The Faith of Aaron Menefee story
Reverend Otis Jones is a faith healer who stops at a service station to get his car repaired. The station's owner Aaron Menefee is an honest man who impresses the reverend so much that he agrees to cure his ulcer. Aaron becomes attracted to Rev. Jones's daughter Emily. He quits his job and joins the reverend's revival show. Aaron wants to marry Emily, but the reverend does not give his permission. The reverend does not believe Aaron's faith in him is strong enough for him to marry his daughter. Later the revival returns to Aaron's town. Aaron discovers that the town doctor is being held by two hoodlums, one of whom is injured. Aaron believes that this is a test of faith. He calls for Reverend Jones to cure the injured man. The hoodlums warn that Jones will be killed if his faith healing does not work. The end result in never shown, but Aaron wins either way. Either the faith healing works and Aaron's faith is demonstrated, or the faith healing fails and Jones is killed. In either case, it seems that Aaron will be free to marry Emily. Directed by: Norman Lloyd. Story by: Stanley Ellin, Ray Bradbury.
14 total · 1 choice · 6 major · 7 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| faith healing | choice | The story concerns a faith healer and his naive young apprentice. |
| con artistry | major | Reverend Jones was a scamming faith healer in one obvious interpretation of the story. |
| disapproving parent | major | Reverend Jones did not think Aaron was a suitable match for his daughter. |
| father and daughter | major | Reverend Jones forbade his adult daughter Emily from marrying his new assistant to her general frustration. |
| human character stereotype | major | Aaron was stereotypical pious Christian who went so far as to believe that the likely conman Reverend Jones was a real-deal faith healer. |
| religious occupation | major | The faith healer Otis professed to be a reverend. |
| romantic love | major | Aaron and Emily fell in love but her father stepped in and thwarted their plan to tie the knot. |
| controlling family member | minor | Reverend Jones professed to "reign over" his daughter Emily as long as he walked the earth, before refusing to let her marry Aaron. |
| human health condition | minor | Aaron was cured of stomach ulcers by a passing faith healer. |
| medical occupation | minor | Aaron was friends with the town doctor, Doc Buckles. |