A Lesson Before Dying Chapter 1 Analysis

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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 …show more content…

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

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