A Lesson before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines - 1155 Words

Chapter 1: Plot: Main character recalls the trial that he wasn’t present at. He knew that the verdict would be execution. Jefferson took a ride from Brother and Bear after drinking. When the police came to the store, Jefferson had money stuffed in his pockets and Brother, Bear and Mr. Alycee were dead. Jefferson will die by electrocution. Chapter 2 Plot: Grant Wiggins, who is a school teacher, comes home from work and tries to avoid his aunt, Tante Lou, and his godmother, Miss Emma. He sneaks into his room but realizes that it would be rude to ignore them. He walks into the kitchen and they tell him to sit down. Miss Emma tells Grant to teach Jefferson not to be killed like a hog and to die like a man and with dignity. Now they must visit Henri Pichot, who is the son in law of the sheriff, to see if he can lower the charges and let Jefferson live Chapter 3 Plot: They arrive at Henri Pichot’s estate and they go through the back door. In that time it is a sign of being lesser than the white man. Miss Emma and Tante Lou give him the guilt trip and remind him of all the work they have done for him and his family. He finally agrees to talk to the sheriff. Chapter 4 Plot: Grant drops off Miss Emma and tells his aunt he is going to Bayonne for dinner, which makes her angry because she was going to make dinner. He goes to see his girlfriend Vivian and asks her to leave town with him. She calls him a liar. Grant starts to find an inner struggle seeing if he can teach Jefferson howShow MoreRelatedA Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines1640 Words   |  7 PagesThe definition of what it means to be a human or a man, is a topic that is has been and is often discussed all over the world today. In the novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, Gaines breaks down the meaning of what it means to be a man thought a character named Grant Wiggins. Grant Wiggins is the main character of the novel and is a very educated African-American man who is also a teacher at a local church in the town. He is trying to define and understand the concept of what it meansRead MoreA Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines1094 Words   |  5 PagesA Lesson Before Dy ing by Ernest J. Gaines, Vintage Contemporaries  ©1993, 256pp. In his poignant and moving novel, A Lesson Before Dying, Ernest J. Gaines asks us questions that reignite our own quest for the meaning of compassion. What do you teach a man condemned to die? What lesson might be useful in the final month of a man’s life? Is there a futility that we succumb to when we accept the judgment of men? These are the questions faced by Grant Wiggins, a young, black school teacher who has returnedRead MoreA Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines1293 Words   |  6 Pageseveryone is a student and a teacher in their own discoveries about the lessons of life. As hard as it can be to assimilate in a situation where you re at a disadvantage, Grant Wiggins and Jefferson took the jaundiced community and made their mark on the static populace. Everyone deserves the right to grasp certain basic lessons, even if it is not encouraged in your society. As the title implies, in A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines, Grant and Jefferson acted as both the teac her and student in orderRead MoreA Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines926 Words   |  4 Pages I found A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines a deeply moving novel, which kept me on the edge of my seat and had a hard time putting down. The novel explores various themes and concepts that surround the education system, filled with multiple emotional moments, conflicts, and surprising moments scattered throughout the storyline. However, the novel does not just focus on the education system and its underlying issues, but it also focuses on human transformation, where the emotional momentsRead MoreA Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines960 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"A Lesson Before Dying† is known as an outstanding book, in which I would have to agree on. The book has many excellent messages and morals throughout its entirety, But no other message speaks out more than the message of â€Å"Becoming a Man† and the obstacles you must first tackle before achieving that message. The author of â€Å"A Lesson Before Dying†, Ernest J. Gaines, expresses this thr oughout the book immensely. In many ways also making this the theme of the book. Miss Emma says at the beginningRead MoreA Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines1122 Words   |  5 PagesThe Power of a Strong Character In the novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, racism and prejudice are clearly evident and talked about throughout the novel. The novel expresses the oppression of the blacks under a white-ruled society through the narrator, Grant. Grant is a well-educated black man who struggles to free himself from the oppression he has felt from the white community. Despite the fact that he is educated and a teacher, he initially lacks the vigor needed to take the firstRead MoreA Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines1321 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"You don’t get to choose how you’re going to die and when, you can only decide how you are going to live†. (Joan Baez). In the novel A Lesson Before Dying, written by Ernest J. Gaines, Jefferson doesn’t get to choose how and when he’s going to die, but he learns valuable lessons from Grant about how to live the rest of his life. This novel takes place in Bayonne, Louisiana, in the late 1940s. Jefferson is a twenty-one-year-old uneducated black man, who is accused of a robbery and murder that he didRead MoreA Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines Essay1011 Words   |  5 Pagesvery much felt that way. Blacks were oppressed in many ways including having unreachable requirements to vote, such regulations included literacy tests, poll taxes, and elaborate registration systems, but it only started there. The novel A Lesson Before Dying is about a young, college-educated man and a convict, Grant Wiggins and Jefferson. Grant is asked to make a man out of Jefferson who is convicted of killing a white man during a robbery in which he got dragged along to. Grant is asked by EmmaRead More A Lesson before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines Essay1992 Words   |  8 Pages A Lesson before Dying, one of Ernest J. Gaines later works, was written in 1993. Some of his earlier works include A Gathering of Old Men and In My Father’s House. The novel covers a time period when blacks were still treated unfairly and looked down upon. Jefferson, a main character, has been wrongly accused of a crime and awaits his execution in jail. Grant, the story’s main protagonist must find it within himself to help Jefferson see that he is a man, which will allow him to walk bravely toRead MoreA Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines1419 Words   |  6 Pagesfear and pity in the audience. In Ernest J. Gaine s’s novel, A Lesson Before Dying, Jefferson conforms to four out five of the characteristics, and it is the quality that he doesn’t meet that leads to all of his problems in the first place. By meeting four out of the five characteristics, Jefferson meets Aristotle s definition of a tragic hero. Jefferson is not of noble birth, in fact in his culture his is not even average. The society in which A Lesson Before Dying takes place is one that refuses

Oedipus Destiny and Fate Essay - 1333 Words

Although it is widely alleged that destiny is by choice, there are a vast number of people who believed that it is by fate. Those who believed it is by choice follow the directions and guidance of their elders. For example, they will try to hold on to the values that their parents instilled in them and use them to guide their entire lives. Others who believed that destiny is by fate, believe that the outcome of their lives is determined by luck, and that no matter what they do or how careful they are, whatever has to happen to them must happen. These proponents that emphasize that destiny is by fate may have gotten their belief from myth such as the story of Oedipus, which is a perfect illustration of how destiny is by fate. Just like†¦show more content†¦Throughout his childhood to manhood, Oedipus started to inherit little pieces of his past. But when he tried to obtain more information, no one would say anything. So he went to the Oracle of Delphi. There he was inform ed of his fate in an unclear way. When Oedipus heard of this, he left Corinth to avoid killing his adoptive father who he believes is his real father. On his way to Thebes, he runs into this chariot. It just so happens that this chariot had his birth father in it, but both father and son didn’t know nor recognize each other. They got into a heated fight because Laius ordered him out of the road. Oedipus thought of this demand as being an insult, and furthermore killed his father and his guards (Fun Trivia). As you can see, no matter how it’s sought out, whether knowing consciously or not, fate is going to come true. According to the story, â€Å"Oedipus the King† (trans. By Stephen Berg), a famous part of Oedipus’s life was when he came across the Sphinx at the cross roads that asks riddles to travelers. No one ever passed this intersection to or from Thebes because no one ever got one of his riddles correct. The specific riddle he asked Oedipus was: â€Å"What walks on four in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three at night?† Oedipus answered, â€Å" Man; as an infant he crawls on all four, as an adult he walks on two legs, and in old age he relies on a walking stick.† He was the first to answer a riddle correctly, which caused theShow MoreRelatedOedipus The King, Fate And Destiny1201 Words   |  5 Pagesplay, â€Å"Oedipus the King†. In case you did not know, Sophocles is from Greece. In Greek mythology there are three goddesses who preside over the birth and life of humans. Each person s destiny was thought of as a thread spun, measured, and cut by the three Fates, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. In the story â€Å"Oedipus the King† fate and destiny was the main theme. On Google the definition of destiny is the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future. Fate is definedRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - The Fate of Oedipus1239 Words   |  5 PagesThe Fate of Oedipus in Oedipus the King    In Oedipus the King there comes a point in the play where Oedipus learns something that plays an important role throughout the play.  Ã‚   He learns from a   oracle that he will eventually kill his own Father and sleep with his own mother.   As one could imagine this is a shock to Oedipus, and he does not believe the oracle.   However, he cannot prevent any of this from happening because it is his fate.   Oedipus is a victim of circumstancesRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Driven by Fate1105 Words   |  5 PagesThe Role of Fate in Oedipus Rex Before we approach this complex question inductively, we are at first obliged to contemplate what definitions and assumptions are being made. This essay, perhaps more so than others, requires a more extensive look at this aspect of the question, because of the sheer variety of possible responses. However, I now have reduced them to three possibilities. Firstly, we could make the assumption that perhaps as destiny controls all fates, then Oedipus character wasRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Victim of Fate3445 Words   |  14 PagesThe Victim of Fate in Oedipus Rex The question has been raised as to whether Oedipus was a victim of fate or of his own actions.   This essay will show that Oedipus was a victim of fate, but he was no puppet because he freely and actively sought his doom, although he was warned many times of the inevitable repercussions of his actions. When first considering this topic, I speculated that maybe it was the destiny of Oedipus to suffer, but a friend asked me to explain why Oedipus, in the actRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Fate and the Modern World966 Words   |  4 PagesOedipus Rex, Fate, and the Modern World  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the two thousand since â€Å"Oedipus Rex† was written, it has been analyzed and dissected innumerable times and in every possible way.   Usually the analysis has been within the context of the play itself or within the context of other Greek tragedies.   Perhaps it would be more relevant and interesting to evaluate the play within the context of the modern world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In his play Sophocles brings up many questions which are not easily answeredRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King3894 Words   |  16 PagesThe Concept of Fate in Oedipus Rex  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To the first-time reader of Sophocles’ tragedy, Oedipus Rex, it seems that the gods are in complete domination of mankind. This essay will seek to show that this is not the case because the presence of a tragic flaw within the protagonist is shown to be the cause of his downfall.    In the opening scene of the tragedy the priest of Zeus itemizes for the king what the gods have done to the inhabitants of Thebes:    A blight isRead More Boundaries of Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King1282 Words   |  6 PagesBoundaries of Fate and Free Will in Oedipus the King    The ancient Greeks firmly believed that the universe was guided strictly by order and fate. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles has examined the relationship between free will and fate, suggesting that free will paradoxically exists inside the boundaries of fate. It may be concluded, however, that man has free will and is ultimately held responsible for his own actions.    Oedipus destruction was brought about by a combination of fate and freeRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Defining Fate1000 Words   |  4 PagesFate in Oedipus Rex      Ã‚  Ã‚   During ancient times, the Greeks believed very strongly in a concept called fate.   What is fate?   Fate can be defined as a cause beyond human control that determines events.   It can also be defined as the outcome or end of some sort.   In Oedipus Rex, King Oedipus is a character that lived by fate and died by fate.   This element of fate truly impacted the storyline and the plot, while allowing for some interesting developments that may have been unforeseen byRead MoreDestiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Role of Fate635 Words   |  3 PagesThe Role of Fate in Oedipus the King In Oedipus the King, one can easily see the tragedy that comes when Oedipus lives out fate, although not of his own intentions. Oedipus did everything in his own power in order to keep the prophecies from being fulfilled. One might even say that Oedipus ran from fate. Webster defines tragedy as a medieval narrative poem or tale typically describing the downfall of a great man. Oedipus the King is certainly a tragedy, and as Dr. Lucas states in his blogRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - The Paradox of Free Will1318 Words   |  6 PagesA Paradox: Oedipuss Free will in the Play Oedipus Rex William Shakespeare once wrote, Who can control his fate? (Othello, Act v, Sc.2).  A hero and leader must acknowledge above all else his honor, and the pride of his image.   In ancient Greek beliefs, a hero was a man who stood taller than the rest; he was able to better any conflict.   He did this not for himself or for any token award that may be given to him, but for the security of his fellow man.   Physical strength and superior wit are

Prospero Free Essays

Prospero (the rightful Duke of Milan) is the protagonist of The Tempest, William Shakespeare’s final written play. Finding himself deserted on an island with his daughter Miranda after being betrayed by his own brother for power, Prospero ends up having twelve years of built up anger and revenge to dish out on those who have wronged him. From early on the readers see how Prospero’s use of magical powers from his spell books almost guarantee his authority on the island. We will write a custom essay sample on Prospero or any similar topic only for you Order Now In The Tempest, Shakespeare depicts Prospero as like a controlling puppet master whose desire to manipulate everyone and everything around him is shown consistently, with the use of magic. Prospero’s motivation is fueled by two main things. According to R.D Gooder, â€Å"The first is Prospero ‘s ambition to marry his daughter to the right sort of person; the second is his desire to be revenged upon his enemies† (4). From early on readers can see the protective nature that Prospero has for Miranda. He shelters her from knowledge about their past until the boat carrying his betrayers arrive. Prospero says to Miranda, â€Å"The hour’s now come. Obey and be attentive, the very minute bids thee ope thine ear† (Shakespeare 1.2.46-48). Prospero is finally about to tell Miranda how and why they ended up on the island. This scene lets the readers sympathize with his selfishness, shows the justification of his reasonings for using his spirit Ariel to stir up The Tempest (storm), and why he brings his betrayers on land. Prospero’s love for his daughter motivates him to make sure that she ends up with the right type of person. This should portray him as being a caring father at this point but his motivation for revenge shows the audience his bluff. The play slowly reveals that â€Å"the true internal necessity for his opposition being feigned lies in his double nature† (Snider 197). Miranda meeting and eventually marring Ferdinand, who is the prince of Naples, isn’t by chance. Prospero uses his magic and hold over Ariel to help them meet. This is just another little piece in Prospero’s real agenda to get revenge and his eventually dukedom back. Prospero is like a two-faced person; on the outside he seems like a dad wanting what is best for his daughter, but his real motives are what helps benefit him in the end. The relationships between Prospero and the people on the island seem different but he uses magic to manipulate every single person in some way shape or form. At first the readers catch a glimpse of the relationship between him and his brother. Antonio takes advantage of Prospero being so into the studying of his magic and books, â€Å"While Prospero’s nose was buried in his extensive library, his snaky brother manages to steal his title and gets him thrown out of Italy† (Shmoop Editorial Team). So, going forward from this, the audience can somewhat relate to why he acts the way he does. He uses Ariel as he pleases; it is always either him or Prospero manipulating every moment of everyone on the island. No one on this island is truly free; Prospero uses his magic to ensure that. Prospero also uses Ariel to spy on Caliban, who is described as a fish like man and a servant to Prospero. Caliban encounters Trinculo and Stephano, who are a Lester and a drunken butler. Caliban begs them to let him be their servant, saying â€Å"Ill show thee every fertile inch o’ th’ island, and I will kiss thy foot. I prithee, be my god† (Shakespeare 2.2.154-155). Caliban eventually talks them into killing Prospero, all while Ariel is listening. Betrayal for power is a big theme in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. First with Alonso and his pupils and now his servant Caliban. The way he puts them all through hell associates with the justice and revenge themes also plotted throughout the play. Illusion vs reality is also a big theme carried out by Prospero throughout this play. The whole time everyone is on the island, they are in an altered state of reality, tailored specifically to how he sees fit. The way this is used throughout the play forces both the characters and readers to wonder if something is real or the result of Prospero or Ariel’s doing. The audience can see it being used on his daughter Miranda, when he asks her to remember about her past and she says â€Å"tis far off, and rather like a dream than an assurance that my remembrance warrants† (Shakespeare 1.2.56-58). She is telling the audience that her memory of her life up to this point seems like a dream, with only Prospero’s illusions using magic to blame. Prospero stands for Prospero is portrayed to be a certain stereotypical character, the forceful, controlling, protective one. This is seen time and time again in the play. On the island Prospero and Miranda live among of his now servant Caliban, the son of a witch that was on the island before they arrive. Prospero takes the island from him, which is another way he shows the audience how controlling he is. At first, they live together nicely, and Miranda and Prospero even teach Caliban how to speak their language. They way they treat Caliban abruptly stops when Prospero catches Caliban trying to rape his daughter. Prospero says â€Å"Filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee in mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate the honor of my child (Shakespeare 1.2.415-418). Caliban becomes Prospero’s servant from this point on. Prospero’s stereotype is however, crafted to be broken. The way he changes throughout the play from how he is and becomes this forgiving, almost new person, makes for a very intriguing character. This also puts Prospero into the Round character category. Round characters are complex and develop through their stories, sometimes adequately to shock the readers. Prospero does end up surprising the audience in The Tempest in the last act of the play. Although Prospero remains the same self-centered, controlling man throughout the entire play, he changes from an unsympathetic character into a sympathetic one. He makes his servant Ariel to do much of the dirty work for him. He doesn’t care about his enemies and puts them through a lot while he sits back and watches. This is seen almost immediately in the beginning of the play as Prospero has Ariel disperse his brother Antonio, the king of Naples Alonso and his son Ferdinand, and everyone else that is on the boat onto different places on the island. Watching them scramble around, he is getting pleasure out of their disarray. All these things show Prospero’s superiority complex for control. According to the Shmoop webpage, â€Å"in Prospero, Shakespeare creates a figure who decides to forgive his enemies even though they betray him in the worst possible ways† (Shmoop Editorial Team). This is where he changes into a sympathetic character, surprising the audience by forgiving all his betrayers. How to cite Prospero, Papers

Career Assessment Paper free essay sample

In order for me to complete this career assessment paper, I initially took an Interest Inventory survey. Upon completing this process, it revealed that my personality profile score was (I, C, A). These three letters represented my strengths and interests in determining which career field would best suit me. The letter â€Å"I† represents the personality of investigating. This includes people who like to observe, learn, investigate, analyze or solve problems. Some of the careers that are associated with this include: Chemist, doctor, investigator, and engineer.The second letter, â€Å"C† from my profile score represents the personality trait of being conventional. This includes people who like to work with data, have clerical or numerical ability and pay attention to detail. Sample career profiles include: accountant, air traffic controller, computer operator and customer service. The final letter from my profile score is â€Å"A†. This letter represents the personality of being artistic. This type of person has innovative or intuitive abilities. We will write a custom essay sample on Career Assessment Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They usually like to work in an unstructured situation, using their imagination or creativity.Sample careers include: actor, architect, musician, stage director and writer. The results from the survey gave me a better understanding of my interest in the career field. When exploring each personality profile, I discovered that the letter â€Å"C† profile offered the most types of careers that would best suit my interests. The career that I selected from the list was the career of computer operator. Computers play a large part in our society today. They are used for various personal and business reasons and many people would find it difficult to live without them.For this reason, computer-related jobs are quite prominent in the job market. A computer operator has various duties depending on their specific job title and place of employment. The first duty of a computer operator is to enter data into the computer. The data which is entered may be related to ensuring the proper workings of the computer whereas other data that is entered into the computer by the computer operator may be relative to the job field in which the individual works within. The entering of data is an important part of the computer operator’s daily routine.Computer operators may also have to take calls from customers complaining of computer system issues. The computer operator will diagnose the problem and then walk the individual through how to fix the situation. Should further help be needed, the computer operator will contact the necessary parties or advise the customer how to do so on their own. There are a few traits which will come in handy in relation to the role of a computer operator. One trait which all computer operators should possess to aid them in their line of work is well-rounded computer knowledge.Computer operators have a wide array of duties which they must take part in on a daily basis. Computer operators should also be good communicators. This is due to the fact that computer operators will often have to deal with other individuals such as clients, coworkers and supervisory staff members. A computer operator must also be an inventive thinker. The computer operator will have to solve problems every now and again. With that being the case, one who fills this job role must be able to exhibit good problem solving skills in an inventive manner which will resolve any issues that may arise.Also, a computer operator should also be detail oriented. By having this type of trait, the individual will be able to dictate any computer related issues to the fullest extent. Whether there be problems or advancements made with relation to the computer department, the computer operator must be able to document such items in a detailed way. Since computer systems in an organization run through a network, operators who possess skills in computer networking will be in high demand. Due to technological developments, some of the computer operation tasks may be overtaken by automated software.Therefore, operators who are skilled in computer networking, database maintenance and user support will be in extremely high demand by employers across a range of industries. A career as a computer operator can bring you good earning opportunities if you possess excellent technical skills and carry a few years of working experience. The starting annual salary earned by computer operators is around $19,000. However, the average annual earning is around $30,000. With increasing experience and skills, a computer operators career can fetch you as much as $47,000 annually or more.Levels of training will vary depending on the specific roles you take up in a company. Many employers provide on-the-job training to workers. Computer operation field continues to evolve with the advent of latest technological developments. To boost your employability, you should complete a course in computer hardware or a relevant field. People with technical skills in computer hardware and networking with a couple of years working experience will receive the maximum career benefits.