A Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines

My first claim is that Grant sacrifices time and dignity for others. On page 47 and 48 in the book, Grant is trying to visit Jefferson in prison and is talking with

In A Lesson Before Dying by author Ernest J Gaines, Grant is the protagonist who is trying to do the right thing for his people. Grant is in a very turbulent situation, having to make Jefferson into a “man” by the time he is executed. This is the central plot of the story, but not the main themes and ideas of it. Grant is struggling to help Jefferson because he sees generations of injustice through him. “’We got our first load of wood last week,’ [Grant] told him. ‘Nothing changes,’ he said.” (Gaines, 53). The response Grant’s teacher gives him has a deeper meaning: he as Grants’ teacher failed to change the injustice and racism and Grant is in the same situation. “Nothing changes”, but Grant does not give up for the sake of Jefferson, his people, and most importantly, himself. At one point, Grant actually reveals that “it is too heavy a burden because of all the others who have run away and left their burdens behind. So, he,

Wiggins true character is revealed. In saying, " ‘Are you trying to hurt me, Jefferson? Are you trying to make me feel guilty for your being here? You want me to come back here anymore?’ " (84). He is trying to figure out if there is anyway possible to get out of the situation brought to him. Grant believes if he can get Jefferson’s consent he will no longer have to do something he doesn’t what to do. The only problem is that Grant need Jefferson more than he knows. This is brought out when he starts to talk about leaving the farm in which he grew up. On page 94, the author has a series of quotes of Mr. Wiggins and Vivian that say, " ‘I wish I could just run away from this place.’ Vivian shook her head.

In the novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, racism and prejudice are clearly evident and talked about throughout the novel. The novel expresses the oppression of the blacks under a white-ruled society through the narrator, Grant. Grant is a well-educated black man who struggles to free himself from the oppression he has felt from the white community. Despite the fact that he is educated and a teacher, he initially lacks the vigor needed to take the first step against black discrimination. He has all this intellect, but does not realize until later on that it is not only intelligence he needs to overcome the oppression, but self-assertion, too. Education does not prove your intellectual worth in society; rather, it is what you do during difficult times that define your intelligence and strong character not just to yourself, but to the world.

Through Grant’s actions it is easy to see he is not comfortable with his life. He lives in a small, racially discriminated and prejudiced town, and is a college educated man treated like a man who hasn’t finished elementary school. Adding Jefferson’s situation on top of all that, it is easy to see how Grant desires to simply give up and run away with the love of his life, Vivian. But Grant realizes that the issues at hand are bigger than just him; the way Jefferson dies will have a lasting impact, much like Christ’s crucifixion, on the local community. He understands that the dignity Jefferson shows in

In the novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines there are many themes and motifs to be taught. A reader could acquire so much knowledge from reading this book but if anything they will learn the most important lesson to learn before dying. The most important lesson to learn before dying is that everybody can make a difference in life. Three characters that learned this lesson includes Vivian, when she helped Grant when he was having hard times, Grant Wiggins, when he knew that he accomplished his goal which was helping Jefferson regain his humanity and Jefferson, when he realizes himself that he has much more potential than a hog.

Grant had the option to help Jefferson through his hard time. Grant could have gave up on and let him die with no dignity but he did not give up. Although Jefferson had negative thoughts and emotions while he was in the jail cell, Grant speaks to him with motivation and determination. Grant tells Jefferson “ You have the chance of being bigger than anyone who has ever lived on the plantation or come from this little town.” (Gaines, 193). Grant had a huge amount of responsibility to put some purpose in Jefferson’s life. Grant did this by making his own decisions and uplifting Jefferson and tried to bring meaning into his

For the majority of the novel, Grant denies that he can help Jefferson in any way at all. When his aunt and Miss Emma request that Grant go talk to Jefferson to teach him that he is a man, Grant explains, "It is only a matter of weeks, maybe a couple of months – but he's already dead…All I can do is try to keep the others from ending up like this…There's nothing I can do anymore, nothing any of us can do anymore" (14). Before receiving extreme pressure from his aunt to comply, Grant goes so far as to refuse to even attempt to help Jefferson. With this attitude that "There's nothing [he] can do anymore," Grant can, in fact, do nothing. Even though Grant correctly recognizes the fact that Jefferson will die in a short while, he fails to acknowledge the possibility of working through the injustices to make a difference. Grant, himself, feels stuck in his environment – he is "just running in place" there – yet he feels a sort of responsibility for his people and an attraction to the town, and cannot bring himself to leave (15). In order to "try to keep the others from ending up like" Jefferson, Grant wants to help his students, but he fails to respect them (14). If Grant has a bad day, he takes out his anger on his students, slapping them on the back of the head for playing with an insect, or sending them to the corner for an hour

In the beginning Jefferson referred to himself as a hog and that he wasn’t a human. When Grant went up to see him with Miss Emma and Tante Lou he kept saying, “It don’t matter’” and that “nothing don’t matter.” (Gaines 73) It’s obvious Jefferson has given up and has accepted defeat, however, Grant sees that Jefferson is more than just a wrongfully convicted, oppressed black man. Grant believes Jefferson can change society if he would not only just believe in himself, but also to think of himself as the most important man in the whole town. He changes his life simply by believing in him. When he visits Jefferson he say, “I hope it’s the kind of day you want, Jefferson.” To which Jefferson responds with, “The kind of day I want? I never got nothing in my whole life. Now I’m go’n get a whole day?” Everyone always believed that Jefferson had to learn where he was in life and realize what a low place he was in and then Grant could teach him that he can define his own life. He teaches Jefferson to die with dignity. And he does, which is evident in his last journal entry stating, “good by mr wigin tell them im strong tell them im a man good by my wigin im gon ax paul if he can bring you this.” (Gaines

Grant holds grudges against multiple people, but having to teach someone a lesson before they die is a great way to cause change. “Do you know what happened today, honey?” Grant tells Vivian about his time with Jefferson after the bar fight, this question helps show his change towards betterness (207). Grant had no intention of telling people what occurred during his day at the beginning of the book, but he became more open and kinder from his change. Grant’s change starts, not from his first visits, but his latter visits where Jefferson started to actually talk to Grant. Jefferson’s views on life made Grant take a larger look at the world and to start to accept people for who they are and how they act. Before Grant saw the world as a completely cruel world, that was always out to get him and his people, but with Jefferson, he realized that people were still kind to him as well. Grant has swung in his mood emphasizing how temperamental he is, but these mood swings only signal the large chain of his change towards a more caring person. He shows more displays of expression and is more open about himself. Grants change from Jefferson truly starts from his meetings and his displays of

Instead, his only real goal was to get off the plantation as quickly as possible, never to look back. However, this all begins to change once Tante Lou and Miss Emma urge Grant to start visiting Jefferson in hopes of inspiring and changing him before his anticipated execution date. The many things Grant can do for Jefferson such as buying the radio and a notebook and pencil for Jefferson to write down his own thoughts/reflections and stories signify how deeply Grant begins to care for Jefferson and that he can in fact be considered a good moral leader. Meanwhile, the character that is the best example of an antagonist to Grant is Reverend Ambrose, who is entirely driven by his faith and is a very passionate and self-righteous person. He holds the belief that finding faith in God will free Jefferson from punishment, and he strongly opposes Grant’s disbelief in God and

Leaning on her ability to persuade, and using her power as an extensive friend to Tante Lou she can basically tell Grant what to do and gets away with it. She knew Grant did not want to go and teach Jefferson, but still went ahead with it. Driving along the St. Charles River I could feel Emma not looking at me, not looking at anything..just thinking. Like my Aunt she knew how much I hated all of this.(p.68) Miss Emma therefore forces Grant to do matters that she wants, not what Grant thinks he is capable of doing. Thirdly, Vivian, the love of his life, is also limiting Grant's ability to make decisions based strictly on his own intent. She understands Grant's need to leave and see new things, but has restrictions in her life that will not allow her to help Grant begin a new existence. Vivian is in the middle of a drawn out divorce and needs to see it through so she can maintain custody of her children. We see an example of this on page 93. Let's go somewhere and spend the night. Baton Rouge, New Orleans- anywhere, Grant asks. I can't, My Babies. This sentence alone describes the turmoil she is going through with her own threatening aspects and how it effects Grant's choices. I think the book is an intriguing novel and surfaced important issues dealt with in society. Religion, racism, and many other articles of today are just a few. But, Grant is a complex character and can be depicted thoroughly. His education holds him

Sometimes life gives you a test before you have had the chance to learn the lesson. The most important lesson to learn in life before you die is that you have to fight for what you believe in and you have to fight for yourself. In the novel “A Lesson Before Dying” by Ernest J. Gaines, this lesson is taught throughout the progression of the plot through the characters of Jeffrey, Grant, and Miss Emma.

Becoming a highly analyzed novel, many critics speak about their feelings. Carl Senna, one a literary critic, discusses the reasons for lack of communication in A Lesson before Dying. A large part of their communication problem comes directly from their class differences. Although Grant is not considered rich, he is well educated and lives rather comfortably, whereas Jefferson is nearly illiterate and has been a struggling farmhand most of his life. This gap that separates them makes it very difficult for them to speak. Neither one of them is at fault for this, but it frustrates Jefferson to the point where he often wants to leave the jail cell and not return. Also Grant speaks with Jefferson "reluctantly, prompted by his aunt, a moralizing scold and a nag"(Senna 5). Another good point Senna makes is that because of the time period, blacks were struggling to become equals and were more engrossed with their own wants and needs than worrying about Jefferson. Yes, they all realized that he is innocent but they are not at a time where they can fight for the innocence of this young boy. Therefore Grant "becomes their instrument in trying to save him[Jefferson] from disgrace"(Senna 5). Jefferson was not seen as much to these

At the beginning of the book, Grant more than anyone else hated Jefferson and refused to teach Jefferson how to become a man, but after a few visits to the cell Grant became Jefferson’s friend. Grant became one of the few he could trust and share his thoughts with. Jefferson opened up to grant and took his advice for granted. At that point, Grant completely transformed from an angry man to a loving and caring person. Grant realized what it was to actually be a man and how a man becomes a hero! A