Heros Within A Lesson Before Dying

Pretty early into this book, I thought the main hero was definitely going to be Grant. I could see so many parts of the typical hero’s journey narrative within this book. Right at the start of the book, Grant’s refusal of the quest by being passive aggressive to his Aunt and Miss Emma when they ask him to help with Jefferson was very evident. As the book progressed we see Grant’s acceptance of the quest when Vivian, as a sort of ally mixed with supernatural aid, convinces him that he has to teach Jefferson. We also get a glimpse into Antoine’s role as a shadow of what Grant could become if he starts to think that all attempts to protest white supremacy would be futile and nothing would be change. Grant begins to do heroic things like giving Jefferson a radio to get his mind off the execution and generally caring more about Jefferson’s well being. However, around chapter 27-28, I didn’t quite feel like Grant was the main hero anymore. Instead, the hero became Jefferson.

Within the middle of Grant’s journey we start to see Jefferson’s journey start. He refuses the quest by insisting he is a hog and by just being really stubborn and giving his family a hard time. Then, after Grant talks to him while walking around, he finally accepts the quest by eating food and then later saying he knows he isn’t a hog and that he’ll try to achieve what Grant is asking of him. Within Jefferson’s journey, Grant is the supernatural aid-- giving him all this wisdom to convince him to take on the quest to go against the system of white supremacy. Within Grant’s journey, trying to turn Jefferson into a man who will fight the system his is big test and supreme ordeal. I guess, even though their journeys are pretty different, both of them need the other for their journeys to function smoothly to get the outcome Grant’s Aunt and Miss Emma want. Jefferson needs Grant to begin his journey, and Grant needs Jefferson to end his journey.

I also think that Jefferson’s journey is sort of an extension of Grant’s journey. Grant has gone to college and has enough outsider knowledge to see the white supremacy that so present in his society and start to question it and protest it. He goes against how he’s expected to act as a black man many times but there is a certain point where he can’t protest the system with widespread effects. That’s where Jefferson picks up that thread of the journey. Because everyone in this area is following Jefferson’s story, whatever Jefferson does many people are going to see. Grant trying to teach Jefferson sews their journeys together so Jefferson can accomplish what Grant wouldn’t be able to do by himself.

Anse is a Crab

A few days ago, the first thought as I woke up was, “Anse is a crab.” Crab, like the sea creature. I don’t know what happened in my sleep to convince me that Anse is a crab, but when I woke up it felt pretty solid. I’d somehow proven it in my mind.

Thinking about the book though, if Addie is both a fish and a horse then I wouldn't be surprised if Anse wound up as a crab. Anse does have some crabby qualities though. When Anse is rubbing his hands on his pants, doesn’t that seem similar to a crab slowly opening and closing its claws? Thinking about his next move?

After pondering why Anse could be a crab for a while when I was awake, I couldn’t really find any evidence for him resembling a crab-- physically or personality wise. I guess the connections I made in my sleep were too deep to uncover while awake. Do you see any similarities?

I guess now I’ll write my actual blog post.

Anse Isn't a Good Person

As I was reading this book, my opinion of Anse declined with each chapter. At first I felt a little sorry for him because he seemed lost without his wife. But, as time went on and I learned more about him and his ulterior motives, that sorrow turned into dislike and anger.

Now, having read the entire book, I’m confidently saying that Anse really isn’t a good person. He seemed to love Addie for what she could do for him instead of for who she really was. And, her used Addie all the way to the grave-- to “get them teeth” and a new wife. Would he really honor Addie’s dying wish if he didn’t have to get new teeth?

Anse also never steps up to be a good parent. He put cement on his son’s broken leg, and then wouldn’t take him to a doctor soon enough. I mean, who endangers their children like that? He also never accepts much hospitality from people they meet along the way, making his children sleep outside and possibly even go hungry (the Bundrens aren’t mentioned eating food at any point except the bananas at the end). He also takes his children’s things and sells them to in exchange for poor looking mules. In the exchange he sold Jewel’s horse-- which was entirely Jewels because he worked to pay for it with his own labor-- and spent Cash’s money. To be fair, Anse also sold some of his own things, but Jewel’s horse was irreplaceable. Towards the end of the book, he also stole money from Dewey Dell that she claimed didn’t even belong to her. For a man who wouldn’t accept charity from those they encountered on the trip because he didn’t want to be indebted to them, he seemed very eager to take those $10 from Dewey Dell.

I think the icing on the cake for me really being done with Anse is when he finds a new wife. Anse, having scolded Darl on the trip for laughing at Jewel on his horse saying, “I don’t expect you to have no respect for me, but with your own ma not cold in her coffin yet.” takes a new wife not even two weeks after Addie dies (106). Doesn’t that seem a little disrespectful; getting new teeth and a new wife while being “hangdog and proud” after his wife just died? (260) To me that makes Anse seem like a huge hypocrite.