It is what defines someone. If someone is extremely religious, then that is their identity and what they believe in. Religion is the belief of a superhuman power that has control over everything. James McBride, an african-american writer, has a white mother who found a new life in a new religion. It is very common for religion to shape one’s identity and what they do. In The Color of Water by James McBride, the aspect of life that has shaped Ruth McBride’s identity the most is religion.
Religion is the aspect of life that has shaped Ruth’s identity the most because when she changed her religion, she changed her identity. Ruth switched from Judaism to Christianity when her mother died and she shows the reader how she also changed her identity. …show more content…
When James was curious about his identity and asked about his religion, he asked what color water is. He asked, “What color is god’s spirit?” (McBride 2). Ruth replied, “It doesn’t have a color...God is the color of water.” Ruth explains to her child what god is and she tells the reader that she cares about her children’s knowledge about go.. Ruth proves that her identity is shaped by her religion because she tries to pass her religion or “identity” down to her children. Later in the novel, when the family was at church something went wrong. One of Ruth’s other sons, Billy, got called up by the deacon to say some bible verses. He said, “Any verse?..Jesus wept”(McBride 54). Later, James described his mom’s reaction. He said, “When we got home, mommy beat Billy’s butt.” His mother beats him because religion is a priority and that is something that she wants her children to believe in god when they are older. This connects to the overall theme because religion is Ruth’s identity and she felt insulted when her son didn’t know a bible verse. After all, Ruth’s identity is mostly religion because she shows that she wants to pass her identity down to her …show more content…
Ruth’s father was a racist Jewish rabbi. He enforced religion on his whole family and gave them little freedom. He even molested his own daughter. On page 17, Ruth McBride writes, “They were strictly orthodox and ate kosher everyday.” She explains that the family was strict and set on judaism. This relates to the theme because it tells the reader that Ruth was forced to be religious and it carried on her whole life. Later, Ruth is heady h=for her high school graduation which takes place at a church. Ruth’s dad did not allow her to go in the church but she thought she can just go in
Religion is the aspect of life that has shaped Ruth’s identity the most because when she changed her religion, she changed her identity. Ruth switched from Judaism to Christianity when her mother died and she shows the reader how she also changed her identity. …show more content…
When James was curious about his identity and asked about his religion, he asked what color water is. He asked, “What color is god’s spirit?” (McBride 2). Ruth replied, “It doesn’t have a color...God is the color of water.” Ruth explains to her child what god is and she tells the reader that she cares about her children’s knowledge about go.. Ruth proves that her identity is shaped by her religion because she tries to pass her religion or “identity” down to her children. Later in the novel, when the family was at church something went wrong. One of Ruth’s other sons, Billy, got called up by the deacon to say some bible verses. He said, “Any verse?..Jesus wept”(McBride 54). Later, James described his mom’s reaction. He said, “When we got home, mommy beat Billy’s butt.” His mother beats him because religion is a priority and that is something that she wants her children to believe in god when they are older. This connects to the overall theme because religion is Ruth’s identity and she felt insulted when her son didn’t know a bible verse. After all, Ruth’s identity is mostly religion because she shows that she wants to pass her identity down to her …show more content…
Ruth’s father was a racist Jewish rabbi. He enforced religion on his whole family and gave them little freedom. He even molested his own daughter. On page 17, Ruth McBride writes, “They were strictly orthodox and ate kosher everyday.” She explains that the family was strict and set on judaism. This relates to the theme because it tells the reader that Ruth was forced to be religious and it carried on her whole life. Later, Ruth is heady h=for her high school graduation which takes place at a church. Ruth’s dad did not allow her to go in the church but she thought she can just go in