Ma Lord explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Resilience and Joy

  The speaker finds comfort and joy in Ma Lord's friendship and promise of eternal life, despite life's troubles.

• Death and Mortality

  Ma Lord's death and ascension to heaven, and the promise of the speaker's own journey, directly engage with mortality.

Characters to notice

• Ma Lord

  Portrayed as a humble, hardworking friend who promises the speaker eternal companionship.

• Unknown

  The speaker who recounts Ma Lord's character and their shared bond.

Key passages

• “Ma Lord Ma Lord ain’t no stuck up man. Ma Lord, he ain’t proud. When he goes a walkin’ He gives me his hand.”

  My Lord is not arrogant or proud; he walks with me and offers his hand in friendship.

  Establishes Ma Lord's humility and personal connection with the speaker.

• “Ma Lord knows what it is to work. He knows how to pray. Ma Lord’s life was trouble, too, Trouble ever day.”

  My Lord understands labor and prayer, and he also experienced daily hardship.

  Highlights Ma Lord's relatability through shared human struggles.

• “When he went to heaben, His soul like fire, He tole me I was gwine. He said, Sho you’ll come wid me An’ be ma friend through eternity.”

  When he ascended to heaven with a fiery soul, he assured me that I would join him and be his friend forever.

  Conveys the promise of eternal companionship and salvation.