‘ Tante Lou is a spiritual woman, who cares deeply about her faith and about others. She is presented as a maternal figure.
Is Tante Lou Grant’s aunt?
Tante Lou. Grant’s aunt, and a deeply religious woman. Tante Lou resents Grant’s cynical atheism, perhaps because she feels it reflects badly on the way she raised him. Tante Lou took in Grant when his parents moved away and became a mother figure to him.
What are Tante Lou and Emma asking Grant to do?
Miss Emma and Tante Lou reveal that they want Grant’s help. They want him to help them get access to Jefferson.
What does Tante Lou want from Grant?
Tante Lou is a positive force in Grant’s life and in the community. In some ways, she is responsible for Grant’s evolution. She demands that he behave with compassion and bravery, nagging him to help Jefferson and insisting that he speak with the Pichots in order to gain visitation rights at the prison.
What do you think aunt Lou means when she refers to Vivian as a lady of quality ‘?
The ladies description of Vivian as a “lady of quality” includes elements of both praise and a mild resentment. Tante Lou says, “quality ain’t cheap,” degrading Vivian as an object for sale even while she puts her on a pedestal.
Is Tante Lou religious?
Tante Lou cares about her Christian faith so much that she is initially suspicious of Vivian, a woman that Grant brings home.
How is Miss Emma related to Jefferson?
A big, sweet, old woman, Miss Emma has taken care of Jefferson his whole life as his godmother (or as they say in Louisiana, nannan).
Why does Miss Emma hit Jefferson?
Several days later, Grant overhears Tante Lou and Miss Eloise discussing Miss Emma’s last visit with Jefferson and learns that Miss Emma slapped Jefferson for repeating his degrading act of imitating a hog.
What is Grant’s relationship to Jefferson?
Further, although Grant and Jefferson are not blood relatives, they are connected through their common experiences as black males. Although physically free, Grant lives in a mental prison of his own making created by his hatred of whites, his arrogance, and his detachment from the black community.
Why does Paul admire Grant in the end?
Paul, the young white deputy at the jail, sees beyond the color of Jefferson’s skin and feels compassion for his situation. He appreciates, too, the part Grant Wiggins plays in trying to make the rest of Jefferson’s life, and the thought of his upcoming death, more bearable. Paul tries to treat Wiggins with respect.
What is Reverend Ambrose’s termination song?
When Grant and Vivian left the house Reverend Ambrose started singing his ‘Termination song, “Amazing Grave.”
What is the internal conflict that Grant has regarding Tante Lou?
Grant and Tante Lou are in conflict because of his ungratefulness. Grant and Jefferson are in conflict while Grant struggles to make him a man.
What information does grant learn from Vivian?
Vivian tells Grant that she is happy to know that at least other families criticize their children as much as her family does. Grant insists that his family differs from hers. Vivian becomes very quiet and then says she must go.
What does Vivian whisper to Miss Emma?
When they get to the bar, Vivian tells Grant the she thinks one of his students is in love with him. Grant asks her what she said to Miss Emma, and Vivian reveals that she told Miss Emma she is praying for both of them.
How is Grant and Vivian’s relationship developing?
Grant’s relationship with Vivian appears to be rather one-sided. Grant expects her to be there for him, but he thinks of her only in terms of his wants and needs. Vivian is there to satisfy his need for sex and conversation. She is there to support him and to nurse his wounds.
What does Grant say about church faith?
Grant shows more open hostility to organized religion, casually saying that he didn’t get around to discussing the church. Based on what we’ve already seen, Grant seems to dislike religion because it encourages people to accept their fate in life.
What happened to Grant’s parents in A Lesson Before Dying?
Family Life
For example, Grant was raised by his mother’s aunt, because his parents are out in California. Tante Lou raised his mother, too, when her mother took off. Jefferson is raised by his godmother, Miss Emma, because his parents aren’t around.
Who is Paul in A Lesson Before Dying?
A white deputy sheriff at the jail where Jefferson is held, and the only guard who treats Jefferson and Grant with respect. Paul shows many signs that he wants Grant to succeed in inspiring Jefferson to be brave.
