Every work of literature has both a protagonist and an antagonist. In your opinion, who is the protagonist and who or what is the antagonist in A Lesson Before Dying? Give specific examples to prove your stand. (The deadline to post a response to this question is midnight, July 2, 2011.)
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Summer Blog #8: "A black man has three choices..."
Every work of literature has both a protagonist and an antagonist. In your opinion, who is the protagonist and who or what is the antagonist in A Lesson Before Dying? Give specific examples to prove your stand. (The deadline to post a response to this question is midnight, July 2, 2011.)
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While most people would think that Grant is the protagonist, I feel that he is far too grudging and reluctant to fit the title. Rather, I think that the protagonist is a combination of Tante Lou and Miss Emma, because they are the ones who are pushing for Jefferson's welfare, badgering Pichot and sending Jefferson food every week, as well as making Grant take up his burden. I think that hte main antagonist is probably the jury at the beginning, as they are the ones who really made the wrong decision of sentencing Jefferson . All the other potentials I have read about so far seem prejudiced, but not malicious in their actions.
In this novel, I believe that Grant is the protagonist for one main reason: the fact that he goes to attempt to help Jefferson even though he does not want to do it. The antagonists (not saying that they are "bad" people) would be the Reverend and Tante Lou because they are forcing Jefferson to become a man when, at the beginning of the novel, it is clear that Jefferson does not want to be a man. Even though I believe these two are the antagonists, their ultimate goal was achieved.
I would like to further discuss the role of an antagonist. An antagonist doesn't have to be "bad"/"evil"/"hateful." An antagonist is simply the person or thing presents the protagonist with a challenge or struggle. The antagonist can be something a person must overcome.
In my opinion, I believe that Grant is the protagonist because he goes through the challenge of transforming Jefferson into a man. Because the challenge was a struggle for Grant, I think that Jefferson is the antagonist because he was the character who was not willing to become a man, or even accept the help that Grant was offering him. Therefore, Grant's task of turning Jefferson into a man was more difficult.
I believe that Grant is the protagonist in this novel because he trys to help Jefferson become a man. I also believe that Jefferson is the antagonist at the beginning of the book because he was unwilling to participate with Grant or his aunt. For example, he did not speak to Grant or his aunt when they came to visit him. However, Grant was able to overcome Jefferson's attitude and make him a better man before he was executed.
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