Summary Of Leon Forrest's A Tree More Ancient Than Eden

Leon Forrest authored a unique and challenging novel, titled: A Tree More Ancient than Eden, which depicts Nathaniel Witherspoon 's quest for understanding his African American identity. This novel is very different from the traditional narratives that typically flow chronologically; this novel flows through the narrator in a stream of conscious thoughts. Forrest’s novel moves from one incident to another, jumping around in history while carrying around the descriptions of mystical, biblical, and historical events. Through the narrator, the author explores the African American experience and addresses the issues of race that conflict with the narrator. In this essay, I will be discussing how the novel deals with the past, how the author addresses

By using figures such as Louis Armstrong, Abraham Lincoln, and Harriet Tubman, the author deals to provide a relevance to the readers. Some characters within the novel are old enough to remember slavery and their presence lets Nathaniel be influenced by their experiences. The author introduced us Jericho who was half-white; yet, his own father treated him as a slave. The history of his family and other African Americans pushes the narrator to develop a perspective of being disliked because of his race. The incorporation of slavery in his ancestor by the author revives history and its effects on the narrator. The novel deals with the 1960’s as well as connecting to the past through Sweetie’s letter to the president. We are introduced to issues such as the War on Poverty and student revolts, along with African American concerns. In addition, Forrest’s indulgence of various historical events are purposed to evoke the moods of darkness and fear. The detailed episodes of the Great Flood, Middle Passage, and the migration of African-Americans, along with the vision of a black Mary under a tree more ancient than Eden, invokes the conscious acknowledgement of the suffering of the black race from centuries ago. The author injects such episodes into Nathaniel’s stream of consciousness to suggest the continuity

Kenneth Warren had described Forrest’s work to show the practices of black folk culture burgeoning with aesthetic possibilities. The folk stories of black culture told through oral communication is a form of tradition in African American cultures that flows through the novel. The novels poetic language signifies the oral character of the black culture and the changing styles of font represents the music of Jazz, along with the incorporation of religious episodes that mimic the blues. The narrative tactics used in the novel signify the progress of the black culture into a more free society in America. With the incorporation of religious episodes into the novel, Forrest shows us the importance of religion in the black culture. In “The Vision”, black folk culture described Christ as being black and he was lynched from the cross that turned into a tree more ancient than Eden was. The suffering of Christ is assimilated into the black folk culture to empower the members to overcome the disrespect and torture given to them. Incorporating certain details into the religion and black folk culture results in more dynamic and easier to relate stories that will become the center of identity for many African Americans. Religion is an important aspect of black folk culture because African Americans can embrace it and be assured that they are like Christ, valuable but disregarded. For example, Browne becomes a Christ figure