A Lesson Before Dying Chapters 18 & 19

Chapter 18 - Quotation 1 - Page 141
"I love you more and more," I said. "If you'd just say the word, God knows I'd drop everything.
"And hate each other for the rest of our lives, Grant? No," she said.
"I could never hate you---ever."
"You could, and you would," she said.
"No," I said.
"Yes, Grant, you would hate me for letting you make this decision. Or I would hate you for doing it."
"I'm not doing any good up there, Vivian," I said. "Nothing is changing."
"Something is," she said.

Question 1 - Does the quotation indicate a conflict? If so, what conflict?
This quote indicates a conflict between Grant and Vivian. She doesn't want to leave and act off of emotion. Grant is so blinded by love that he will do anything for her. Vivian wants Grant to stay because he is changing things, but he doesn't see what she sees is changing. In Grant's mind, everything is still the same and he is still miserable. Also, it raises the conflict between Grant's love and Vivian's love. He says that he could never hate her, but she could hate him for making the decision to just pick up and leave.

Question 2 - Does this quotation characterize Grant, Jefferson, or another character? If so, in what way does it characterize?
This quote characterizes Grant as a person who tries to be brave. He wants to just go do something but is so in love that he doesn't want to leave her. I say that he tries to be brave because he always has an excuse as to why he can't leave. A real brave person would just get up and go with excuses or hesitation.

Chapter 19 - Quotation 2 - Page  - 151
"I looked back at the people around the tables, talking, eating, drinking their coffee and lemonade. But I was not with them. I stood alone."

Question 1 - Does the quotation relate to a theme? If so, which theme and how does it relate?
This quote relates to the theme of isolation. Grant feels so out of place around his own home town. He separates himself without even knowing it. He feels so alone and unhappy. The only time he is happy is when Vivian is around but Grant should feel comfortable in his own town. He separates himself and closes everyone out because he is unhappy.

Question 2 - Does the quotation indicate a conflict? If so, what conflict?
This quote indicates a conflict between Grant and his own emotions. It is obvious that he is unhappy. He is surrounded by people who are enjoying themselves around Christmas but yet he is not. Grant seems like he is on the verge of becoming depressed or maybe his unhappiness will soon lead him to make life style changes.

A Lesson Before Dying Chapters 16 & 17

Chapter 16 - Quotation 1 - Page 123 - Paragraph 4
"What I done done," she cried, "to make my Master hate me so?"
"The Lord don't hate you, Sister Emma," Reverend Ambrose said, touching her on the arm. "The Lord is with you this moment. He is only testing you."
Miss Emma looked up at me. The tears were still rolling down her face.
"Go back," she said.
"Why, Miss Emma?"
" 'Cause somebody go'n do something for me 'fore I die."
"Why me?"
" 'Cause you the teacher," my aunt said.

Question 1 - Does the quotation relate to a theme? If so, which theme and how does it relate?
This quote relates to the them of obligation and responsibility. Miss Emma feels responsible for Jefferson's outcome in life even though he made his own decisions. She feels responsible for him because she raised him, so she feels like his bad decisions are because of her. It is ironic because she feels like God is punishing her, but Jefferson is the one who is on death row about to be electrocuted. Grant's aunt feels like he is obligated to visit Jefferson simply because he is a teacher and she feels as if Grant can fix Jefferson.

Question 2 - Does the quotation indicate a conflict? If so, what conflict?
This quote indicates a conflict between Miss Emma and her faith. She feels like God is punishing her. She is questioning God and wonders what could she had done so bad that he would cause her so much pain. Grant's aunt comfort does not seem to help and she feels like God has to hate her to punish her. Tante Lou does not want to see her friend in pain and the Reverend tries to convince her that God is only testing her. Sometimes tests from God can shake people's faith in God.

Chapter 17 - Quotation 2 - Page 134 - Paragraph 7
"He ain't here for no picnic," Clark said. "He killed Mr. Gropé. Let him stay right there in that last cell. Till that last day."

Question 1 - Does the quotation relate to a theme? If so, which theme and how does it relate?
This quote relates to the theme of imprisonment. The sheriff wants Jefferson to feel like a prisoner where ever he is at. If he is not in a cell he has to wear chains. It seems as though they think Grant deserves to think he is less of a person and to be uncomfortable and he deserves to be in a cell for the crime they believe he committed.

Question 2 - To what contemporary issue(s) do(es) the quotation connect?
This quote connects to the issue of containment. Jefferson was considered guilty even before the trial. The white community wants Jefferson to feel like he is a hog. They want to keep him to be contained like an animal. Some white people in those times did not want black people to feel superior, smart, or anything. Keeping blacks contained and attacking their mindset is a way whites affected blacks. Attacking Jefferson's mind and the way he sees himself is a way they contained Jefferson.

A Lesson Before Dying Chapter 14

"Vivian smiled and looked around the room. "Not much to look at, " I said apologizing for the place. This had been my parents' room before they went to California during the war. There was a bed, a chifforobe, a washstand, a table, and a couple of chairs. All the furniture was old."

This quote provides details about the setting. Grant and Vivian are in Louisiana in his aunts house. This quote also classifies the time period. Black people in those times did not have big and extravagant houses. They lived in tiny houses with out a lot of space, unlike the whites. They also did not have nice furniture that looked expensive or new.

This quote also characterizes Grant. Grant is ungrateful. He is ashamed of his own house. He walks around with an attitude because he is not satisfied with his own life. He is ashamed of the house that he was raised in that helped him become the intelligent man that he is. He is ashamed of the house that provides him warmth and shelter. He always want things to change but does not act on anything. He would rather complain and feel sorry for himself than do anything. He is not happy with Louisiana, but he stays. He is not happy teaching, but he continues teaching. He is not happy with his life, yet he does not do anything to change it.

A place I would like to visit

If there is any place in the world I would like to visit is Alaska. First, I love cold weather. I hate being hot. I love to just sit up and be cold and drink hot coffee or cocoa to warm myself. Second, Alaska is a beautiful place to visit. It has mountains as well as huge glaciers. Third, I would love to see snow one day. I have never seen snow before except one time when it snowed for about five minutes in Mobile. I would love to visit Alaska for the weather, scenery, and snow. Imagine seeing a view so amazing that it would take your breathe away or the sun setting over the tall Alaskan mountains.

Temporary Escape

People tend to find a temporary escape so they can relax. A person can not always be his or her self when he or she is around other people. At school kids can not be his or her because he or she wants to fit in. At work adults can not always be his or her self because he or she has to be professional around other coworkers. We a person is relaxing he or she does not have to worry about outsiders. My temporary escape is listening to music and I can be any where. When I am listening to music I can not hear any one and I tune the world out. Music is my peace when I need to relax or just get away from the world in my own world.