Gilead

by

Marilynne Robinson

John’s Grandmother (Margaret Todd Ames) Character Analysis

John’s grandmother was married to his fiery, unpredictable minister grandfather. She was very sick when her husband went off to fight in the Civil War, leaving her behind with many children. John’s father always resented this. By the time the war ended, she was suffering greatly from cancer, but she still insisted on being carried to church when she learned that John’s father had stopped attending.
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John’s Grandmother (Margaret Todd Ames) Character Timeline in Gilead

The timeline below shows where the character John’s Grandmother (Margaret Todd Ames) appears in Gilead. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Pages 9-17
Life, Death, and Beauty Theme Icon
Memory, Vision, and Conviction Theme Icon
...Kansas; his father and mother were John and Martha Turner Ames, and his grandfather and grandmother were John and Margaret Todd Ames. As he writes, he is 76 years old, 74... (full context)
Pages 191-200
Christian Faith, Mystery, and Ministry Theme Icon
Memory, Vision, and Conviction Theme Icon
Estrangement and Reconciliation Theme Icon
John’s father revealed that even though his mother (John’s grandmother) was very sick and in great pain at that time, she began coming to church... (full context)