Question

Now that you have read ALBD chapters 19-20, and completed Lesson 3.2, consider the symbolism in the names Mr. Gaines (the author) gives his characters. Using your knowledge of the novel's setting and the character's experiences, why do you think Gaines gives his major characters the names "Grant" and "Jefferson"? To what extent do these characters reflect or contradict their namesake?

Answer 1

In Ernest J. Gaines' novel "A Lesson Before Dying," the names of the two major characters, Grant and Jefferson, carry symbolic significance that reflects their roles and experiences in the story.

Grant, the novel's protagonist, is named after Ulysses S. Grant, the Union general who led the Northern Army during the American Civil War. Grant's namesake suggests a connection to the theme of freedom and equality that runs throughout the novel, as Ulysses S. Grant was instrumental in the fight to end slavery and bring about greater civil rights for African Americans. As an educated black man in the rural South, Grant struggles with his own sense of identity and purpose in a society that still values him as inferior. His name thus reflects his desire to break free from the limitations of his race and achieve true equality.

Jefferson, on the other hand, is named after Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and the author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson's namesake reflects his status as a victim of injustice and oppression, as Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner who championed the ideals of freedom and democracy while simultaneously denying those same rights to the people he enslaved. Like his namesake, Jefferson is wrongly accused of a crime he did not commit and is condemned to death by a white society that views him as less than human. His name thus reflects the irony and tragedy of his situation, as he is denied the very rights and freedoms that his namesake helped to enshrine.

In both cases, the characters' names reflect their struggle for identity and justice in a society that denies them those very things. While Grant and Jefferson's namesakes represent different aspects of the American experience, their own experiences in the novel reflect a shared struggle for freedom and dignity in the face of oppression. The symbolic significance of their names thus underscores the larger social and historical context in which their story takes place, and serves to highlight the ongoing struggle for equality and justice in the United States

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

In Ernest J. Gaines' novel A Lesson Before Dying, the author uses symbolism in the names of the major characters to convey their personalities, experiences, and the themes of the novel.

The character named Grant Wiggins, for example, is named after Ulysses S. Grant, the Civil War general who led the Union forces to victory. The name "Grant" suggests strength, leadership, and power, which are qualities that Grant Wiggins embodies as an educated black man who teaches in a segregated school in rural Louisiana. However, despite his name, Grant is initially reluctant to take on the task of teaching Jefferson, a young black man on death row who has been wrongly accused of murder. Over the course of the novel, Grant learns to live up to his name and becomes a leader in his community, working to help Jefferson and fight against racial injustice.

Jefferson, on the other hand, is named after the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. This is an ironic choice of name because Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner and author of the Declaration of Independence, which declared that "all men are created equal" while he himself owned slaves. Jefferson's name, therefore, is an indication of the systemic racism and injustice that he and others like him face in the novel. Like his namesake, Jefferson initially believes that he is inferior and unworthy of respect or dignity, but he gradually learns to see himself as a human being who is deserving of compassion and understanding.

In summary, the names of the major characters in A Lesson Before Dying are symbolic and reflect the characters' experiences and struggles. Grant's name suggests strength and leadership, while Jefferson's name is an ironic reference to a slave-owning president. However, both characters must overcome the limitations and prejudices of their namesakes to find their own strength, dignity, and humanity in a society that often denies them these qualities.