A Lesson Before Dying is structured around Grant. The novel traces his individual growth as he works with Jefferson, and this development gives shape to the workÂs overall discussion of fatalism, individualism, heroism, and social injustice. From the start Grant is an angry, bitter, and self-absorbed person. He is angry at a society that, despite his university degree, will only allow him to teach other blacks. He blames his community for burdening him with unreasonable expectations and suffocating him instead of allowing him to leave Louisiana and pursue his own path. Most of all, he loathes himself for playing his role in a segregationist society and his own inability to somehow break free.
Grant does not attend JeffersonÂs trial for two reasons. First, it does not directly affect him and so he sees no reason for it to interrupt his life. Second, in his fatalistic (or perhaps realistic) mind, he doesnÂt need to attend because he already knows the outcome. When Miss Emma first approaches him about visiting Jefferson he wants nothing to do with it. He doesnÂt believe his actions, or anyone elseÂs at this point, can make any difference in JeffersonÂs life. Furthermore, he hates being committed to the school and doesnÂt want to take on any added responsibilities. Grant wants to live for himself and Vivian, and no one else. But his relationship with Vivian also provides a glimpse into his selfish nature. He views her as an object, someone who makes him happy, but gives little thought to her own needs or his obligations to her. For example, he doesnÂt seem at all interested in her children and they are never heard from during the story.
Before he changes himself, Grant plays an important role in JeffersonÂs development. In Jefferson, Grant meets a person angrier more self-absorbed than himself. Both Jefferson and Grant have suffered injustice, but Grant struggles to help Jefferson understand that these attitudes are preventing him from achieving something remarkable. He teaches Jefferson the meaning of obligation, trying to convince Jefferson to eat some of Miss EmmaÂs food and make her happy. He teaches Jefferson about heroism, hoping Jefferson will realize the effect that standing up and walking to the chair like a man will have on people in the quarter. For his own part, Grant isnÂt a very good example of duty or heroism, but teaching these values to Jefferson does impress their importance on him.
GrantÂs own transformation involves the incorporation of values he has
been teaching Jefferson into his own life. Just as he has taught Jefferson,
Vivian and Reverend Ambrose become his teachers. After pulling him out
of the bar fight at the Rainbow Room, Vivian explains that their relationship
is doomed if he wonÂt ever think about anyone but himself. Grant is tempted
to run away from the problem, but realizes he had nothing good in his
life without Vivian. Next Reverend Ambrose informs him of his Aunt Tante
LouÂs sacrifices so that he could go to university. He reminds Grant that
he is not educated unless he understands himself and his people. On his
next visit to JeffersonÂs cell, Grant has undergone a type of conversion.
He has new respect for JeffersonÂs courage and his willingness to be strong
for the sake of others. Yet Grant remains a flawed hero. In spite of everything
theyÂve been through together, Grant canÂt make himself go to JeffersonÂs
execution.
Grant explains to Jefferson that a hero is above other men because he
thinks of others before himself. Although he understands the definition,
he does not live it. He wants to live for himself. He starts a barfight
in the Rainbow Room, believing he was doing it in defense of Jefferson.
In fact, Grant was only thinking of himself never noticing how he hurt
others. Not only did he tear up the bar, Vivian had to leave her job early
to come drag him out. Following GrantÂs criterion, Rev. Ambrose is a hero,
having put his entire congregation before himself. Jefferson also has
the potential to do something for others that they could not do for themselves.
He can make Miss Emma happy by eating her gumbo. He can chip away at the
myth of white superiority and show everyone - both white and black - that
he is a man.
The characters in the novel are split between fatalists and individualists. Fatalists believe that our lives are dictated by external factors. Fate, destiny, or environment dictates what we will become or accomplish long before we are born. It is an extremely pessimistic view of human nature. In this case, the fatalists believe that race is the determining factor in whether or not a person can be successful. Mathew Antoine argues that he is better than Grant because his skin is lighter. He tells Grant it doesnÂt matter how hard he tries with Jefferson or with the children at school, none of his efforts will help improve their lives. Sheriff Guidry believes that Jefferson was born a hog and will die a hog no matter what anyone does to help him. Jefferson accepts this view upon entering prison. He responds to GrantÂs efforts to feed and help him by saying ÂIt donÂt matter. As Grant watches his pupils chop wood during school, he is inclined to believe that all blacks are caught in a vicious cycle, and that all his efforts to help educate them canÂt possibly overcome the deficiencies inherent in the race.
But there are others who believe in individualism, the idea that everyone
is empowered to choose their own way. Our lives, for the most part, are
a result of our own choices, talents, and perseverance. Vivian tries to
convince Grant that his work with Jefferson can make a difference, that
something is changing. Reverend Ambrose tries to explain the change that
comes through accepting Jesus Christ. With their support, both Grant and
Jefferson begin to realize it is heroic to defy expectations and resist
the irresistible force. Jefferson does not have to lie down and die like
a grunting hog, simply because that is what people expect of him. Grant
finally understands he does not have to either run or be broken, simply
because black men have chosen one of those two options in the past. They
will each set their own course, which makes them both heroes.
Grant and Jefferson are both incarcerated in a type of prison. Steel bars surround Jefferson, but Grant is confined by racism, self-obsession, and cynicism. He believes himself caught in a dilemma where he must choose between fleeing the South and staying to be broken down by prejudice into a beast of burden. He also feels trapped in a job that he hates, believing that he can never make a difference in any of his studentÂs lives. Despite his education, he does not dare act educated in front of white people. His station requires him to seek the approval of men who disgust him, men like Dr. Joseph and Sheriff Guidry, and he hates himself as a result.
Jefferson, on the other hand, is freer than Grant despite his jail-cell
accommodations. Since he has already been sentenced to die he has nothing
to lose and nothing else to fear. They canÂt punish him any worse than
they already have, so he is free to act however he chooses. Moreover,
he is free of the expectations that constantly burden Grant. The bar is
set so low for Jefferson that anything above hog-like behavior would surprise
everyone, which is why his show of bravery during his execution has such
a profound effect. Both Jefferson and Grant are initially trapped by their
fatalistic worldview. They believe thereÂs nothing they can do to change
things. But when Grant watches Jefferson transform into someone who can
go heroically to the chair, he realizes he can also make changes and defy
what is expected of him.
Aunt Tante Lou sends Grant to university because she believes that an education will improve his life and allow him to help others. Instead, he returns from university completely self-absorbed and pessimistic. Theoretically, education should enlighten oneÂs mind, but in GrantÂs case it only makes him more aware of his boundaries. Mathew Antoine even describes education as a Âburden for black students, since they acquire skills white society will not allow them to use. While at university Grant stops believing in religion. This further isolates him from his aunt and others in the quarter.
Reverend Ambrose lectures Grant on what it means to be educated. Grant looks
down on the Reverend because heÂs a self-taught preacher; but he knows
himself and he understands his people. He informs Grant that Tante Lou
paid for his university by cutting cane, and she has the scrapes and scars
on her hands to prove it. Like Vivian, Rev. Ambrose is disgusted with
Grant because he only thinks of using his education to try and help himself.
Since white society wonÂt allow him to do any job but teaching, GrantÂs
university degree will be useless until he understands how to use it to
help others.
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
TheBestNotes.com.
>.