Grant tells the entire story in a first person narrative style. His
narration reveals his fickle character. He is brooding right from the
start, but also alternates between cynicism and confidence according to
the events of the story.
1) Â But let us say he was (guilty). Let us for a moment say
he was (guilty). What justice would there be to take his life? Justice,
gentlemen? Why, I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as
this. (Page 8)
The public defender in JeffersonÂs case attempts to win leniency by
claiming that Jefferson has diminished capacity to reason. It is an appeal
to the belief that blacks were somehow sub-human. It is the quote that
begins the action in the novel. From that point on GrantÂs mission in
the book is to show Jefferson hope, dignity, and self-respect, and to
prove to whites and blacks alike that it is possible to rise above your
circumstances.
2) ÂI still donÂt even know if the sheriff will let me see
him. And suppose he did; what then? What do I say to him? Do I know what
a man is? Do I know how a man is supposed to die? IÂm still trying to
find out how a man should live. Am I supposed to tell someone how to die
who has never lived? (Page 31)
Grant talks with Vivian about his AuntÂs proposal that he visit Jefferson
and try to make him into a man before his execution. The quote speaks
to GrantÂs own insecurities that, despite his education and teaching job,
he understands no more about finding meaning in life than anyone else
in the black community.
3) ÂNow, about that mulatto teacher and me. There was no love
there for each other. There was not even respect. We were enemies if anything.
He hated me, and I knew it, and he knew I knew it. I didnÂt like him,
but I needed him, needed him to tell me something that none of the others
could or would. (Page 64)
Grant wants his former teacher to confirm his suspicion that he must
leave the South if he wants to experiences anything other than humiliation
and disappointment. Mathew Antoine represents the pessimistic, darker
side of GrantÂs personality.
4) ÂÂI canÂt tell you anything about life, he said. ÂWhat
do I know about life? I stayed here. ThereÂs nothing but ignorance here.
You want to know about life? Well, itÂs too late. Forget it. Just go on
and be the nigger you were born to be, but forget about life.ÂÂ (Page
65)
This is Mathew AntoineÂs response to GrantÂs inquiries about how be
a man in the South, how he can find happiness and fulfillment in life.
The mulatto teacher tries to convince Grant that there are only two option
for a black man in the South: either run away to make a life somewhere
else; or stay and be broken down by the white racist establishment.
5) ÂGo back, she said.
ÂWhy, Miss Emma? ÂÂCause somebody goÂn do something for me Âfore I die. ÂWhy me?Â
ÂÂCause you the teacher, my aunt said. I got up from the table.
ÂAnd where do you think youÂre going? Tante Lou asked me. ÂI donÂt know, I said. ÂBut IÂll go crazy if I stay here, thatÂs for sure. ÂYou going back up there, Grant.Â
ÂWhat for? I said. ÂWhat for, Tante Lou? He treated me the same way he treated her. He wants me to feel guilty, just as he wants her to feel guilty. Well, IÂm not feeling guilty, Tante Lou. I didnÂt put him there. I do everything I know how to do to keep people like him from going there. HeÂs not going to make me feel guilty.Â
ÂYou going back, she said. ÂYou ainÂt going to run away from this,
Grant. (Page 123)
Grant expresses his frustration at the thought of having to continually
visit Jefferson until the execution. His aunt reminds him that he cannot
run away from this problem - he must face it like a man. His first duty
is to respect the wishes of his elders. But, as the teacher, he also has
a duty to share what he knows about life with the people of the quarter.
The latter responsibility is the most daunting of the two, since Grant
doesnÂt feel he knows anything about life.
6) ÂGo on and scream, Jefferson. Go on and scream for Guidry, if thatÂs what you want.Â
ÂWe looked at each other, and I could see in those big reddened eyes
that he was not going to scream. He was full of anger - and who could
blame him? - but he was no fool. He needed me, and he wanted me here,
if only to insult me. (Page 130)
Jefferson is immersed in self-pity, and he wants everyone else to feel
that pity too. Having never experience much kindness during his life from
anyone except Miss Emma, he is unnerved by GrantÂs visits. He doesnÂt
trust Grant. At one point, to lash out at Grant, he considers calling
the Sheriff to end the visits. When he sees the Grant is willing to call
his bluff, he reconsiders. In the end, he decides that he wants Grant
around, if only as a target for his hate and anger.
7) ÂWe black men have failed to protect our women since the
time of slavery. We stay here in the South and are broken, or we run away
and leave them alone to look after the children and themselves. So each
time a male child is born, they hope he will be the one to change this
vicious circle - which he never does. Because even though he wants to
change, and maybe even tries to change it, it is too heavy a burden because
of all the others who have run away and left their burdens behind. So
he, too, must run away if he is to hold on to his sanity and have a life
of his own. I see by your face you donÂt agree so IÂll try again. What
she wants is for him, Jefferson, and me to change everything that had
been going on for three hundred years. She wants it to happen so in case
she ever gets out of her bed again, she can go to that little church there
in the quarter and say proudly, ÂYou see, I told you - I told you he was
a man.ÂÂ (Page 167)
While Grant and Vivian are having a drink at the Rainbow Club he explains
to her that expectations that Miss Emma has for both him and Jefferson.
His explanation relates the dilemma facing black men in the South, either
stay and be broken by the white establishment, or run away from your responsibilities
and make a new life for yourself. Miss Emma constantly repeats the phrases
ÂSomebody goin do something for me before I die, and what she wants
is for Jefferson to stand up and be a man for her. GrantÂs explanation
gives the reader a better understanding of the pressures and expectations
that are weighing down on Grant as he tries to make a life for himself
and help Jefferson deal with death at the same time.
8) ÂDo you know what a myth is, Jefferson? I asked him. ÂA
myth is an old lie that people believe in. White people believe that theyÂre
better than anyone else on earth - and thatÂs a myth. The last thing they
ever want is to see a black man stand, and think, and show that common
humanity that is in us all. It would destroy their myth. They would no
longer have justification for having made us slaves and keeping us in
the condition we are in. As long as none of us stand theyÂre safe. TheyÂre
safe with me. TheyÂre safe with Reverend Ambrose. I donÂt want them to
feel safe with you anymore. (Page 192)
As Jefferson and Grant walk around the day room, out of ear-shot of
Miss Emma and Reverend Ambrose, Grant explains what is expected of Jefferson
in his last few weeks. He admits himself to be a slave, because he fails
to challenge the white discrimination. But Jefferson can do a lot to defy
the myth of white supremacy by going to the chair like a man.
9) ÂWhat did you learn (at college) about your own people? What did you learn her - her Âround there? he said, gesturing towards the other room and trying to keep his voice down.
I didnÂt answer him. ÂNo, you not educated, boy, he said, shaking his head. ÂYou far from being educated. You learned your reading, writing, and Ârithmetic, but you donÂt know nothing. You donÂt even know yourself. Well?Â
ÂYouÂre doing the talking, Reverend. ÂAnd educated, boy, he said,
thumping his chest. ÂIÂm the one thatÂs educated. I know people like you
look down on people like me, but - he touched his chest again - ÂIÂm
the one thatÂs educated. (Page 215)
Reverend Ambrose explains to Grant the meaning of education. Grant may
have a college degree, but an educated man knows himself, knows his people
and their suffering. Reverend AmbroseÂs understanding and empathy for
his people is his education. In their conversation, Reverend Ambrose asks
Grant if he knew about Tante LouÂs hands, scarred from cutting cane to
pay for GrantÂs college. Or her knees scarred from praying for Grant.
Grant doesnÂt know about any of this, sheÂd hid it from him. That makes
him the dupe.
10) ÂDonÂt tell me to believe. DonÂt tell me to believe in the same God or laws that men believe in who commit these murders. DonÂt tell me to believe that God can bless this country and that men are judged by their peers. Who among his peers judged him? Was I there? Was the minister there? Was Harry Williams there? Was Farrell Jarreau? Was my aunt? Was Vivian? No, his peers did not judge him, and I will not believe.Â
ÂYet they must believe. They must believe, if only to free the mind,
if not the body. Only when the mind is free has the body a chance to be
free. Yes, they must believe, they must believe. Because I know what it
means to be a slave. I am a slave. (Page 251)
As he waits outside the schoolhouse for word of JeffersonÂs execution,
Grant is understandably bitter. He has a simplistic version of religion:
there must not be a God, because God would not allow injustices like JeffersonÂs
execution. GrantÂs only faith was in Jefferson, and it dies when he dies.
He has, however, begun to understand his own people a little better, which
means he is beginning to be educated.
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
TheBestNotes.com.
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