Lesson Before Dying By Grant Analysis Essay Example For Students

Lesson Before Dying By Grant Analysis Essay In the novel A Lesson Before Dying, although Grant is an educated black man inthe era of a racist society he has struggles greater than most men of hisdecent. I feel sorry for him because of his limitations, even though I view himas a coward. He cannot break free of his background and family. The three mainfemale characters in the novel, Tante Lou, Miss Emma, and Vivian, restrict andlimit Grants choices. Grant realizes that freedom means leaving his small townand creating a new life, yet each woman holds a chain that keeps him from hisdestiny and the right to be free. First, Tante Lou, his aunt holds Grant fromhis dreams by refusing to let him go his own way. Tante Lou wants Grant to stayat home with her and take care of her. But, in the time the novel takes place,it wasnt common for young men stay with their elders and help out, especiallywhen Grant has a college degree and can accomplish so much. Tante Lou tookadvantage of this in any means necessary, using the fact that Grant is f amilyand in essence owes it to her to stay and help out. We can see this on page 14when Tante Lou forces Grant to talk to Mr. Henri about seeing Jefferson. You are going up there with us Grant, or you will not sleep in this housetonight. Tante Lou denies Knodt 2 Grant choices that men his age have. Next, Miss Emma, who doesnt have a family relation to Grant, also restricts hischoices in life. Miss Emma plays an important role in the novel by beingJeffersons godmother, and in a painstaking situation. She asks Grant in a waythat gives him no real choices to teach Jefferson to be a man. Leaning on herability to persuade, and using her power as an extensive friend to Tante Lou shecan basically tell Grant what to do and gets away with it. She knew Grant didnot want to go and teach Jefferson, but still went ahead with it. Drivingalong the St. Charles River I could feel Emma not looking at me, not looking atanything..just thinking. Like my Aunt she knew how much I hated all ofthis.(p.68) Miss Emma therefore forces Grant to do matters that she wants,not what Grant thinks he is capable of doing. Thirdly, Vivian, the love of hislife, is also limiting Grants ability to make decisions based strictly on hisown intent. She understands Grants need to leave and see new things, but hasrestricti ons in her life that will not allow her to help Grant begin a newexistence. Vivian is in the middle of a drawn out divorce and needs to see itthrough so she can maintain custody of her children. We see an example of thison page 93. Lets go somewhere and spend the night. Baton Rouge, NewOrleans- anywhere, Grant asks. I cant, My Babies. This sentence alonedescribes the turmoil she is going through with her own threatening aspects andhow it effects Grants choices. I think the book is an intriguing novel andsurfaced important issues dealt with in society. Religion, racism, and manyother articles of today are just a few. But, Grant is a complex character andcan be depicted thoroughly. His education holds him to a new Knodt3 standard notexpected of people back then, but withholds him from reaching his dreams. Hecannot find what he is looking for in this small town that A Lesson Before Dyingtakes place in. I feel sorry for him until Jefferson teaches him other factorsinvolved to being a re al and distinct kind of man. He evolves dramatically. But,his need to be free is still restrained by Tante Lou, Miss Emma, and Vivian indifferent, yet important ways.