Looking Ernest Gaines's A Lesson Before Dying as following the Campbell's model of a hero's journey, I'm wondering who the real hero of the story is. At first, the obvious answer seems to be Grant, the narrator of the story. Many aspects of his journey follow the classic hero's journey in an unconventional, yet still accurate way. He quite clearly refuses the quest of helping Jefferson, and has to go through several trials to get to Jefferson's cell.
However, being very close to the end of the story now, I have found Jefferson to be a much more likely candidate for the hero of this story. His ultimate goal is to walk to the electric chair like a man, not saying a word; proof that he is more a man than any of those calling him a hog. He initially refuses this quest quite blatantly, but over time eventually accepts the quest, urged on by Grant. Grant I see more as "supernatural" aid: he has a college education, which is almost supernatural in his community, and he is the person who is mostly able to aid Jefferson in his mental quest. The unknown that he enters is one of deep reflection; he has to think about the world in a completely different way than he's used to. The radio, as well as the notebook and pencil, both are talismans, with the radio keeping his sanity while waiting in the cell, and the notebook allowing him to write down his thoughts. Everything fits together so well when matching the hero's journey to be a mental one with Jefferson.
The idea was brought up in class of there being two parallel hero's journeys with Grant and Jefferson, but I disagree. While Grant does match somewhat to the Campbell model, there are a lot of things that make more sense with Jefferson than with Grant. For one thing, I haven't noticed a real talisman for Grant, while Jefferson has at least two clear talismans. The main problem I have with calling Grant the hero, however, is the final ordeal. No matter who's journey it is, the final ordeal is Jefferson walking to that electric chair. I see Grant as a mentor figure because of this. Sure, Grant is doing what he can to make Jefferson a man before he dies, but it all ultimately comes down to how Jefferson walks to that chair - it is up to Jefferson. Grant is preparing Jefferson for this moment, supplying him with philosophical advice, requests, and objects to help him along the way. While Grant has his own journey to fulfill all of this, all of it comes down to Jefferson. Thus, I disagree with the idea of it being a parallel journey, though I do see the argument for it.
Friday, March 31, 2017
Friday, March 10, 2017
Epilogue
The end of William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying leaves a number of loose ends open for the Bundren family. Dewey Dell's attempts at abortion were refused, taken advantage of, and finally destroyed with Anse's stealing of her money. Cash's leg has been broken at least twice in addition to whatever the cement and sledge hammer did to it, likely breaking it beyond repair. Darl has been sent off to the asylum in Jackson. Even poor Vardaman didn't get his toy train. All of this, and the family still has to somehow cram the new Mrs. Bundren onto their wagon.
A number of questions arise from this. The first is how on earth the Bundrens are getting home. Besides the issue of space, as well as the preservation of whatever may remain of Cash's leg, the bridge is still most likely out. It was hard enough to get across the river before, with Darl and Cash more able to help with the wagon. I don't see that wagon, seemingly about to break apart as it is, getting across the river. Best case scenario, I'd imagine the wagon being left behind (along with Cash's tools and anything else in there), and everyone somehow making it across.
Assuming the Bundrens get back home to their farm, then what happens? Darl and Cash can't work for obvious reasons, and poor Anse will die if he sweats. Vardaman seems too young, Dewey Dell most likely won't be able to work with her pregnancy, and I seriously doubt that the new Mrs. Bundren will be helping out with that sort of work either. Poor Jewel will, assuming he's still intact after the journey home, have to do all of the work. Anse might be able to get other people to help him; from what others say about him he seems pretty good at that. Or, they could move and try to pursue more reasonable opportunities. Except for the fact that humans were built upright, like trees, so there's no way the lovely pater familias of this family will let them do so.
And then, assuming that the Bundrens, who had a hard enough time with three able workers, are able to make due with one (probably unhappy worker without his beloved horse), there's still the issue of raising a newborn child. Dewey Dell was never able to get her abortion, and I doubt Anse will sell his teeth to try to pay for one, nor will the family have the ability to part with enough to somehow get one (assuming they can find someone willing to do the job). How is this family going to raise a newborn, on what meager supplies they have? And even if this child survives, what kind of a person will they end up growing up to be with this sort of a family?
I'm glad Faulkner ended the story where he did. Reading about what happens to this poor family after such a horrible journey would depress me too much. I guess that's just typical Anse.
A number of questions arise from this. The first is how on earth the Bundrens are getting home. Besides the issue of space, as well as the preservation of whatever may remain of Cash's leg, the bridge is still most likely out. It was hard enough to get across the river before, with Darl and Cash more able to help with the wagon. I don't see that wagon, seemingly about to break apart as it is, getting across the river. Best case scenario, I'd imagine the wagon being left behind (along with Cash's tools and anything else in there), and everyone somehow making it across.
Assuming the Bundrens get back home to their farm, then what happens? Darl and Cash can't work for obvious reasons, and poor Anse will die if he sweats. Vardaman seems too young, Dewey Dell most likely won't be able to work with her pregnancy, and I seriously doubt that the new Mrs. Bundren will be helping out with that sort of work either. Poor Jewel will, assuming he's still intact after the journey home, have to do all of the work. Anse might be able to get other people to help him; from what others say about him he seems pretty good at that. Or, they could move and try to pursue more reasonable opportunities. Except for the fact that humans were built upright, like trees, so there's no way the lovely pater familias of this family will let them do so.
And then, assuming that the Bundrens, who had a hard enough time with three able workers, are able to make due with one (probably unhappy worker without his beloved horse), there's still the issue of raising a newborn child. Dewey Dell was never able to get her abortion, and I doubt Anse will sell his teeth to try to pay for one, nor will the family have the ability to part with enough to somehow get one (assuming they can find someone willing to do the job). How is this family going to raise a newborn, on what meager supplies they have? And even if this child survives, what kind of a person will they end up growing up to be with this sort of a family?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)