In “A Lesson Before Dying”, there’s a sense that every character has his or her own role to play within the story. For example, Grant’s role is to be a teacher to his own students and Jefferson, Tante Lou’s role is to take care of Miss Emma including Grant, and Jefferson’s role is to learn that he is a man. However, one character that has an unclear role is Reverend Ambrose. He does have the same role as Grant, but he’s ineffective within his role. He is unable to make a connection or have any influence on Jefferson. All the while he criticizes Grant for basically doing what is asked of him.
As if Reverend Ambrose is annoyed at Grant, he keeps pushing him to do things that Grant doesn’t want to. Take chapter 27 for example, he tells Grant to teach Jefferson the words of God as he says, “This is a mean world. But there is a better one. I wish to prepare him for that better world. But I need your help”, knowing that Grant is not a religious person (Gaines 214). Personally, I don’t think that it’s wrong to teach Jefferson the words of God, but I disagree with the way Reverend Ambrose is going about it. He spends a good amount of time criticizing Grant and how Grant is “not educated”, even though Grant is doing his best to help Jefferson.
Another incident involving Reverend Ambrose is his hatred against listening to a radio in chapter 23. I understand that Jefferson might have too far with choosing to listen to the radio rather than meeting his godmother. However, that doesn’t justify Reverend Ambrose's criticism of Grant, saying, “’ Listen to the teacher of our children” and “We got to have it your way or else, that’s it?” (Gaines 182-183). My frustration is that Grant is doing his best to connect with Jefferson and here’s someone that is so critical on Grant even though it is also his role to teach Jefferson. If Reverend Ambrose doesn’t like Grant’s teachings, then why can’t he teach Jefferson himself. He would just need to find own way to connect with Jefferson. Quite honestly, I think Reverend Ambrose's only role is to criticize Grant.
Ambrose seems like someone who wants to be helpful to Emma's cause, but whose views directly oppose those of Grant's. As a result, he becomes almost a villain or enemy, rejecting Grant's views and trying to work against him, even for a common cause.
ReplyDeleteAmbrose's role is quite confusing in this story. He's certainly on Mrs. Emma's side and has to goal of helping Jefferson. I thought of Ambrose and Grant as teachers, but of different subjects: Grant is supposed to teach Jefferson to be a man, and Ambrose is supposed to teach Jefferson about religion and the afterlife. Although Ambrose and Grant often have many conflicts, I wouldn't say that Ambrose is a villain or enemy. I saw him as more of an ineffective ally (as he had the same goal as Grant).
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