Characterization is one of the centerpieces of Ernest Gaines’ novel, A Lesson Before Dying. Clearly, Mr. Gaines spent a lot of time developing the central characters in this novel. It also gave considerable development to some of the supporting characters in the story. I think one of the reasons the story is so compelling is that the character development of the authors is painstaking. Characters are people you like and respect like Vivian Baptiste, characters you empathize with like Jefferson’s godmother, Miss Emma, and characters you sometimes love and sometimes hate like Grant Wiggins.
The main characters, such as Grant Wiggins and Vivian Baptiste, are well-developed round characters, as are some of the supporting characters, such as Louis Washington, Jr. Although, Louis Washington, Jr., a static character is in the story primarily as a contrast. for Mr. Wiggins. and the other students, Mr. Gaines still provides some background information that helps complete his character. Louis Washington, Jr. could have simply been left as a one-dimensional flat character and still would have served his purpose well (contrast). However, the author shows that he decided that the entire characters were going to be the centerpiece of his novel when he shared with the reader this information found on page fifty-five of the novel: “He was without a doubt the worst kid ever. school”. . He came from a large family – thirteen, fourteen, fifteen: I don’t know how many – and he had to fight for every crumb of food he could get. “Mr. Gaines, by sharing that information, gives the reader an insight into Louis’ psyche. Washington, Jr., which helps the reader understand some of the character’s behavior problems that occur later in the story.
Grant Wiggins serves as the protagonist of the story. As the storyteller, we see the story through your eyes and through your frame of reference. Grant Wiggins is a very complex character. He is a man torn between his desire to escape the racism and oppression of the Deep South, but we have a feeling that internally he believes that he can make a difference in the lives of the children he teaches. Throughout the story, he tries to convince Vivian, and thus himself, that she is the reason he stays on the plantation. Instinctively she knows better and tries to get him to admit that there are other reasons why he stays on the plantation besides her. Conflict surrounds Grant Wiggins – at home, at work, and even in his love life. He is in conflict with his aunt whom he obviously loves and respects and what he sees as her attempts to control and interfere with his life. At the beginning of the story, he is torn between giving two old ladies his wishes that he visit and help Jefferson and the fact that doing so puts him directly on the path of the racism and bigotry that he has striven to avoid. He feels obligated to help others and on numerous occasions shows great concern for others. Twice at Mr. Pichots’ home, despite feeling humiliated and embarrassed by the treatment he received, he tried to make the situation bearable for Inez’s sake. He suffered the humiliation of being searched and rudely spoken in jail for honoring the request of his aunts and Miss Emma and by Jefferson.
The antagonist of the story is clearly the setting and setting of the story: the deep south. It is very clear that Grant is in conflict with the discriminatory institutions, policies and culture of Louisiana and life on the plantations. Grant constantly evaluates his reason for being on the plantation and his reasons for being a teacher there. He has memories of his childhood days on the plantation and his time as a student at the same church where he now teaches. As an adult, he sees that life on the plantation does not seem to change from generation to generation. He remembers a conversation he had with his old teacher that he went to visit. During the conversation recalled on page sixty-four, his former childhood teacher tells him: “You will see that it will take more than five and a half months to clean, peel-scrape the cloak of ignorance that has been plastered and plastered.” . I have spilled over those brains in the last three hundred years. “Grant obviously knows there is some truth to that statement and is torn between fleeing the plantation and living somewhere else where there is a chance that he could have a better life for himself. However, he cannot leave the people who need his help. He stays on the plantation with his aunt because he feels an obligation to do so. He continues to teach and, although he is certain that many of the students will end up dead or in prison , as did many of his classmates.Also, when his aunt and Miss Emma approach him with their plans for him to help Jefferson, he actually resists very little.
The story is a powerful story of hope and inspiration because of the characters that make it up. The amount of background information we receive about the characters brings them to life and whether we like them or not, we feel as if they live breathing people. I’m sure many readers of this story will feel the pain of Miss Emma, the conflicting emotions that run through Grant Wiggins, and the stress of life in the neighborhood.
(c) 2006, Marcus Barber