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Symbolism In A Lesson Before Dying

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Symbolism In A Lesson Before Dying
A Lesson Before Dying-Setting In A Lesson Before Dying, the book takes place in a town called Bayonne, located in Louisiana. The geographical location of the story and its setting have an influence on different aspects of the novel, including character, plot, theme, and symbolism. The main character, Grant, and the other African-Americans in the story suffer from racism. The whites and blacks are separated in school, bathrooms, and even where they live. A quote from page 18 says, “Not only was I going up to Henri Pinchot’s house against my will...”. This is not only a reference to the geographical location of where he lives, but also is a reference to the racist society they live in. The word “up” suggests that whites are superior to blacks.

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