Ambition and the Pursuit of Power

Where it surfaces

• II

  Elmer dreams of using his voice to hold and shake an audience, and plans to become a lawyer by charming juries rather than studying.

• III

  Elmer's relentless drive for class presidency, achieved through threats and intimidation, exemplifies his pursuit of power and dominance over others.

• Chapter IV

  Elmer is drawn to the ministry by the prospect of fame, influence, and oratorical control over audiences, seeing it as a path to dominance.

• I

  Elmer is drawn to the ministry for its social position, applause, and potential for wealth, viewing it as a career of influence.

• Chapter V: Ordination

  Elmer's ambition is clear as he prepares for a lucrative career, envisioning himself as a 'ten-thousand-dollar seer' and mastering the art of persuasive speech.

• I

  Elmer sees the appointment as a chance to prove himself and gain influence, contrasting his worldly ambition with the dean's spiritual rhetoric.

• II

  Elmer relishes his power over the audience, feels expansive, and sees his ministry as a path to influence and success.

• Chapter X

  Elmer eagerly accepts the opportunity to preach in Monarch, seeing it as a stepping stone to a larger church and greater influence, reflecting his ambition.

• Chapter XI

  Elmer's desire to return to preaching and his determination to win Sharon Falconer reflect his ambition for power and influence.

• I

  Elmer's immediate plan to possess Sharon and take over her organization reflects his relentless ambition and desire for power.

• IV

  Aylston's relentless pursuit of position and influence, both in and out of religious circles.

• I

  Elmer's desire to join Sharon's team and his career ambitions in business and ministry reflect his pursuit of power.

• II

  Elmer dreams of building something big and putting over a business, but his ambition is subsumed by his desire for Sharon.

• III

  Both Elmer and Sharon are driven by ambition: she seeks to create a 'great captain of souls,' while he desires to rise from his humble origins.

• Chapter XIII

  Elmer and Sharon expand into larger cities; Elmer takes control of management and sermon content, seeking greater influence.

• Chapter XIV

  Elmer's ambition to marry Sharon, supersede her as leader, and become a great evangelist drives his actions.

• II

  Elmer's resentment over salary and his admiration for money reflect his ambition and desire for greater power and status within the evangelistic enterprise.

• VI

  Elmer envisions marrying Sharon and superseding her as leader, driven by a desire for fame and control over the revival movement.

• Chapter XV

  Sharon's ambition to build a permanent ministry and her vision of becoming a female messiah reflect her drive for power and influence.

• I

  Sharon dreams of becoming a major religious figure like Mary Baker Eddy, and Elmer pushes for higher salary and control.

• II

  Sharon confesses her ambition to 'want the world,' while Elmer schemes to take control of her operation, revealing the central conflict over leadership and dominance.

• Chapter XVI

  Elmer's drive for success and power leads him to abandon integrity, yet his ambition is thwarted by his own incompetence and the emptiness of his schemes.

• III

  Elmer's drive for wealth and status is evident in his grandiose claims and his determination to return to the seminary.

• Chapter XVIII

  Elmer sees joining the Methodists as a path to rapid advancement, envisioning himself as a bishop within ten years.

• I

  Elmer sees joining the Methodist Church as a strategic move to climb the ecclesiastical ladder, aiming for a bishopric within ten years.

• IV

  Both Elmer and Bishop Toomis reveal their ambitions: Elmer seeks advancement through the Methodist Church, while Toomis longs for literary fame and sees Elmer as a potential asset.

• V

  Elmer's reluctance to accept a small pastorate and his desire for a larger church highlight his ambition for status and influence, even as he rationalizes his decision as a professional calling.

• II

  Elmer's pride of ownership and dreams of becoming a bishop reflect his ambition and desire for power through the church.

• III

  Elmer views Cleo as a stepping stone to a bishopric, calculating her worth based on her virtue and her father's wealth, showing his ambition for ecclesiastical power.

• IV

  Elmer strategically presents himself as a high-class preacher to win the Benhams' favor, viewing Cleo as an empire worth battling for.

• II

  Elmer relishes his role as leader, seeing the congregation as his regiment and himself as the colonel.

• Chapter VIII

  Elmer's strategic networking and study plans reveal his ambition to rise in the religious hierarchy.

• Chapter XXI

  Elmer strategically courts Cleo for social standing, networks at Conference to gain favor with Bishop Toomis, and seeks a larger church.

• Chapter VI

  Elmer's primary drive is to climb the ecclesiastical ladder, seeking a larger church and greater influence, while his personal life and spiritual duties become secondary.

• IX

  Elmer's rapid rise and the bishop's favoritism illustrate the pursuit of power and status within the church hierarchy.

• XI

  Elmer's reaction to his appointment reveals his ambition for greatness and eventual bishopric.

• Chapter XXII

  Elmer's ambition drives him to accept the Wellspring pastorate, seeing it as a step toward a bishopric or college presidency.

• I

  Elmer's career progression from Rudd Center to Vulcan to Sparta demonstrates his climbing in Christian influence and social standing.

• III

  Elmer's campaign involvement is driven by a desire for fame and influence, not genuine conviction.

• IV

  Elmer's eagerness to accept a church in Zenith, even at a lower salary, reveals his overriding ambition for status and influence.

• Chapter XXIII

  Elmer openly schemes to become the leading preacher in Zenith, eyeing Chicago, New York, and a bishopric, driven by personal ambition.

• I

  Elmer views the church as a 'plant' to be managed and expanded, focusing on modernization and personal success rather than spiritual service.

• VII

  Elmer strategically analyzes his ministerial rivals and plans to combine their strengths to become the leading preacher in Zenith, aiming for a bishopric or larger city pulpit.

• Chapter XXVI

  Elmer's drive to increase his salary, build his church, and dominate the local religious scene through publicity and coalitions.

• Lively Sunday Evenings and the Art of Publicity

  Elmer's systematic courting of the press and influential figures like Colonel Snow reveals his drive for influence and status.

• Chapter II

  Elmer's drive to increase collections, secure a salary raise, and obtain assistants demonstrates his ambition and pursuit of power within the church.

• Chapter XXVII

  Elmer aspires to a bishopric, social status, and national influence, using his crusade and Chautauqua tour as stepping stones.

• I

  Elmer's relentless social climbing is evident as he joins the Rotary Club, learns golf, and maneuvers into the Tonawanda Country Club, all to gain influence and access to the wealthy elite.

• Chapter XXX

  Elmer schemes to raise his salary, gain honorary degrees, and expand his influence through connections like J. E. North.

• I

  Elmer's satisfaction with his church's grandeur and his manipulation of Dr. Dodd for a degree illustrate his relentless pursuit of status and influence.

• Chapter III

  Elmer's new title and salary raise reflect his climbing status and the worldly rewards of his ministry.

• V

  Elmer's relief at losing the last barrier to his 'confident greatness' underscores his relentless ambition.

• VI

  Elmer strategically uses his network to secure a prestigious London preaching engagement, demonstrating his relentless ambition for status and recognition.

• XII

  Elmer relishes the applause and looks forward to boasting to influential figures in Zenith, showing his drive for recognition and status.

• XIV

  Elmer eagerly accepts North's invitation to lecture, seeing it as a step toward greater influence and recognition beyond his parish.

• XV

  Elmer's vision of uniting moral organizations to become the 'emperor of America' exemplifies his unchecked ambition and desire for absolute control.

• Chapter XXXI

  Elmer's drive for fame and leadership in the Napap and Yorkville Church overshadows his personal relationships and moral integrity.

• I

  Elmer Gantry's potential career moves—executive secretary, bishopric, presidency, and prestigious pastorate—highlight his ambition and the power dynamics within religious institutions.

• II

  Elmer's frustration with obstacles to his career and his self-image as a future ruler of America highlight his relentless ambition.

• IV

  Elmer's ambition to become the chief moral director of the country drives his relationship with Hettie, valuing her for her professional contributions.

• Chapter VI

  Elmer's campaign is a stepping stone to higher influence within the Napap, as noted by J. E. North.