According to A Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines, Dignity is a Basic Human Right

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Not everyone deserves dignity... this sounds unbelievably crazy now, but in the late 1940s it was a southern way of life. Dignity should be a basic human right and it is injustice when that doesn’t happen. In the book A Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines, Injustice impacts every character in different ways, whether it’s how they are treated or how they treat people. When injustice isn’t questioned, dignity and compassion are lost. Grant is not treated equally to other people, he is treated unjustly. When Grant is talking to white people he is expected to make mistakes with his grammar, look down, and say “sir” at the end of every sentence. “He stared at me, and I realized I had not answered him in the proper manner. ‘Sir’ I added” (Gaines Page 21). Grant is expected to say sir. The white man is shocked that Grant didn’t say what he was supposed to say according to society. This man and the society they both live in considers Grant inferior to the white man and as a result Grant is expected to act and speak below his actual abilities which is showing disrespect to himself. Citation Grant is a smart person but despite his college education, his career options are very limited because of the unjust prejudice against him. Numerous times throughout the book Grant talks about hating teaching, the truth is that if the society he lives in was less discriminating, he would have had many more options. Paul understands that he has to do some things for his job that are unjust but he wonders why. Before visiting Jefferson, Paul knows he has to search Grant and the food but he knows Grant isn’t going to try anything. “He knew it was unnecessary to search me and the food but he knew he had to do it” (Gaines Page 168). Paul feels like he ... ... middle of paper ... ...oumans don’t stay in no stall like this. I’m a old hog they fattening up to kill’” (Gaines Page 83). Jefferson started to think of himself as no better than a pig too. He was locked up, called a hog, and was waiting for when he would die. These facts remind him of an animal, which makes him think of himself less as a dignified man and more of a pig. The injustice of being called a hog caused Jefferson to lose his dignity and self- respect. How people are viewed makes a difference in their experiences and self awareness which can change their life, people who are used to being better than others will most likely abuse their power and abandon their compassion. Being treated with dignity impacts what you do in life and your attitude towards yourself and others. Injustice shouldn’t be allowed so society can’t consider you either on top or no better than an animal.

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