A Lesson Before Dying Chapter 1 Analysis

Shelly Castilaw

Mrs. Lambert

AP English III

18 January 2017

Reader Response for Chapters 16-23

By chapter twenty-three of Ernest J. Gaines’s A Lesson Before Dying, Grant has finally made some progress with Jefferson. Although Jefferson is hardly in a good mood, he is much more willing to engage in conversation. Unfortunately, there has not been as much progression between Jefferson and Miss Emma or Reverend Ambrose. Other relationships are also changing—such as Grant and Tante Lou’s, or Grant and Vivian’s—for better and worse. As the story reaches its midpoint, it seems that the central theme and purpose of the novel is change.

The whole plot of the book revolves around the hope to change Jefferson. In the five stages of grief, Jefferson seems to be slowly moving from depression to acceptance. To make his impending death easier, he gives himself things to look forward to. For example: planning to make his last meal “a whole gallona ice cream…with a pot spoon” (Gaines 170), and a radio given to him by Grant so he can listen to music in the meantime. A consequence with the radio is that Jefferson is now

using it to escape reality, and ignores his visitors in favor of it. However, as Grant argues, this is still progression from Jefferson’s former, almost comatose-like depression. Jefferson is gradually becoming more open to speak with his new attitude, and with this, Grant will hopefully be able to get through to him. Even if it is not going as they want it to, this is the change that everyone was hoping to get from Grant.
Grant has now moved from most of his anger regarding his situation. He now looks forward to his visits with Jefferson, and when Jefferson makes even the smallest attempt at conversing at the end of chapter twenty-three, Grant feels “like crying with joy” (Gaines 186). Grant sees Jefferson as less of a problem and more of a goal. This is especially evident in chapter seventeen, when while he is being informed of the date of Jefferson’s execution, Grant finally breaks his blunt narration to rant against the society he lives in. With his new change of attitude, Grant has stopped taking his anger out on his students and is beginning to relax around Vivian. Although this has improved Grant’s stress, he must now deal with a different problem. Reverend Ambrose, Tante Loud, and Miss Emma have moved the goalposts for Grant and want him to change Jefferson in a specific manner. This is a new conflict altogether, but Grant is finally starting to speak back against the others and does not let them walk over him as they used to.
The subject of change also brings a new layer to Tante Lou’s character.

In prior chapters, Tante Lou’s attitude over Grant seemed to come from anger for not being able to control him any longer. In pages 166-167, Grant explains to Vivian why Tante Lou is truly upset: In their community, women like Miss Emma and Tante Lou are always looking for a man who can break the cycle applied to them, whether it be deadbeat fathers or stupidity found in their race. Grant is an educated male with a fighting chance of changing their image, so Tante Lou is trying to keep a hold on him for as long as she can. This is also why Tante Lou, as well as Irene Cole, Grant’s student, are so bitter towards Vivian. Grant has every intent to marry Vivian and move away with her, so Vivian poses a threat. Tante Lou, unlike Grant or Miss Emma, refuses to accept change, however inevitable it

is.
Of course, the theme of change is most evident in the setting. While Jefferson is the specific issue, the reality is that everyone is hoping that changing Jefferson will in turn change the society they live in. The case might be able to prove to the white people in charge of society, courtroom and out, that the African-Americans do not deserve to be written off as stupid, worthless “hogs”. This is one goal that every character has in common in the plot.
The story is now approaching the climax, in which the reader will see how the problems at hand will end. Grant may or may not be able to change Jefferson, escape with Vivian, and make amends with his aunt. It is up in the air for the moment, but Grant is now putting a fighting effort towards the goal at hand, which gives hope for the future. However, even with this new development, everything still relies on Jefferson. If Jefferson cannot change by his execution date, it seems unlikely that things will get better for Grant or the other characters.