Maxwell Zhou Hanf Honors English 10 September 8, 2011 A Lesson Before Dying Violence Final In the novel, A Lesson

Before Dying, by Ernest Gaines, violence is used to describe how the young and the old generation cannot communicate with each other to make peace. Bear had been drinking, and his eyes were glossy, he walked unsteadily, grinning all the time as he continued around the counter. Bear was at the bar and saw Grope, he was arguing with him at the moment. The young generation is not easily controlled, represented with a drunken young man, and the elder generation cannot settle them down. He didnt trust them. Alcee Grope thought this immediately when the two young men walked into the bar. Grope represents the older generation, who cannot trust the young generation, even at first glance, and the young generation refuses to compromise. Bear, Grope, and Brother were all down on the floor. The three characters all shoot each other, leaving every single one of them dead. This scene represents the old and the young misunderstanding each other, therefore causing their downfall or death, representing the weak connection of trust that elders have with these types of young people. Ernest Gaines shows the lack of communication between the two generations with the violence shown in the novel.