The Amen Corner

Ida Jackson, the young mother from Act I, returns. This time, her baby is notably absent. She collapses in the church, weeping, when Margaret finds her. Ida shouts at Margaret, asking why God would allow her baby to die. Margaret asks Ida to pray in her time of suffering and assures her that she also knows the pain of losing a child. She tells Ida that sometimes the Lord will take away what you want, such as your family, and give you what you need to do His work. Ida retorts, “And do I need—that man sitting home with a busted heart? Do I need—two children in the graveyard?” (66). Ida says that her prayers are no longer good and that she won’t have any more babies because it hurts too much. Something shifts in Margaret as Ida leaves. This time, she tells Ida to go home to her husband, instead of leaving him.

Odessa enters and tries to comfort Margaret, who is having doubts about having ever left Luke. Odessa tries to calm her fears about losing her position and tells her to lie down before service. Shortly after,