The general purposes of generic novels are to entertain or inform. Reading can be an outlet for a creative mind or an inquisitive one. After the completion of a text, the reader should feel either enlightened or amused. However a good novel can do both. A good book can divert the audience from their own realities and yet can provide them with the opportunity for intellectual growth and mental stimulation. Connections can be made between the reader and the characters in the story and the events that happen to them. Ernest J. Gaines does just this with his novel, A Lesson Before Dying. This inspiring yet heartbreaking story was one that incited deep thought. Deep thought about the world in which the story takes place and deep thought about the world in which we live in currently. From the moment the novel is started to the moment it is finished, one is wrapped up in the world of Grant Wiggins. The novel is also very complex. There is a literal way to view the actions that take place and there is a more figurative way to look at the story as well. A Lesson Before Dying is a complex novel into the mind of Grant and Jefferson as they embark on a mental journey of realizations about justice, faith, humanity and eventually themselves.
This story takes place in Louisiana during the 1940’s on an old plantation in a very racist community. Jefferson is a poor uneducated man who gets unjustly accused of murder and sentenced to death. During his trial his white attorney makes a comment that will be the focus for a good part of the novel. His bases his arguments to the white jury and white judge that it would be pointless to execute this man because he is no better than a stupid hog and did not know any better. This deeply affects Jefferson. His godmother, Aunt Emma, is in the audience and, realizing the affect this would certainly have on Jefferson and his morale, asks Grant, the local schoolteacher to help Jefferson die with dignity and pride. Grant is angered at first by Aunt Emma and his aunt, Tante Lou’s, suggestion. He then reluctantly agrees. They make little progress at first as Jefferson refuses to emerge from his shell of anger. However through constant visits and through a diary that Grant buys Jefferson, they begin to make a connection. The diary proves to be an essential theme throughout the book as it acts as medium for Jefferson and Grant to relate to each other on a personal and emotional level. Through the connection made via the notebook Grant is able to tell Jefferson about how his death is an extremely important event to the black people in the community, especially himself. If Jefferson is to die with dignity it will be an inspiring stand to the white people who have degraded Jefferson along with the other black people of the town. Jefferson then breaks down realizing the actual significance he has as a human being instead of a “hog”. The day of the execution Grant is unable to make it to the death of his friend. After Jefferson is announced dead, Grant breaks down and cries in front of his class.
The Essay on Chapters Twenty Nine And Thirty Jefferson Grant Reader
... through Jefferson, Grant has formed a friendship with Paul Bonin, the young deputy. This challenges the stereotype of the racist, white Southern ... thirty allow the reader to see the story from a different perspective. Gaines makes use of a chronological sequence throughout the ... a stand against a racist system, they are responsible for Jefferson's death. In addition to the fear she strikes into the ...
There are many different themes that prevail throughout the novel. Justice is the first issue that is evaluated in the book. It is also the primary concern in the novel. Jefferson, a poor black man, is tried not by his peers, but by a group of white people, people who are considered to be his master. How is justice enforced in a courtroom if it is not enforced in everyday life? I found this to be an extremely interesting point. It was something that I had never thought about. Jefferson was not on trial to be found guilty of murder, he was being found guilty of being black. Being black took away his right of guilty until proven innocent. It turned the tone of the trial into one were not his guilt was being determined, but his life. There was no say into justice, simply what the white people considered to be fairness. This biased opinion can in no way be seen as justice, however that was how it was seen by the white community. Another point I thought was interesting about this scene is that Gaines does not fully explain the details of the crime, leaving room for the reader to evaluate his own sense of the Jefferson’s guilt. This automatically pulls the reader into the story as a participant as well as a spectator. Grant recognizes the injustice yet does not do anything at first by refusing his aunt and Aunt Emma. He becomes a teacher to try and teach the young black people of the community to be strong and value him or herself. However his cynicism prevents him from being a positive role model. Eventually he realizes the importance of Jefferson’s death to the community and to his own self and that justice can be found in Jefferson dying with dignity as a slap to the oppressive white people.
The Term Paper on Invisible Man White Blacks Black
Analytical View Of Ralph Ellison Essay, Research Analytical View Of Ralph Ellison The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison by far was a great novel to show the impact that white America had on black America. Ralph Ellison explored the depths of racism and discrimination experienced by a black person from the 1920? s through the 1940? s. Before the novel begins you notice the character as he is at the ...
Faith is another hurdle and mental block that Grant faces in the story. In his education, he leaves the Bible and its beliefs behind and takes a more scientific and academic approach to life. He is at first critical of his aunt’s strong religious values. Likewise, his aunt and the Reverend Ambrose are equally if not more critical of Grant’s atheism. Grant was moved enough by Revered Ambrose’s speech at the Christmas program to tell Jefferson of the importance of his death. There was a slight comment made about Grant’s atheism in his speech. While he was temporarily offended, it made him think. I believe he realized that while he uses academics to free his mind from the oppressive community, other people, including his aunt and the reverend, use God as their outlet to mental freedom. I found this to be interesting and ironic. Grant realized how important Jefferson and his death was to him through the faith of others, a faith that he had no belief in. Another point I found ironic was that the strong religious roots found in black southern communities were planted in the white people’s God. However this can be seen as a courageous move by attempting to overpower the white community in its faith in their own God. I also found that Jefferson was being symbolized as a Christ like figure. The whole plot of the story was to get Jefferson to die with dignity and, in a sense, become a martyr to the black community in Bayonne. He even becomes Grant’s salvation. The intriguing use of faith as a theme in the novel is that even though Grant does not personally believe in God, he begins to develop his own faith in Jefferson as one would develop faith in his or her God, therefore resounding the fact that everyone needs something to live and strive for.
The Essay on Lesson Before Dying Grant Jefferson Paul
The ending of A Lesson Before Dying gives the reader a sense of despair and then portrays a sense of optimism. Gaines' writing is unique because the reader feels this hope for the future and optimism without Gaines having to say it. Instead, he wrote about the execution and the hope was picked up from the "little things." At the reader feels disappointed because Jefferson has died. The optimism ...
The idea of humanity is taken into critical evaluation throughout the story. It’s scrutinized through multiple viewpoints. Through white eyes, as demonstrated by Pichot and Guidry, the idea of being a civilized human entails being educated, polite, well-mannered, religious and most importantly, white. Someone was not deserving of respect if they did not posses all of these qualities. Jefferson was looked at as not a human, but a foolish hog that was not even worth the time to kill. Humanity was not a general term to southern whites, yet a status classification. However black people had a more modern view on humanity. People were people, and judged for themselves rather than their physicality’s. Jefferson’s humanity was stripped of him when the white attorney compared to a simple farm animal. He was placed in an extremely low class and the simple fact that Grant was able to pull him back up and show him that he meant something to a lot of people, was proof that the idea of humanity is not a label but a natural born right of every man. No matter how lowly one is labeled, they always have their manhood. I found this message to be moving and inspiring. It tells that you can determine your own destiny and the people who genuinely matter in the world will see you for who you are and realize your everyday significance in their lives.
The Essay on People Can Learn Lessons From Unexpected Sources
Learning is a permanent change in behavior and thought caused by experience. Yet, we do not necessarily need to have the experience, we also learn from observing others. School and media are the most common sources we learn from since they are meant to have a positive impact on us. However, sometimes people can learn lessons from unexpected sources and this can be seen through how I got injured in ...
A Lesson Before Dying was an emotional read that provoked many strings of deep thought. I started to view the world somewhat differently after reading this text. The journey of Grant and Jefferson to find themselves was one that can include the reader on their own intellectual journey. Jefferson not only plays an inspiration to Grant but to the audience as well. The title is very aptly named. There were several lessons learned in the novel. As Jefferson accepts that he is nearing his death, he realizes that in his life he did not live. He simply followed. He discovered that is death will be much more significant than anything he did in life and he is contented with that, even pleased. Jefferson learns how to die from Grant, while Grant learns how to live from Jefferson. Grant learned that he does need other people and he needs to take life for what it is instead of hating his hometown and heritage. I personally learned to look at people differently. Physically and racially people have always been equal in my eyes, however this story encouraged me to look at people for what they can be, instead of what they are, to not judge right away and to try harder to develop a further understanding of people. In conclusion I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend it. Ernest J. Gaines captured the essence of finding oneself in someone else and the lessons you can learn from others.
