Grant and Jefferson
Author Ernest J Gaines explores the consciences of two young black men living in the Jim Crow south in his novel, A Lesson Before Dying. Jefferson, a barely literate and poor man, is caught at the scene of a liquor store shoot out. Although innocent, having been at the wrong place at the wrong time earns him a seat in the electric chair. His defense attorney does not do much to prevent this by focusing on his lack of intelligence and calling him a hog. Grant Wiggins, who has returned from the university to become a school teacher, is appointed by his aunt and Miss Emma, Jefferson's godmother, to prove his lawyer wrong and make him a man before he dies. We watch as these two young men are forced to come together, resist one another, and finally come to grips with their own humanity. Very few blacks in the quarter have the opportunity to become educated. Grant may have struggled in the university learning reading, writing, and 'rithmatic, but he has failed to learn more important life lessons. He thinks the only way out is to escape from the quarter and move elsewhere, someplace where he is not bothered by such commitment. When Miss Emma and Tante Lou manipulate Grant into teaching Jefferson to be a man befo
Although they seem like an unusual duo, Jefferson and Grant taught each other valuable lessons - lessons before dying. Grant realizes that there is more to life than what is written in a schoolbook. He has to teach Jefferson, a man who thinks he is as good as dead, what it means to live. He is scared to try his hardest, because he is afraid to fail. Grant also brings Jefferson a notepad so that he may jot down some thoughts that pass through his mind in his last days. When Jefferson dies, he dies a man with dignity and pride. re he dies, he thinks the situation is hopeless. " Grant shows Jefferson that he believes in him, and the two of them return to the table and enjoy their gumbo. He becomes much more involved in Jefferson's life and even gets into a fight while defending him. " You can talk like that; you know you go'n walk out here in an hour.
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Acceptance Essays
