between him and Edward. It wasn’t like John’s father to bring up personal things in the pulpit. But that... (full context)

John understood his father’s message—he was saying that whatever Edward’s transgressions might have been, his own were worse. He was also saying that no matter... (full context)

John’s parents did leave Gilead. Edward built a cottage on the Gulf Coast, and their parents moved in partly to get... (full context)

Gilead

Edward Ames Character Analysis

Edward Ames Quotes in Gilead

Pages 173-179 Quotes

Pages 191-200 Quotes

Edward Ames Character Timeline in Gilead