Readin Response #1 - The Help by Kathryn Stockett

July 17, 2011

Pages 1 - 35

Chapters 1 - 2

Mothering, wise Aibileen. Smart mouthed, feisty Minny. Manipulative, ruthless Miss Hilly. Unsure, middle class Mrs. Leefolt. Realistic, optimist Miss Skeeter. These are the ladies that make up The Help. Aibileen and Minny are African American maids, living in Jackson, Mississippi, trying to play by the white people's rules. Miss Hilly and Mrs. Leefolt are white women, too busy socializing to realize they are ignoring the needs of their families, and treating "the help" like they are less than human. And Miss Skeeter is a educated, aspiring journalist trying to change the way things are in Jackson, without much luck.

So far I have seen many similarities between The Help and A Lesson Before Dying. They are set 20 years apart, but white people still treat African Americans much the same. Segregation is the biggest issue both books have in common. In the first 2 chapters Mrs. Leefolt is worried how she will look to the community by having a black maid using the same restroom the white people use. She solves this by building the help a separate restroom. I think this shows how the race issue really plays into the classes of society. The rich Miss Hilly would never dream of sharing a restroom with a black person. Being in the middle class, Mrs. Leefolt didn't see it as an issue before it was brought up. That shows during this time, how class affects the amount of racism exposed to.

And then there is Miss Skeeter, who is rich. I think why she seems to recognized the help as equals goes back to her childhood. She is looking for her maid, Constantine, who raised her. I think they fact that she sees maids as motherly figures opens her eyes to how they are truly people. So I wonder how Mae Mobley, Mrs. Leefolt's daughter who Aibileen takes care of, will look at African Americans as she gets older. Will her mother's beliefs influence her, or will she be like Miss Skeeter and treat them with respect?

The Help also explains a side of society we've never seen much of before. The story of women during the 60's. This was still a time when women were supposed to be wife and mothers and do nothing more than serve their man and care for their children. Ironic that the only job they've been given, they don't even do. The help raises the children and cares for the house. So how does this book depict white women? So far, my impression is that they're lazy. I see this book revealing how the dynamic in society during the 60's is not as we may have always seen it to be, meaning the home make up we know from "Leave it to Beaver" isn't quite the truth. I think The Help will show us how maids' importance in society during that time has been greatly underappreciated.

"9780141039282." Book Depository.com. Web. 17 Jul 2011. <http://cache0.bookdepository.co.uk/assets/images/book/medium/9780/1410/9780141039282.jpg>.

Final Response - A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines

July 12, 2011

A Lesson Before Dying defiantly has a fitting title. The lesson Grant learns is something that can apply to anyone, still today. He learned that you have to open yourself to others to really know who you are and how to love. Grant despised white people, because a select few treated him like he was worthless. But he learned, that wasn't a fair representation and made a new friend after he gave them a chance and got to know him. This is what developed to be the theme of the novel.

The book also spoke on how to accept yourself., which is another theme. Grant's journey was long, and through Jefferson he learned he needed to stand up for what he believed in, instead of just listening to the rules. Sometimes you have to look in others to find out who you truly are. This what highlight by the fact the Jefferson is a foil to Grant character. He made characteristic of Grant more pronounced to both himself and the reader, so we learned more about Grant's true personality.

Grant was lost until he began his meetings with Jefferson. He did what he was told and resented everything around him for it. It's my belief that is because he would never do for himself, because he was too scared. He was a smart man, and that is why he knew if he stood up for himself, the white people would eat him alive. The reason behind Jefferson's death, was to show Grant it's possible for him to be who he is, with no regrets, and gain respect from all in the community.

The charters of the book are easy to relate to. Gaines makes us feel emotions for all the characters. Sympathy for Miss Emma. Annoyance at Grant. Pity for Jefferson. A wide variety of emotions toward Aunt Lou. He make the characters hold traits that everyone find relatable, therefore making his novel more personal. He paints a wonderful depiction of the racial issues during that time. Gaines teaches us all a great lesson about how it is never too late to discover ones' self, and to carry yourself with pride for who you are and where you came from.

"A Lesson Before Dying Trailer." Youtube. Web. 12 Jul 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9aFk6-n6X0>.

Reading Response #12 - A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines

July 12, 2011

Pages 226 - 256

Chapters 29 - 31

Finally it's over. Jefferson walked to the chair, like a man, and died in a way that made not only his community proud, but the white community as well. He was the strongest one in the room. The final chapters have thoughts from other people's point of views. Some white, some black, but Jefferson's execution made an impact on all. This is because he showed everyone that it is possible to break away from what is expected of you, and that one person can make a difference.

I think the constant biblical references were trying to show the need for someone to have faith in a God, or else the won't have anything to live for. Once Jefferson and Grant both started to accept God, both found peace in themselves. Also to compare Christ's death to Jefferson's. Jefferson was, in a way, a savior. He showed the white people that black are humans. He show that white people are no better than blacks. He saved his people from being stuck in a pattern that had occurred for the past 300 years, and would continue if he has not done what he did. Most importantly, he showed Grant what it meant to truly love someone and how to open himself to new friendship.

Reading Response #11 - A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines

July 12, 2011

Pages 204 - 225

Chapters 26 - 28

Grant has finally come to the realization he is a lost soul. He has nothing to believe in. Even his love for Vivian has been questioned. He doesn't know why things happen the way they do. Even though he is a teacher and he is supposed to. He can't tell Jefferson what he needs to, to give him peace of mind about going to Heaven. He's realized that, while he thinks he had himself figured out, he doesn't. Jefferson, however, has everything figured out. He's alright with the fact that he's going to die, because that is what God put him on Earth for.

My earlier belief that Jefferson would end up teaching Grant something is correct. I think Jefferson was the storm that shook Grant's fundament beliefs, to the point where Grant's not sure what is right or wrong. It's interesting how things has taken such a turn for the two characters and how they've seen to have taken on the others personality. Now that Jefferson has found his peace, he can help Grant find his.

Quote #11 - A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines

July 12, 2011

Page 218

"...They sent you to school to relieve pain, to relieve hurt - and if you have to lie to do it, then you lie..."

-Reverend Ambrose to Grant while trying to convince him to lie to Jefferson

When you picture a pastor, you don't picture a liar, but that's exactly what Reverend Ambrose is telling Grant he is. He thinks it is better to lie to ease people's grief than it is to tell the truth. This is where I believe Jefferson's line of thinking has been this whole book. He lies to himself, and to others, saying he's a hog to ease their grief. But now that he is getting to know Grant, who only wants to speak the truth, he doesn't want to lie. He wants to be honest with himself and with others. He's done lying to relieve people of grief, because the only way for Jefferson and the people who care about him can heal, is to grieve.

Reading Response #10 - A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines

July 12, 2011

Pages 187 - 204

Chapters 24 - 25

What do you imagine when you think of a hero? A fireman? A person serving in the military? A young man on death row? That is what Grant tries to convince Jefferson he is. Grant thinks Jefferson is the only hope the black community has to prove to the white people, that they are equals. He thinks Jefferson can show them, that by dying as a man, that they are not below white people. I think he believes if the community sees that Jefferson can stand up to the white people, they can too, and that will be the first step to ending the racist word they live in.

So how can his death be heroic? The importance has been placed on Jefferson dying like a man, which simply meant him dying with his head held high. But to die a hero would mean he would have to take it a step further. To show the white community that blacks are worth more than they think they are. If he shows respect to the men who are going to kill him, he could die a hero. If he showed no fear, only love and pride for his community, they he would die a hero. Jefferson just has to believe in himself before he can do that.

He also wants Jefferson to fight for something he believes in, because Grant never has. Up until now that is. Grant gets into a fight with two men in a bar, because they are bad-mouthing Jefferson. This is the first time Grant has ever done anything that was not expected of him. He wanted to stand up for something he believes in, and he believes Jefferson is worth something. This is a great feat for Grant, to do something on his own accord, not because he was told to. Maybe this is the first steps for him breaking away and really acting on his wishes. Maybe Grant can become a hero for the community too.

Martyrs are people who die for a cause they believe in. So what would be the cause for Jefferson to believe in? That black people are equal to whites? I guess he could try to prove that, but they seems to be a bigger issue than he can conquer alone. Just to prove he is a man? Well yeah, that would show them something, but it's not really a cause. What if he dies for all other boys like him? What if the thing he dies for is to show that they don't have to end up like him, and they do have a chance at a better life. Why else would Jefferson write a journal? It isn't for him to look back on in later years, but it's for Grant to share with his students. Jefferson is a martyr for the future society. He's fighting to be someone the community can look up to, but also to be someone little boy can look to and think "I don't have to do that. I have other options." In a way Jefferson is admitting his own stupidity, and encouraging others to be smarter than he is.

"supermen 8.jpg." Churchill JCR. Web. 12 Jul 2011. <http://jcr.chu.cam.ac.uk/ents/Churchill%20JCR%20Ents%20-%20WordPress/jcr.chu.cam.ac.uk/ents/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/superman-8.jpg>.

Quote #10 - A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines

July 12, 2011

Pages 191 - 192

"... I want you to know them the difference between what they think you are and what you can be. To them, you're nothing but another nigger - no dignity, no heart, no love for your people. You can prove them wrong. You can do more than I can ever do. I have always done what they wanted me to do, teach reading, writing, and arithmetic. Nothing else - nothing about dignity, nothing about identity, nothing about loving and caring. They never thought we were capable of learning these things. 'Teach those niggers how to print their names and how to figure on their fingers.' And I went along, but hating myself all the time for doing so."

-Grant telling Jefferson how he has the ability to be a hero for their community

Grant has now gone deeper than just telling Jefferson he is not a hog. Grant is now trying to convince Jefferson he can be a hero. He can stand up for his community and take pride in where he comes from. He can be the first person for them to have pride in. He can also teach the community a lesson. It seems as if Jefferson now has a chance to become the teacher. If Jefferson can teach the community what it's like to have dignity and pride, maybe he can prevent the children from becoming like him because he can show them there are other options for them to take.

Grant also explains why he is really angry at the people around him. It is because he is angry at himself. Grant never pushed the boundaries. He never tried to do more than what the white men told him to do. And he regrets it every day, and doesn't want Jefferson to be the same way. But what could Grant have done if he knew about dignity? Would he have stood up to white men and acted as he truly wanted to? Or would he have even more shame in himself because he was to scared to be different? Maybe it's not just that Grant was scared of the consequence from the white community, but he also fears of rejection by his own community also.

But why wouldn't Jefferson have the same fear? He has 5 weeks left before he dies. My guess is that Jefferson is to the point where he has nothing to lose. Grant knows that everything Jefferson does now is what he will be remembered for. If he stands up to the white people, something everyone wants to do but is afraid to, he will be remember for being a symbol of hope for their community. Not shame for being a murderer. I think Grant is trying to get Jefferson to do something that's not only beneficial to himself, but to his community also. He wants Jefferson to show the white community that African Americans aren't all willing to just accept the way things are and some are willing to fight against it. Maybe something as small as this one event will put enough fear or respect in the white community that things will being to change.

Here Grant is telling Jefferson that he has a chance to be different. He can act like no one of his kind has done before. I see this quote as encouragement for Jefferson, but also a looking into what the beginning of the civil rights movement started by. It what the ideas during this time that pushed people like Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks to fight for what they did. It was words like that that convinced them to push for change in later years. So this quote can actually allude to the same things said during the movement, and the motivation behind it.