In his novel, A Lesson Before Dying, Ernest Gaines tells a story of a man named Grant Wiggins who undergoes a transformation in character. Although he narrates the tragic events that lead to Jefferson's untimely death, Grant Wiggins' life struggles remain the center of the story. In his effort to make Jefferson a "man", he himself became more of one as a result. Jefferson indeed went through a life-altering period in this story, however one might think that the overall theme is actually about Grant Wiggins.
             In the beginning of the book, Grant shows indifference towards Jefferson and his situation, but towards the end he becomes his trusted friend and confidant. The turning point in their relationship was the one visit in which Jefferson told Mr. Wiggins that he wanted a "gallon of ice cream", and that he never had enough ice cream in his whole life.(Gaines 170) This is the first time Jefferson confides in Mr. Wiggins, something that was not common earlier in the visits. Grant "saw a slight smile come to his face, and it was not a bitter smile. Not bitter at all" (170) and felt the first instance in which Jefferson breaks his grave barrier and shows humane emotions. A hog does not show emotions, but a man does. There is the epiphany of the story, where Mr. Wiggins realizes that the purpose of life is to help make the world a better place, and at that time he no longer minds visiting Jefferson and begins becoming his friend.
             The way Mr. Wiggins regarded his relationships most likely would have been different if he were not a black male living in the 1940s timeframe. Grant Wiggins feels, that several white men try to mock or make a fool of him throughout the story. Mr. Wiggins seemed to be well respected by the community, and he felt somewhat superior to other African Americans in his community because he felt he was obviously more educated than them. That makes Mr. Wiggins guilty of not ...