Utilizing specific quotes from the text, write a character sketch of either John before and after their education.
What are the changes in how they are described? What accounted for those changes?
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Jon Jones is at first a happy and cheerful person but after education he is seen as different person, always serious and sad. This is shown in the text as “This silent, cold man,—was this John? Where was his smile and hearty hand–grasp? “‘Peared kind o’ down in the mouf,” said the Methodist preacher thoughtfully. “. The change here is that he is more serious and cold. Before school he was a cheerful and happy kid. Another thing stated in the text that shows his sadness is when this is stated “ John,” she said, “does it make every one—unhappy when they study and learn lots of things?” He paused and smiled. “I am afraid it does,” he said.” The change here is described as a burden, that learning will make you sad.
“Walks with a half apologetic roll” “bubbling good nature and satisfaction with the world”
“there was only a black man hurrying on with an ache in his heart”
john jones started out as an optimistic man with satisfaction from the world. After years hes changed and wanted to go up north to be free after killing
The character sketch of John Jones before he left he is described as hardworking, good boy :”The white folk of Altamaha voted John a good boy,—fine plough–hand, good in the rice–fields, handy everywhere, and always good–natured and respectful.”
For his family he was a beacon of hope, prosperity and future: “When John comes.” Then what parties were to be, and what speakings in the churches; what new furniture in the front room,—perhaps even a new front room; and there would be a new schoolhouse, with John as teacher; and then perhaps a big wedding; all this and more—when John comes.”
Seven year later, when John Jones, finally returned home, the boy that left the little town, was gone, and outside live had given him some tough lessons. He changed: “The people were distinctly bewildered. This silent, cold man,—was this John? Where was his smile and hearty hand–grasp? “‘Peared kind o’ down in the mouf,” said the Methodist preacher thoughtfully. “Seemed monstus stuck up,” complained a Baptist sister. But the white postmaster from the edge of the crowd expressed the opinion of his folks plainly. “That damn Nigger,” said he, as he shouldered the mail and arranged his tobacco, “has gone North and got plum full o’ fool notions; but they won’t work in Altamaha.” And the crowd melted away”
In the beginning, John Jones was always excited and happy. He was very careless in school, and had never took any of his work seriously.
After he had got suspended from school, he wasn’t the same anymore, and people back in his town thought of his personality as cold, compared to the old John he used to be.
Some of the changes johns has after eduction is he is more enlightened and know how society works. When people have more education and knowledge they intend to question more which can come out as ignorant and cocky.
A quote that describe him before eduction; “And yet one glance at his face made one forgive him much, -that broad, good-natured smile in which lay no bit of art or artifice”
some quote that describe him after eduction:
•“somehow John’s manner seemed to throw a blanket over everything,—he seemed so cold and preoccupied, and had so strange an air of restraint that the Methodist brother could not warm up to his theme”
• “ “unhappy when they study and learn lots of things?””
John Jones was overall a nice guy while we was young. From the quote “always good–natured and respectful”. But towards the middle of the passage, he had a message from the dean saying that he was being removed from school. ” the Dean told him he must leave school.” During this part he felt crushed and wanted to make it up by studying and taking school more seriuosly. After 7 years had passed, he seemed to have been more distant. “Where was his smile”. This alone tells us that he may not be feeling himself anymore and may have potentially lost his spirit.
The John prior to going to school, and the John that came back were two completely different people. Prior to going to school, John was seen as a respectful, and valued young man. The text states “The white folk of Altamha voted John a good boy, fine plough-hands, good in the rice fields, handy everywhere, and always good- natured and respectful “. Analyzing this quote it is evident that John was favored in the community amongst the superior group (the white folks). Additionally, before he went or to school the community supported him by following him to the train station. However, returning John was a silent, downhearted, man. “The people were distinctly bewildered. The silent cold man.. Is this John ?”. John’s exposure to the real world after being bound to his hometown, he realizes that his hometown was not a depiction of the real world. The knowledge he gains from going away changes him as a person .
John,” she said, “does it make every one—unhappy when they study and learn lots of things?” He paused and smiled. “I am afraid it does,” he said. “And, John, are you glad you studied?” “Yes,” came the answer, slowly but positively. Showing how he’s chnaged because he’s happy that he ventured out and learned more things, but also realized it has it’s setbacks, as he seemed more down.
John was seen as a good-mannered boy who was seen by the white folks as a good person. I believed that the white folks had known that if he went to school he would be changed for the better but it would be against them. That’s why they said it will spoil him and spoil him. As he started to learn he realized how the world was and it changed him. People believed he was cold and couldn’t believe that was him. He started to become dangerous and white people didn’t like that. I believe that it caused him some internal dread ash when he was talking to his sister and she asked him if he was happy he went to learn he answered yes slowly but positively. I think this is when he realized that him as a child was naive and didn’t know better and a lot of black where just like him as a child and he knew the great things that would happen learning but also how learning could completely change him.
ohn Jones was very happy in the beginning, but over time, after he got his education, his personality changed. A quote that describes him before his education is “And yet one glance at his face made one forgive him much,—that broad, good-natured smile in which lay no bit of art or artifice, but seemed just bubbling good-nature and genuine satisfaction with the world.” John was happy and satisfied with the world before he got his education. A quote that shows him after his education is “This silent, cold man,—was this John? Where was his smile and hearty hand–grasp?” After his education, he became silent and cold and didn’t have his good-natured smile anymore after being exposed to the real world. In the text, another quote that shows that John has changed after his education is “”John,” she said, “does it make everyone one—unhappy when they study and learn lots of things?” He paused and smiled. “I am afraid it does,” he said. “John is saying that after you learn many things, you become unhappy because you are now aware of things that you weren’t aware of before. Which in turn upset him because he was not innocent anymore, so he was no longer optimistic and genuine, satisfied with the world.