The document provides a detailed summary and analysis of how religion is used as a theme throughout the book "Clay's Quilt" by Silas House. Religion is used to explore the thoughts and emotions of characters at different points in the story. It represents both their spiritual states as well as periods of belief, skepticism, and hypocrisy. Various biblical passages and religious symbols like the dogwood tree further develop the theme. The author concludes that while religion is a significant theme, it does not serve as the central focus of the story.

1. HaroldSowards
Dr. Fischer
Textingthe World4 pm class
29 September2013
“Religion”
Throughout the book, Clay’s Quilt, Silas House uses religion as a key theme to express
the character’s thoughts and emotions. Although some of the symbolism is character based,
others may be just pure coincidental. However, religion may be used; it corresponds to the
mental/spiritual state of place.
It starts off in the first chapter, when Easter tries to be the good child as compared to
Anneth, who is the complete opposite and is a bit wild. This is the idea of the good Christian
versus the wild lives of other people. However, when Easter begins seeing visions of Anneth
after she dies, the idea changes from a pure religious experience to one of belief yet skepticism,
over the death of her sister, who was kind of like the free version of herself.
Sophie is also living a bit of a twisted form of religion, as she goes to church and tries to
act like a Christian, but is sort of a hypocrite when she smokes. She couldn’t get rid of her
earthly habits that make her completely happy (false idols) to make a place for her future, but she
sort of is able to deal with it for the fact that she keeps it secret from others.
In chapter three, there is the first real Bible passage: 1 Corinthians 13. This is because it
is found in the church’s baptistery room, which is also Dreama’s wedding preparation room.
Clay’s yearning to be alone during church services is also portrayed in this chapter. Clay sees
nature as a calming place that allows him to be at peace within himself and be able to process his
thoughts easier, this is sort of like a heaven on Earth feeling.
The thing that Silas does best though is give the reader a look at another religion in
atheism. This is brought up in the Marguerite character in chapter five. This could explain why
she felt so drawn to Anneth for her rebellious streak and why she felt alone in a town full of

2. HaroldSowards
Dr. Fischer
Textingthe World4 pm class
29 September2013
Christians. This is also the start of Anneth’s and her friendship to sort of act as foils to one
another, as they have the rebellious similarity, but only Anneth believes in God.
Chapter six introduces the typical church family in the Singing Mosley Family, who all
participate in the church gospel singing. The most influential singer is Evangeline, whose voice
inspires people and stirs up their emotions, which can be paralleled to the way a preacher’s
words can stir up emotions in a crowd as well. However, she lost her way at Lost Fork Church,
which is symbolic because Lost Fork is kind of like losing your faith from God and turning down
the wrong pathway. This could also show how some of the younger kids in church families are
introduced to other ideas while in school and form their own opinions. The chapter also
introduces the strict father figure in Alma’s life who doesn’t want to bring shame upon the
family’s name, so she can divorce Denzel. It also introduces the role of a deacon, although a very
bad one in Denzel who gives up church after his marriage starts with Alma, which shows he
didn’t truly believe in God, he was only after women.
In chapter ten, the song “Wayfaring Stranger”, is used to show the idea of coming to God
and living a life with him, so there isn’t a lonely stranger. It could also just represent the fact that
Clay and Alma’s relationship is moving forward, but that’s not the point of this paper. Clay also
has a life changing experience in this chapter with Cake. “There is too much to see in this life to
see it drunk” (House-134). This shows that Clay wants to experience his future instead of
throwing it down the drain to go partying every night.
In chapter 12, Easter feels guilty in church because she missed it in chapter seven. This
shows that she is a devout woman, even though she has her quirks. However, she can’t seem to
feel comfortable there knowing that she keeps seeing visions of her sister and other people.

3. HaroldSowards
Dr. Fischer
Textingthe World4 pm class
29 September2013
In chapter 14, Dreama introduces the concept of labeling. She wants to be still be
married when she has the baby, so that he or she isn’t labeled as a “bastard” (bastard), because
this would be looked down upon by the people in the community and might end up getting the
child made fun of. This chapter also brings up the idea of repentance, when Easter prayed for
Glenn to die, but later felt guilty about the act and continuously repented.
In chapter 18, religion is introduced through nature, specifically the Dogwood
Tree/Flower. This represents Jesus’ crucifixion, which is very important in Christian beliefs and
teachings. However, to bring it up at the same time that Alma and Clay are getting married, can
symbolize Alma’s past relationship being hung up to dry, so that her new future with Clay can
begin. Therefore the weeding is to be viewed as a sacred event. It also introduces the first
reference to an actual Preacher and how the town respects him.
The most symbolic aspect of the book happens when House uses “blood on snow”
(House-246) after Clay kills Denzel in chapter 21. This shows two things, Clay’s innocence has
been taken away and that he has a stain on his soul. The stain being red like the blood and the
soul being white and pure like the snow.
The moral that taking a life is bad is introduced in chapter 25, through Clay. It is
considered a very bad thing to do in the Christian religion, and Clay continually feels guilty
about it and his reaction to it clearly upsets the other characters at this point. The chapter also
represents the Bible in a positive light as Alma pulls it out at the hotel to avoid the feeling of
being away from home. This is large part, because the Bible reminds of her home and also it
brings a sense of comfort when she reads it. This also plays a huge role in chapter 26, when she
reads Jeremiah 12.7 and realizes that she is having a baby.

4. HaroldSowards
Dr. Fischer
Textingthe World4 pm class
29 September2013
The last point to be made in this essay regarding religion, comes in the form of separation
of church and state. This is brought up in chapter 27 at the store, when Dreama tells Cake about
her dad.
These points made above, shows that House put religion in the book, to touch a variety of
different issues, yet not making it the center of the story.

5. HaroldSowards
Dr. Fischer
Textingthe World4 pm class
29 September2013
Works Cited
Silas House. Clay’s Quilt. New York: The Random House Publishing Group, 2001.
Print.
"Bastard." Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition.
HarperCollins Publishers. Dictionary.com. Web. 29 Sep. 2013.