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.