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This is a place for us to discuss openly and honestly the literature we are reading. Here we are all just communicating our thoughts on what we are reading. There are no right and wrong answers. However, you are expected to be polite, mature, and on topic.
3 comments:
There is a tremendous struggle between Grant and the Rev.--each man offering what he can and knowing it is not enough for Jefferson and each man seeing life through his own means. I applaud Rev. Ambrose because though he isn't educated to the degree of Grant, he is wise. One of the most powerful things he says to Grant is "What did you learn (at college) about your own people? What did you learn her - her ‘round there?” he said, gesturing towards the other room and trying to keep his voice down.
I didn’t answer him. “No, you not educated, boy,” he said, shaking his head. “You far from being educated. You learned your reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic, but you don’t know nothing. You don’t even know yourself. Well?”
“You’re doing the talking, Reverend.” “And educated, boy,” he said, thumping his chest. “I’m the one that’s educated. I know people like you look down on people like me, but” - he touched his chest again - “I’m the one that’s educated” (Page 215).
Reverend Ambrose explains to Grant the meaning of education. Grant may have a college degree, but an educated man knows himself, knows his people and their suffering. Reverend Ambrose’s understanding and empathy for his people is his education. In their conversation, Reverend Ambrose asks Grant if he knew about Tante Lou’s hands, scarred from cutting cane to pay for Grant’s college. Or her knees scarred from praying for Grant. Grant doesn’t know about any of this, she’d hid it from him. This shows his wisdom, his care, his strength. Also, we must note that Rev. Ambrose is able to witness the execution while Grant can't. His religious strength, and his "people" strength illustrate that in so many ways he is stronger than Grant.
I agree with Ms. Palombo with the whole situation about both men offering what they can and neither one of them offering enough to Jefferson. Reverend Ambrose i think is more right in this situation. He makes Grant come to the realization that he might have an education, but with out religion his education means nothing. Grant might be educated but he is not as wise and educated with the "people" as Reverend Ambrose is.
"Deep in you, what you think?" Reverend Ambrose suddenly turned from looking out into the darkness. "Deep in you?"
"About what, Reverend?"
"Him? What's he thinking? What he's thinking deep in him? Deep in you what you think?"
"Who knows what somebody else is thinking? They say one thing, they may be thinking about something else-who can tell?"
"You the teacher." "Deep in you, you think he know, he done grasped the significance of what it's all about? Deep in you?"
"The significance?"
"The gravity."....
Then Reverend Ambrose ask Grant if he knows about Jeffersons soul and he replies that he does not know anything about the soul. I think these two passages show how Gaines wanted to portray how religion can really make you educated and give you more of an understanding about life and feelings. Therefore making Reverend Ambrose the more educated one in the situation.
Jenna Anderson
I agree with Jenna when she says that the reverend was more educated in this situation. Grant kept saying he didn't know over and over which definitely made him seem more ignorant to the question on the soul. Ms. Palombo I think chose the best passage to show Grant's struggle with religion. He is "educated" but it isn't schooling that makes an educated person it takes understanding and that passage illustrates that. The passage I chose is the conversation between Grant and Reverend Ambrose about the radio.
"God," the minister said. "He ain't got but five more Fridays and a half. He needs God in that cell, and not that sin box."
"What sin box?" I said.
"What do you call that kind of music he listen to?" The minister asked. "Us standing in there trying to talk to him, and him listening to that thing till she got to reach over and then it off -- what you call it?"
"I call it company, Reverend Ambrose," I said.
"And I call it sin company," he said.
"And I don't care what you call it!" I said to him. (Page 181)
Grant goes on to explain to the minister that that was the first time he was ever able to reach Jefferson and he wants to make him as comfortable as possible. This passage is extremely significant because it was the first time Grant has ever stood up to anyone. Gaines uses it to show a more demanding stronger man in Grant in contrast to the man who always did what he was told and felt sorry for himself. Grant definitely won this battle because he was doing what was right for Jefferson. It's just music and he needed something like that to comfort him. The reverend wasn't even considering Jefferson's happiness when he said he needed to take that radio away.
Holly McKenzie
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