A Lesson Before Dying Literary Analysis
The initial descriptions of setting and geography influence the purpose of any character, theme or symbol. In the book “A Lesson Before Dying” the courthouse and segregation along with syntactic balance patterns play an important role in influencing those three things
In “A Lesson Before Dying”, the space and time is Louisiana during the late 1940’s. Segregation was active, which caused Grant to feel inferior even though he was an educated man. He desperately wanted to leave, but “He will always be cold.” (Gaines 64). The cold is symbolic to the fact that people who live in this place long enough will be stuck with the thought that blacks can only fail, even in their best efforts. This line came from Grant’s conversation with his teacher, Matthew Antoine. Matthew is a firm believer that blacks couldn’t succeed, not with this mindset at least. “Just do the best you can, it won’t matter.” (Gaines ). …show more content…
Another symbol brought on with the geography of this book is Jefferson’s death. His death is a symbol of courage he used to escape society’s grip. He held his head high and went through with his execution. He had all the power at that moment. Power was something people of color didn’t believe they had because of segregation. The courthouse was another setting in the beginning of the book. The dilemma in this setting is whether someone serves time or walks out a free man. In an attempt to help Jefferson walk out free, his attorney compares him to a hog stating “ I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this.” This implies that Jefferson is no more intelligent than a hog. After this statement, he begins to act like a hog while incarcerated. His fate was in that judge, jury and attorneys hands. They imprisoned him physically and mentally by feeding him things hogs eat and treating him as such. “You brought some corn?”
“That’s what hogs eat.” (Gaines 82).
Through syntactic balance patterns, Gaines illustrates Grant’s moral struggles. “He wanted to run, but he couldn’t run.” (Gaines 5). He wants to run away from a town swarming with racism, but he can’t because he has an obligation to stay. This ties into the theme of recognizing and changing injustice. Grant witnesses Jefferson embody a hog after some harsh words and a judge blinded by bigotry. Grant soon realizes if he wants anything to change, he’ll have to take action. He can’t run away until he makes a change in his society.
The first description of setting and geography in literature influences the purpose of the characters, themes or symbols within the book. In “ A Lesson Before Dying”, the segregation causes characters to feel powerless in the beginning, but strong when they find a way to defy it. The courthouse becomes a symbol of the dilemma: justice or freedom, but ultimately sets a character up for belittlement and injustice. The syntactic balance of the text illustrates the struggle between morality and total
freedom.
In “A Lesson Before Dying”, the space and time is Louisiana during the late 1940’s. Segregation was active, which caused Grant to feel inferior even though he was an educated man. He desperately wanted to leave, but “He will always be cold.” (Gaines 64). The cold is symbolic to the fact that people who live in this place long enough will be stuck with the thought that blacks can only fail, even in their best efforts. This line came from Grant’s conversation with his teacher, Matthew Antoine. Matthew is a firm believer that blacks couldn’t succeed, not with this mindset at least. “Just do the best you can, it won’t matter.” (Gaines ). …show more content…
Another symbol brought on with the geography of this book is Jefferson’s death. His death is a symbol of courage he used to escape society’s grip. He held his head high and went through with his execution. He had all the power at that moment. Power was something people of color didn’t believe they had because of segregation. The courthouse was another setting in the beginning of the book. The dilemma in this setting is whether someone serves time or walks out a free man. In an attempt to help Jefferson walk out free, his attorney compares him to a hog stating “ I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this.” This implies that Jefferson is no more intelligent than a hog. After this statement, he begins to act like a hog while incarcerated. His fate was in that judge, jury and attorneys hands. They imprisoned him physically and mentally by feeding him things hogs eat and treating him as such. “You brought some corn?”
“That’s what hogs eat.” (Gaines 82).
Through syntactic balance patterns, Gaines illustrates Grant’s moral struggles. “He wanted to run, but he couldn’t run.” (Gaines 5). He wants to run away from a town swarming with racism, but he can’t because he has an obligation to stay. This ties into the theme of recognizing and changing injustice. Grant witnesses Jefferson embody a hog after some harsh words and a judge blinded by bigotry. Grant soon realizes if he wants anything to change, he’ll have to take action. He can’t run away until he makes a change in his society.
The first description of setting and geography in literature influences the purpose of the characters, themes or symbols within the book. In “ A Lesson Before Dying”, the segregation causes characters to feel powerless in the beginning, but strong when they find a way to defy it. The courthouse becomes a symbol of the dilemma: justice or freedom, but ultimately sets a character up for belittlement and injustice. The syntactic balance of the text illustrates the struggle between morality and total
freedom.