Symbolism In Tante Lou

Throughout the novel Miss Emma and Tante Lou prepare food for Grant and Jefferson, these offerings symbolize their love for the boys. Grant and Jefferson’s denial or acceptance of the food symbolizes either their love or anger toward the women. One example of Tante Lou offering Grant food, and Grant denying is after they visit Henri Pichot. Grant is livid at Lou for forcing him to help Miss Emma and for making him go through the back door to Pichot’s house. Grant informs Tante Lou that he is going to Bayonne, Lou expects him to be back for dinner and offers to cook, Grant responds, “I’ll eat in town” (24). Tante Lou knows that Grant is angry at her for forcing him to help Miss Emma, her offer to cook dinner is a sign of love and apology. Grant …show more content…
Jefferson again denies the food showing that he still hasn't forgiven her. To demonstrate his continued anger toward Miss Emma Jefferson denies the food, and asks for corn because, ¨Corn for a hog¨ (122). He knows that describing himself as a hog will make Emma upset and make her leave. Jefferson again denies food from Miss Emma the first time they visit him in the dayroom. Miss Emma sets the table and cleans the table as she would at home to make the dayroom feel like home, this meal is very important to her and she believes that Jefferson will think of this as home, “This go’n be his place, and this go’n be my place” (136). Jefferson continues to deny Miss Emma’s food even after Grant attempts to reason with him. Grant continues to visit Jefferson even though he believes that no matter what he says to him Jefferson will not believe he is a man. A breakthrough in Jefferson’s attitude is reached when Grant offers him ice cream. Grant never offers Jefferson anything from him up until this point, he wants Jefferson to know that he wants to be there with him and that he cares about him, “I can pick you up some fruit- and some