The Temple is about the influence of Graeco-Roman culture on modern civilization. It depicts the culture of the elites, the power they wielded, and the way they treated the underclass. The elites were mainly the kings, emperors, bishops, and the priests. Their quest for power and worldly things strayed them from God's path. For example, the emperors were deified though they broke divine laws. In their zeal to appease God, the priests adopted foreign cultures contrary to divine worship and incorporated them into Christian doctrine. In a nutshell, the behavior of the elites affected the society. It is against this background that The Temple is set. Wosila, an African immigrant, returns home one wintry evening with Lewis Harris, a homeless boy. Her husband, Joe, is upset. He and his wife have come to the United Stated to realize the American dream. But the idea of harboring a homeless boy worries him. He orders Lewis to leave because he does not want to be at odds with the law. Wosila had found the boy in the subway, hungry and shivering with cold, and had brought him home to give him a place to sleep. She pleads with her husband to let the boy stay, saying, "In Africa, a stranger is always welcome home." Joe is moved to pity and finally gives in, allowing Lewis to stay. But a few weeks later, Rev. Ambrose, who runs a shelter for boys, claims the boy, arguing that as aliens, the law does not allow the couple to adopt children. Lewis has endeared himself to Wosila, calling her "Mother." Lewis begins to cry but in vain. Can he get the same maternal affection from the reverend?