Moses, Man of the Mountain

Zora Neale Hurston

46 pages 1-hour read

Zora Neale Hurston

Moses, Man of the Mountain

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1939

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Raised as a prince in the Egyptian court, Moses is an intelligent and capable young man who stands second in line to the throne. Unlike his peers, he shows little interest in political power, preferring to spend his time learning about magic, animals, and the natural world from palace servants. As he matures, rumors about his true origins circulate, causing him to feel a deep sense of empathy for the enslaved Hebrews and a profound confusion about his own identity.

Key Relationships

Believed Son of Amram

Believed Son of Jochebed

Claimed Brother of Miriam

Claimed Brother of Aaron

Nephew of Ta-Phar

Adopted Son of The Princess

Student of Mentu

Son-in-law of Jethro

Husband of Zipporah

Mentor of Joshua

Ta-Phar is an Egyptian prince and Moses's uncle, who leads the anti-Hebrew faction within the royal court. Driven by a bitter resentment of Moses's military success and general popularity, he constantly worries about his own position in line for the throne. He strongly believes in the strict subjugation of the Hebrew people, viewing their brutal enslavement as entirely necessary for maintaining Egyptian dominance.

Key Relationships

Uncle of Moses

Son of Pharaoh Rameses

Brother of The Princess

Jethro is the High Chief of Midian, an older man with a gray beard and large, powerful eyes. He is a formidable magician capable of reading minds and commanding the elements. Living at the foot of Mt. Sinai, he strongly believes in the god of the mountain and actively pushes those around him, especially Moses, to recognize and serve this divine power.

Key Relationships

Mentor of Moses

Father of Zipporah

Friend of Aaron

Aaron is an enslaved Hebrew worker who desires fine clothing, public recognition, and elevated social status among his peers. When called to assist Moses in leading the Hebrews, he views the position primarily as an opportunity to enrich himself and secure a place of prestige. He acts as a political mediator but lacks the genuine courage and selflessness required for true leadership.

Key Relationships

Claimed Brother of Moses

Brother of Miriam

Son of Amram

Son of Jochebed

Associate of Jethro

Miriam is an enslaved Hebrew woman who asserts her position as a prophetess and leader among the Hebrew women. As a young girl, she makes a crucial, possibly fabricated claim about an infant's rescue that shapes the political future of her people. As an adult, she is highly protective of her hard-won prestige and views outsiders, especially royal women, with intense suspicion.

Key Relationships

Claimed Sister of Moses

Sister of Aaron

Daughter of Amram

Daughter of Jochebed

Rival of Zipporah

Supporting Characters

Amram is an enslaved Hebrew worker struggling to survive under the severe oppression of the Egyptian regime. The daily threat of violence and the Pharaoh's cruel decrees push him to the brink of despair, leading him to question the value of living at all. Despite his profound pessimism, he physically exhausts himself to dig hiding spaces and protect his family from the secret police.

Key Relationships

Husband of Jochebed

Believed Father of Moses

Father of Aaron

Father of Miriam

Friend of Caleb

Jochebed is an enslaved Hebrew woman who fiercely protects her children against the Pharaoh's deadly decrees. Countering her husband's profound despair, she maintains a desperate hope for her newborn's survival. She acts decisively under pressure, constructing a reed boat to give an infant boy a chance at life on the river rather than surrendering to the secret police.

Key Relationships

Wife of Amram

Believed Mother of Moses

Mother of Aaron

Mother of Miriam

Patient of Old Puah

Zipporah is the eldest daughter of Jethro, living a comfortable life in Midian. She enjoys wearing fine ornaments and possesses an independent, sometimes materialistic streak that her father openly criticizes. She expects a certain level of comfort and prestige, finding herself drawn to the idea of royal life and status.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Jethro

Wife of Moses

Rival of Miriam

Joshua is a talented, eager Hebrew teenager who devotes himself entirely to military training and service. He acts as a dedicated student to his mentor, demonstrating intense loyalty and a natural aptitude for leadership. He represents the younger, braver generation of Hebrews who must learn to organize themselves.

Key Relationships

Mentee of Moses

Mentu is an Egyptian stableman who serves as an early, highly influential teacher for a young Moses in the palace. He subtly criticizes the luxury of palace life while passing down knowledge about religion, animals, and ancient folklore. He plants the seed of curiosity regarding the legendary Book of Thoth.

Key Relationships

Mentor of Moses

Rameses is the Egyptian ruler who initiates the brutal subjugation of the Hebrew people. He utilizes secret police and midwife spies to enforce his violent laws, seeking to maintain absolute control over a population he views as a political and demographic threat.

Key Relationships

Father of Ta-Phar

Father of The Princess

The Princess is the widowed daughter of Pharaoh Rameses. According to widespread rumor and belief among the Hebrews, she rescues an infant from the Nile and raises him as her own son within the royal palace, providing him with education and royal protection.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Pharaoh Rameses

Sister of Ta-Phar

Adoptive Mother of Moses

Caleb is an enslaved Hebrew worker who maintains a sense of resistance against Egyptian oppression. He attends protests to feel human and encourages his peers to hold on to their dignity rather than surrendering to absolute despair.

Key Relationships

Friend of Amram

Old Puah is a Hebrew midwife who helps women navigate the extreme dangers of giving birth under a violent regime. The Pharaoh publicly claims she acts as one of his spies, adding to the community's intense paranoia.

Key Relationships

Midwife to Jochebed

She is a royal woman married to a military commander during his time in the Egyptian court. Highly sensitive to court gossip and political maneuvering, she quickly turns against her husband when his social standing and lineage are questioned by his rivals.

Key Relationships

First Wife of Moses