A Lesson Before Dying: Chapter Analysis

In A Lesson Before Dying, readers are able to see how difficult it is to live as a black man in Bayonne, Louisiana. Readers see that Grant experiences racism in many different ways. From the simple task of buying a radio to just talking to a white man, the racial bias of Bayonne is clearly present. In the novel, A Lesson Before Dying, Gaines uses the theme of change in the life of Grant to prove to readers that an individual within a system can control his own fate. In Chapter 8 of A Lesson Before Dying, Grant is reflects back on his time being a student and his school teacher. Gaines portrays Grant’s teacher as a pessimistic “Mulatto” (Biracial) who hated himself for being of mixed race. In chapter 8, Grant says, “He hated himself for the mixture of his blood and the cowardice

He asks if there is anything that Jefferson wants before he dies, and Jefferson responds that he would like a radio. Whilst purchasing the radio, the white cashier offers Grant the floor model. Grant understands what she is trying to do and responds, ”‘Do you have one in a box?’ ‘That one’s brand new,’” she responded. “‘I would like one in a box.’” Once again, she responds “‘I can put this one in a box.’ ‘No, Ma’am, I want a brand-new one.’” (Gaines 175). The clerk offers Grant the less expensive model because she doesn’t think a black man to deserves have a nice, new object. Grant is stern and wants to be treated with respect, especially if buying something that is extremely expensive for a man who is going to be put to death. He chooses to pay an extra dollar for the new one rather than buying the one without a box. Grant understands that the clerk wants him to take the used one. This is not uncommon as much of Bayonne is biased against blacks. Grant automatically expects to be treated poorly, and doesn’t think this will change. This is another example of how racial discrimination affects the life of Grant