A lesson before dying

In A Lesson Before dying by Ernest J. Gaines, the character of Grant Wiggins becomes a hero by teaching the prisoner Jefferson to die with dignity. Through fate and “bad luck”, grant changes Jefferson so that he doesn’t die like a fool but as a hero. For grant to be able to do this, grant undergoes a series of psychological changes and becomes a hero in his own right. By Grant teaching Jefferson to die with dignity and by Jefferson learning how to die with dignity they both initiate a change in the community by refusing to fulfill the expected expectations placed upon them by a racist white society.

During the 1940’s the character of Jefferson is convicted of a murder that he did not commit. For his closing argument, Jefferson’s lawyer says, “What justice would there be to take this life? Justice, gentlemen? Why, I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this” pg.6 A Lesson Before Dying by Gaines. This slap in the face echoes throughout the black community. If Jefferson dies like a hog it will prove their white counterparts right. Ms. Emma ask grant to take the responsibility of teaching Jefferson to die like a man. Reluctantly grant accepts. At first grant goes to see Jefferson with ms. Emma and Tante Lou. One day

. . .

View the whole essay, without interruption

Saying its only fattening me up for the slaughter.

During this whole time grant despises being at the court house. Usually this would have never been the case, usually the sheriff would have treated them like garbage and said no.

Gaines published his first short story in 1956. Grant realizes that all men ever do in his community is either to run away or fail. At the plantation the pichots are the familoy that owns it, and where Jefferson use to work at.

Grant Wiggins becomes a hero by teaching the prisoner Jefferson to die with dignity.

Grant ask Jefferson if he could buy him a radio and grant agrees, on the way to the store grant stop at the rainbow club in order to meet Vivian. Grant holds his ground and the woman gives him a brand new radio for Jefferson. grant unfortunately has to go to the jailhouse alone to spend time with Jefferson.

When he was fifteen, Gaines moved to California to join his parents, who had left Louisiana during World War II. He has also been awarded a MacArthur Foundation grant, for writings of "rare historical resonance. "

Gaines divides his time between San Francisco and Lafayette, Louisiana, where he is writer in residence at the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

Approximate Word count = 1055
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Simply subscribe to view this paper, and 100,000 others.