Grant's Conflicting Desires
In the novel, A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J Gaines, Grant has two conflicting desires. Grant is the narrator of the novel, and is asked to help teach an African American man to where he does not have to die a hog. One conflict Grant encounters is when Miss Emma and Tante Lou ask him to visit Jefferson in jail. Another conflict evident throughout the book is his conflict with himself. These conflicts help create a storyline for the novel.
Grant feels conflicted over whether or not to visit Jefferson in jail and make him a man. Grant’s aunt and Jefferson’s god mother ask Grant to teach Jefferson to where he does not die a “hog”, according to Miss Emma. Grant feels as if he cannot help Jefferson, that he is not God. He feels obligated to help Jefferson though. Everyone in Bayonne sees Jefferson as nothing, Grant needs Jefferson to change their outlook on African American men. Grant tells Jefferson, ". . . You could give them something that I never could. They expect it from me, but not from you. The white people out there are saying that you don't have it - that you're a hog, not a man. But I know they are wrong. You have the potentials. We all have, no matter who we are." Grants asks Jefferson to prove the white man's myth wrong of them being better than every other race.
Another major conflict Grant has is within himself. Grant wants to leave louisiana because of the repetitious life he has. Grant teaches because that is the only thing an educated African American man can do in the South. He went to live with his parents in California but came back to Bayonne, Louisiana. Grant Tells Vivian that she is the reason he returns, but readers can infer that Grant does not want to leave his family, although he complains about them constantly. Grant tells Vivian that it is hard for him to visit Jefferson in jail because he cannot face his own problems in
life, let alone help someone with there’s.
These two conflicts help shape the novel. Grant thinks highly of his pride and can be considered selfish by readers. Readers of this novel depict Grant as selfish when he complains about visiting Jefferson, although Jefferson's god mother asks him to. At the closing of the book, when Grant actually learns to appreciate his family, he is proud to live in Southern Louisiana and is content with himself.
Grant feels conflicted over whether or not to visit Jefferson in jail and make him a man. Grant’s aunt and Jefferson’s god mother ask Grant to teach Jefferson to where he does not die a “hog”, according to Miss Emma. Grant feels as if he cannot help Jefferson, that he is not God. He feels obligated to help Jefferson though. Everyone in Bayonne sees Jefferson as nothing, Grant needs Jefferson to change their outlook on African American men. Grant tells Jefferson, ". . . You could give them something that I never could. They expect it from me, but not from you. The white people out there are saying that you don't have it - that you're a hog, not a man. But I know they are wrong. You have the potentials. We all have, no matter who we are." Grants asks Jefferson to prove the white man's myth wrong of them being better than every other race.
Another major conflict Grant has is within himself. Grant wants to leave louisiana because of the repetitious life he has. Grant teaches because that is the only thing an educated African American man can do in the South. He went to live with his parents in California but came back to Bayonne, Louisiana. Grant Tells Vivian that she is the reason he returns, but readers can infer that Grant does not want to leave his family, although he complains about them constantly. Grant tells Vivian that it is hard for him to visit Jefferson in jail because he cannot face his own problems in
life, let alone help someone with there’s.
These two conflicts help shape the novel. Grant thinks highly of his pride and can be considered selfish by readers. Readers of this novel depict Grant as selfish when he complains about visiting Jefferson, although Jefferson's god mother asks him to. At the closing of the book, when Grant actually learns to appreciate his family, he is proud to live in Southern Louisiana and is content with himself.
My Spot Light On A Foggy Night
My best friend, my light on a foggy night - my grandmother. My grandmother, Carolyn Fadaol, has always been there for me and loves me for who I am. She inspires me to do my best and achieve all of my goals. She has the best qualities possible in a human, put into one package that I have the privelage to call my grandmother.
For me, growing up was complicated. At a young age, I had to assume the role of mother for my brother and cousin, making me more mature than a typical teenager. I have never truely felt like I belong and with my grandmother I feel as if I do. My grandmother sees me and treats me as an adult and I appreciate that. I can talk to her about anything and she would respond to me as if I were an adult.
Another wonderful quality of my grandmother is her great advice. For a long period of time, I was angry, confused and alone when I lost my closest friend. I was able to tell her the full story, unlike the story I told my mother, and she advised me on how I should handle the situation.
My grandmother inspires me to do my best at everything I do. She always had dreams of becoming a lawyer, however, she became a paralegal and always tells me, "When you want something, do not stop until you achieve your goal." Due to how high of a standard she holds me at, I have become my very competitive and confident person.
One of the best qualities my grandmother has is her everly caring nature. My grandmother will help everyone else in her family before she cares for herself. For example, in July 2012 she became very ill and had to be admitted to the hospital for three weeks. During her stay, she only worried about how her grandchildren were going to get their school uniforms, who was feeding the dogs and other simple tasks.
For me, growing up was complicated. At a young age, I had to assume the role of mother for my brother and cousin, making me more mature than a typical teenager. I have never truely felt like I belong and with my grandmother I feel as if I do. My grandmother sees me and treats me as an adult and I appreciate that. I can talk to her about anything and she would respond to me as if I were an adult.
Another wonderful quality of my grandmother is her great advice. For a long period of time, I was angry, confused and alone when I lost my closest friend. I was able to tell her the full story, unlike the story I told my mother, and she advised me on how I should handle the situation.
My grandmother inspires me to do my best at everything I do. She always had dreams of becoming a lawyer, however, she became a paralegal and always tells me, "When you want something, do not stop until you achieve your goal." Due to how high of a standard she holds me at, I have become my very competitive and confident person.
One of the best qualities my grandmother has is her everly caring nature. My grandmother will help everyone else in her family before she cares for herself. For example, in July 2012 she became very ill and had to be admitted to the hospital for three weeks. During her stay, she only worried about how her grandchildren were going to get their school uniforms, who was feeding the dogs and other simple tasks.
Should Schools Have A Vocational Track?
In my opinion, I feel that schools should have a vocational track for the students who may not desire to go to college. Certain students feel as if the college life is not suited for them but would rather directly enter their desired career field. According to the passage, Jimmy chose the vocational track and when he graduated high school he directly entered his career field - a mechanic. I feel as if not all of the courses required for graduation in comprehensive schools are necessary for most careers, unless the desired career involves that course. I believe all graduates should complete all four English courses but do not have to take a course such as pre-calculus unless the student's career field involves extensive math. Students should have the option as to whether or not if they want to be in the vocational and comprehensive track in their high school.
If You Were A Parent, Would You Buy A Doll That Misrepresented Your Values?
When I become a parent and my child asks for a Barbie, I would gladly but her a doll that may misrepresent my values. Although the passage states, "They [the critics] say that Barbie's thinness makes her a dangerous role model," I know that if I raised my daughter to not strive for someone else's life or body, I would not be worried about her idolizing Barbie. I feel as if there are other factors of society that can be bad influences. There are celebrities, movie actors, singers, and so on that my daughter can idolize and make her think that she is not beautiful in her own way. I appreciate the fact that the Mattel Company is creating Barbie with more empowering roles, such as Barbie for President and Olympic Gymnast Barbie.
In my opinion, I feel that buying and creating baby dolls for children is worse than a Barbie. There are companies creating baby dolls that talk, walk, eat, and other real-human baby qualities. I would rather have my daughter have a doll of a woman that is successful other than a baby doll that cries and have my daughter thinking of herself as a “mommy”.
In my opinion, I feel that buying and creating baby dolls for children is worse than a Barbie. There are companies creating baby dolls that talk, walk, eat, and other real-human baby qualities. I would rather have my daughter have a doll of a woman that is successful other than a baby doll that cries and have my daughter thinking of herself as a “mommy”.
Should Handguns Be Illegal?
Every human has the right of defending themselves in any situation, and I feel a handgun could aid in the defense. The process of obtianing a gun sould be more intensive and complicated for someone to have a handgun. According to the passage, Cho murdered 32 people on April 16, 2007 on the Virginia Tech campus. This wouldn’t be able to happen if there were metal detectors on the campus entrances. Although a handgun can cause a high amount of damage, I feel that you can use a handgun if you are defending yourself.
Crude Reality
In the picture, it depicts the war that the United States and Britain have with Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s showing a soldier with two prosthetic legs sitting on a stool with its legs made of oil rigs. The backdrop of where the soldier is sitting is consists of half of the British flag and the other half has the United States’ flag. The artist used symbolism when he designed the stool the soldier is sitting on, with two oil rigs. When I noticed the picture I inferred that the soldier may have lost his legs from the war. I also noticed that he is sitting on a stool that is made of oil rigs, showing that the war and the reason the soldier lost his legs from the war over oil. The artist of the picture is trying to show that men are losing there legs over the war about oil. Special interest groups such as peace activates would agree with the picture. On the other hand, oil companies and makers of items that require oil, would disagree with the picture because they need oil in order for them to make profit on their items they manufacture. The artist may agree with the topic because they are showing the effects of the war. I feel that this picture is persuasive because it shows the effects of the war that the United States and Britain are having with Iraq and Afghanistan.