Ernest J. Gaines, "Tell them I am a man ", Chapter III - A review

Résumé du document

Published in 1993 by Alfred A. Knopf, A lesson before dying is Ernest J. Gaines' sixth novel. The story is set in the 1940s, in the fictional community of Bayonne, which is clearly based on Gaines' own childhood home, which is called Pointe Coupee Parish, in Louisiana. To understand the novel better, it is essential to have knowledge of the historical situation in the southern states during that time. Black people were still treated as slaves and discriminated. The racism against black people is shown in the book and the principal theme appears to be political, while it denounces the issue of injustice in the form of white racism and death penalty. It also raises the question on the state of mind of a person who lives in the anticipation of death. This is a moralistic novel with a distinct sense of the right and the wrong. The author wants the reader to feel compassion for a young black man, Jefferson who has been accused for a murder he did not commit. We review the novel in this document.

Extraits

[...] I lowered my eyes”. (p.21). Mr. Henri considers Jefferson as guilty, he thinks that he has really killed the shopkeeper without any proof: did (p.22). [...]

[...] She insists very much to get Henri's help. This extract from the chapter three makes us understand more the meaning of the title of the book A lesson before dying. It is a question of the lesson that Grant will give to Jefferson to teach him he is a man before he go to the chair. Then, we can notice the different attitudes and characteristics between some characters. First we will talk about Miss Emma. She is (p.20) because of her old age: “I'm old, Mr. [...]

[...] She even repeats that she wants somebody to do something for her before she dies: want somebody do something for me one time ‘fore I close my eyes. Somebody got do something for me one time ‘bore I close my eyes” (p.22). She is also very determined: won't keep it at that” (p.21); “I'll be up there tomorrow” (p.23). Secondly, we will analyze Mr. Henri's behavior. He does not seem to care about what Miss Emma tells him: looked at her, but he didn't say anything. He was waiting for his glass” (p.20). [...]

[...] Firstly we can notice the way black people were treated by the white people at that time. Even if Miss Emma looked tired, no on had offered her a chair” (p.20), they don't care about her. Emma, Lou and Grant are received in the kitchen, whereas Louis Rougon is received in le library and Pichot offered him a glass. He does not even propose to them something to drink. For Mr. Henri Grant is educated” (p.21), he considers black people as slaves, he feels upper than them and makes them understand what is their role: “Henri Pichot finished his drink and stuck out his hand. [...]

[...] Aunt Lou wanted him to go with them to meet a man called Henri who could obtain the right for grant to visit Jefferson. But the narrator did not seem to agree with the two women's project, all he wanted was to run away from that place, but he finally accepted to accompany them to Henri's house. At the beginning of the third chapter, Aunt Lou, Miss Emma and Grant were on the road to Henri's house even if it was against the narrator's will. [...]