Gilead

John reflects on his earthly legacy, speculates on the afterlife, and prepares for his death. He suggests church repairs, plans his funeral sermon, and recommends personally significant texts including works by Herbert, Barth, and Calvin. Although he accepts death, John chafes against it: He doesn’t want to be old or to die. John reiterates his love of life, exclaiming, “Oh, I will miss the world!” (115).

John’s health is failing. Heart troubles keep him from writing for a while. John senses that people are leaving him out and treating him differently. He worries “maybe I don’t make as much sense as I should” (141).

At this end time of his life, Jack Boughton is a thorn in John’s side, a “disruption” (123). John calls Jack deceptive and dishonorable, and “those who are dishonorable never really repent and never really reform” (156). John doesn’t like Jack hanging around Lila and his son. He decides to warn Lila to be wary of Jack and finally discloses Jack’s transgression.

Twenty years ago, when Jack was in college, he fathered a child with a much younger girl from a poor family. Jack confessed to his father but never acknowledged his child. This made his family miserable. They tried to provide for the baby girl, but she died at the age of three from a preventable infection.