Response to Lindsey
Hello Lindsey, I agree with you that there seems to be no glimpse of hope in the first ten chapters. The tone of hopelessness was most prevalent in the text, and this was demonstrated by Miss Emma. Each of the three times Miss Emma and Grant visited Jefferson, he would show no interest in them by either looking at the ceiling or facing the walls, and this made Miss Emma feel hopeless because she always left the cell crying. Why do you think Grant played down his education level?
Response to Robert
Hello Robert, I concur with you that Grant once felt that what he was doing was meaningless, and his aunt and Miss Emma just forced him. Grant also felt kind of disgusted at the cell’s entrance that he security guards at the entrance had to search him as if he was a common criminal. Do you see any glimpse of hope as the novel progresses?
Response to Olivia
Hello Olivia, I support you in your discussion that it was imperative to African Americans to make something of themselves to prevent the white’s perception of animalization. I think Grant downplayed his education level when he told the sheriff that he had no idea of what making Jefferson a man meant. If the jury referred the blacks as hogs, what do you think of the judgment they gave?
Response to Jordan
Hello Jordan, I agree with you that Grant feels that it is no point going to talk to Jefferson and try to turn him into a man. Grant was also frustrated with the way he was being searched at the cell entrance. Do you see any glimpse of hope in the opening chapters of the text?