Grants Neglect Toward Vivian

     As we know, Vivian and Grant have this relationship going throughout the story. Even though Vivian is married she is waiting on her divorce and so they kind of have to be careful where they are seen together, even though everyone knows, because she doesn't want to get the kids taken away. As much as they love each other, you can see through various actions that Grant is neglectful to Vivian throughout their relationship.
     In chapters 3-6, you can start to see that Grant does not to care for other peoples problems and/or concerns.  Grant has these spontaneous moments where he tries to get Vivian and the kids to go off somewhere with him. He fails to realize that there is more to it than just packing up ones bags and leaving. Vivian has a life of her own which she needs to resolve before she can start a new page of her life. She also has a career and two children that have a father that wants to stay in contact with them. She can't just up and go with all of them. Grant fails to realize these things because he is blinded by his ideas and what he wants to do. In chapter 15, after Vivian's surprise visit to the house, you can really feel the tension and the neglect from Grant. He doesn't seem to treat her as an equal. When they were in the kitchen at his Aunts house, he basically told her what to do and to not question him. Not only that, after Tante Lou's questions, when they go out on the porch he is insensitive to Vivian's comments about both of their families. Sometimes I even wonder if he thinks before speaking with Vivian. He says that his family's reaction is "far from being the same thing" as the situation between her and her husbands issues. Didn't he realize that after he said that she became very quiet? Silence usually means that something is wrong due to what you said or did! Come on Grant, I didn't think he was that insensitive. Grant needs to realize the things he says and does affect her just as much as him. He needs to let her in and not shut her out because their problems are "different".
     We don't know much about Vivian besides that she loves Grant. When it comes down to it, how much can Vivian take from Grant before she says something about the way he treats her sometimes? I think she should just tell him straight how things are and how he can't just decide to pack and go when things get though. Grant's self-centered qualities not only inhibit but even prevent him from appreciating the people who surround him.

Ignorant Bliss?

    In chapter 13, Grant is faced with a very difficult decision to make in  regards to Jefferson's current state. The chapters prior to this one, he had gone to the prison to visit Jefferson alone. To recap, Jefferson displayed behaviors from both extremes. He either acted as an empty vessel or he copied those actions from an animal such as a hog. On the way back home, he realizes he has a decision to make; either he tells them the truth...or he lies to them.
    Grant is having this inner conflict during the drive from the visit. He weighs all the outcomes of the situation and what could happen. Grant knows that he would have to lie to protect Miss Emma from Jefferson's harsh and disturbing actions. Instead of going to tell her of his visit, he feels like he is unable to face her at the moment. So instead, he decided to go to the Rainbow Club. Grant is known to be one to run away from his problems. He doesn't like to confront them head on and that is one thing that aggravates me about him. Finally when he heads back home, he is questioned about his visit with Jefferson. Although he doesn't completely lie...well he doesn't exactly seem to tell the whole truth either. He is vague when describing what happened and lies saying that he was fine and that he ate his food. He even added how Jefferson "wanted to know how she was doing". He seemed to stretch his lie just a bit too far.
    Grant didn't want to let Miss Emma really know what Jefferson was up to when he went to go visit him. He decided  that he was going to lie to her and let her live in a little imaginary world. I think he should have told her how he was really acting. Either way she was bound to figure out that he was lying to them. Grant needs to think through his actions carefully before carrying them out.

Issues on Grant

   As the book began, we were introduced to a character named Grant, an educated black male. He resides with his Aunt named Tante Lou and is a school teacher for children in his community. You can see that he is a troubled individual and is conflicted not only within the environment he is in, but also within himself.
   Growing up in the community that he did had made his outlook on the world different from others. When he was in the University he had participated within the church to please his Aunt. After years of studying, up to his last year, he no longer believed in the teachings of the church. As the years continued on, he had begun to slowly separate from the congregation. In doing so, he noticed that his decision had affected his Aunt and how it saddened her. Even after all his education, people still considered Grant inferior. Their treatment upset him but what outraged him even more was that he said and did nothing. When it comes to Jefferson, no one believes that he can complete the task. Even he doesn't believe that it can be done but he does it because of his Aunt. He tried to escape the worries and pressures of his Aunt and the community by visiting his parents in California. Something compelled him to return, he wanted to escape so bad, but his love for his community is more.
    Grant believes that if he changes his geographical location, that maybe things wont be so bad. However some of these problems would disappear, but the ones within him wont. Those problems would haunt him knowing he could have done something to change them, but didn't. As the book carries on, hopefully he will be able to resolve some of these problems.