# Moses — Poetry character guide

> Moses in Poetry by James Weldon Johnson.

**Role:** major

**First appearance:** 0070-let-my-people-go

## Snapshot

A slow-tongued fugitive called from a burning bush to confront Egypt's throne, he carries God's demand in his mouth and his people's grumbling on his back.

## Who they are

Moses stands between a God who speaks in thunder and a people who chode with him the moment Pharaoh tightens their burdens. He protests his own inadequacy — 'Lord, you know I'm slow of tongue' — yet goes down anyway, rod in hand, while plagues fall and Pharaoh's heart hardens. His troubled mind is the poem's human center: a leader learning that deliverance costs more than he bargained for.

## Relationships

### [Pharaoh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters/pharaoh)

_rivalry_

Moses confronts Pharaoh as a divine adversary, demanding the release of the Israelites.

### [Father Abraham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters/father_abraham)

_family_

Father Abraham is a patriarch to Moses, linking them through covenant history.

### [Noah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters/noah)

_friendship_

Moses and Noah are righteous figures who share a bond as leaders chosen by God.

### [Pharaoh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters/pharaoh)

_rivalry_

Moses confronts Pharaoh as a divine adversary, demanding the release of the Israelites.

## In the story

### [O Black and Unknown Bards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/o-black-and-unknown-bards)

Referenced in the spiritual 'Go down, Moses,' which the poem praises as a noble theme.

### [Brothers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/brothers)

Referenced implicitly through the theme of liberation and the 'docile, child-like, tender-hearted race' that served faithfully.

### [Let My People Go](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/let-my-people-go)

Called by God from the burning bush; leads the Hebrews out of Egypt; parts the Red Sea.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters/moses
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters