Gilead

by

Marilynne Robinson

Lila (John’s Wife) Character Analysis

Lila is John’s second wife and the mother of their son. Addressing his son, John usually refers to her as “your mother”; her name is only revealed when Jack addresses her as Lila late in the novel. Lila is more than 30 years younger than John and is 41 during the time of the novel. It’s hinted that her life before meeting John was one of poverty and hardship, though she never talks about it, and John doesn’t elaborate. John met Lila when she showed up in his church one rainy Sunday when he was 67. Lila didn’t know anything about Christianity, but after attending church for a few weeks, she approached John about getting baptized. Sometime after her baptism, it was Lila’s idea to marry John—she quietly suggested it one day after tending John’s garden, and he agreed. Lila is a devoted wife and mother who worries constantly about their boy’s upbringing. He describes her as having a “settled, habitual sadness,” seriousness, and quiet dignity. She is self-conscious about her unrefined way of speaking and therefore tends to be reserved, though this leads people in the church to regard her as rather distant, and she makes an unconventional minister’s wife. Perhaps because of her background, she is also quietly sympathetic to Jack Boughton’s restlessness and religious doubts.

Lila (John’s Wife) Quotes in Gilead

The Gilead quotes below are all either spoken by Lila (John’s Wife) or refer to Lila (John’s Wife). 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:
Life, Death, and Beauty Theme Icon
).
Pages 8-9 Quotes

You two were too intent on the cat to see the celestial consequences of your worldly endeavors. They were very lovely. Your mother is wearing her blue dress and you are wearing your red shirt and you were kneeling on the ground together with Soapy between and that effulgence of bubbles rising, and so much laughter. Ah, this life, this world.

Related Characters: Rev. John Ames (speaker), John’s Son (The Boy), Lila (John’s Wife)
Page Number: 9
Explanation and Analysis:
Pages 17-21 Quotes

I write in a small hand, too, as you know by now. Say three hundred pages make a volume. Then I’ve written two hundred twenty-five books, which puts me up there with Augustine and Calvin for quantity. That’s amazing. I wrote almost all of it in the deepest hope and conviction. Sifting my thoughts and choosing my words. Trying to say what was true. And I’ll tell you frankly, that was wonderful.

Related Characters: Rev. John Ames (speaker), John’s Son (The Boy), Lila (John’s Wife)
Page Number: 19
Explanation and Analysis:
Pages 132-139 Quotes

I believe there is a dignity in sorrow simply because it is God’s good pleasure that there should be. He is forever raising up those who are brought low. This does not mean that it is ever right to cause suffering or to seek it out when it can be avoided, and serves no good, practical purpose. To value suffering in itself can be dangerous and strange, so I want to be very clear about this. It means simply that God takes the side of sufferers against those who afflict them. (I hope you are familiar with the prophets, particularly Isaiah.)

Related Characters: Rev. John Ames (speaker), John’s Son (The Boy), Lila (John’s Wife)
Page Number: 137
Explanation and Analysis:
Pages 185-191 Quotes

Having looked over these thoughts I set down last night, I realize I have evaded what is for me the central question. That is: How should I deal with these fears I have, that Jack Boughton will do you and your mother harm, just because he can, just for the sly, unanswerable meanness of it? You have already asked after him twice this morning.

Harm to you is not harm to me in the strict sense, and that is a great part of the problem. He could knock me down the stairs and I would have worked out the theology for forgiving him before I reached the bottom. But if he harmed you in the slightest way, I’m afraid theology would fail me. That may be one great part of what I fear, now that I think of it.

Related Characters: Rev. John Ames (speaker), John’s Son (The Boy), Lila (John’s Wife), Jack (John Ames) Boughton
Page Number: 190
Explanation and Analysis:
Pages 200-209 Quotes

I mention this because it seems to me transformations just that abrupt do occur in this life, and they occur unsought and unawaited, and they beggar your hopes and your deserving. This came to my mind as I was reflecting on the day I first saw your mother, that blessed, rainy Pentecost.

That morning something began that felt to me as if my soul were being teased out of my body, and that’s a fact. I have never told you how all that came about, how we came to be married. And I learned a great deal from the experience, believe me. It enlarged my understanding of hope, just to know that such a transformation can occur. And it has greatly sweetened my imagination of death, odd as that may sound.

Related Characters: Rev. John Ames (speaker), John’s Son (The Boy), Lila (John’s Wife), John’s Grandfather
Related Symbols: Water
Page Number: 203
Explanation and Analysis:
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Lila (John’s Wife) Quotes in Gilead

The Gilead quotes below are all either spoken by Lila (John’s Wife) or refer to Lila (John’s Wife). 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:
Life, Death, and Beauty Theme Icon
).
Pages 8-9 Quotes

You two were too intent on the cat to see the celestial consequences of your worldly endeavors. They were very lovely. Your mother is wearing her blue dress and you are wearing your red shirt and you were kneeling on the ground together with Soapy between and that effulgence of bubbles rising, and so much laughter. Ah, this life, this world.

Related Characters: Rev. John Ames (speaker), John’s Son (The Boy), Lila (John’s Wife)
Page Number: 9
Explanation and Analysis:
Pages 17-21 Quotes

I write in a small hand, too, as you know by now. Say three hundred pages make a volume. Then I’ve written two hundred twenty-five books, which puts me up there with Augustine and Calvin for quantity. That’s amazing. I wrote almost all of it in the deepest hope and conviction. Sifting my thoughts and choosing my words. Trying to say what was true. And I’ll tell you frankly, that was wonderful.

Related Characters: Rev. John Ames (speaker), John’s Son (The Boy), Lila (John’s Wife)
Page Number: 19
Explanation and Analysis:
Pages 132-139 Quotes

I believe there is a dignity in sorrow simply because it is God’s good pleasure that there should be. He is forever raising up those who are brought low. This does not mean that it is ever right to cause suffering or to seek it out when it can be avoided, and serves no good, practical purpose. To value suffering in itself can be dangerous and strange, so I want to be very clear about this. It means simply that God takes the side of sufferers against those who afflict them. (I hope you are familiar with the prophets, particularly Isaiah.)

Related Characters: Rev. John Ames (speaker), John’s Son (The Boy), Lila (John’s Wife)
Page Number: 137
Explanation and Analysis:
Pages 185-191 Quotes

Having looked over these thoughts I set down last night, I realize I have evaded what is for me the central question. That is: How should I deal with these fears I have, that Jack Boughton will do you and your mother harm, just because he can, just for the sly, unanswerable meanness of it? You have already asked after him twice this morning.

Harm to you is not harm to me in the strict sense, and that is a great part of the problem. He could knock me down the stairs and I would have worked out the theology for forgiving him before I reached the bottom. But if he harmed you in the slightest way, I’m afraid theology would fail me. That may be one great part of what I fear, now that I think of it.

Related Characters: Rev. John Ames (speaker), John’s Son (The Boy), Lila (John’s Wife), Jack (John Ames) Boughton
Page Number: 190
Explanation and Analysis:
Pages 200-209 Quotes

I mention this because it seems to me transformations just that abrupt do occur in this life, and they occur unsought and unawaited, and they beggar your hopes and your deserving. This came to my mind as I was reflecting on the day I first saw your mother, that blessed, rainy Pentecost.

That morning something began that felt to me as if my soul were being teased out of my body, and that’s a fact. I have never told you how all that came about, how we came to be married. And I learned a great deal from the experience, believe me. It enlarged my understanding of hope, just to know that such a transformation can occur. And it has greatly sweetened my imagination of death, odd as that may sound.

Related Characters: Rev. John Ames (speaker), John’s Son (The Boy), Lila (John’s Wife), John’s Grandfather
Related Symbols: Water
Page Number: 203
Explanation and Analysis: