Document Information
- Chapter: Chapter 27
- Scene: Reverend ends argument with Grant
- Draft: Manuscript
- File location: Box 10, folder 52
Discussion Questions
- How do changes in dialogue between the draft and the published version affect your understanding of the characters?
"ain’t feeling any better. And ‘fore she’d give others her pain to bare, she’d take of theirs. She been lying evy every day of her life. That's how you got to be educated. Lying to herself here to save a nickel, lying to herself there to save dime— so you— yes, you— could stay in school. I seen her pick cotton, I seen her cut cane, I seen her hand cut from cane leaves, blistered from pickin cotton—seen them hands put money on the collection table. Yes. Yes. My education. That’s you aunt cheating herself — to help others. Cheating herself to have a teacher on the place, so that he can help others — give them the help you had before. Yes, yes, yes, boy. We all lie."
Document Information
- Chapter: Chapter 27
- Scene: Reverend ends argument with Grant
- Draft: Typescript
- File location: Box 11, folder 9
Discussion Questions
- How does the confrontation between Grant and Reverend Ambrose differ in the typescript compared to the published version? Do those changes strengthen the plot or clarify character motivations?
"I don't know, Reverend."
"Yes, you know. You know. You know all right. That's why you look down on me, because you know I lie. At wakes, at funerals, at weddings—yes, I lie. I lie at wakes and funerals to relieve pain, Cause reading, writing and rithematic is not enough. You think that's all they sent you to school for- -reading, writing and rithematic? They sent you to school to relieve pain, hurt--and if you have to lie to do it, then you lie. You lie and you lie and you lie. Just as she had to lie to raise you after the others had gone. When you tell yourself you feeling good when you sick, you lying. When you tell other people you feeling well when you feeling sick, you lying. You tell them that cause they have pain too, and you don't want to add yours- -and you lie. She been lying every day of her life- -your aunt in there. That's how you got through that university- -cheating herself here, cheating herself there- -but always telling you she's all right. I've seen her hands bleed from picking cotton. I've seen the blisters from the hoe and the cane knife. At that church, crying on her knees. You ever liked at the scabs on her knees, boy? Course you never. Cause she never wanted you to see it. And that's the difference between me and you, boy; that make me the educated one- -and you the gump. I know my people. I know what they done gone through. I know they done cheated themself, lied to themselves—hoping that one they all love and trust can come back and help relief the pain."