Theme Of Conflict In A Lesson Before Dying

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The most important conflict in the story A Lesson Before Dying, written by Ernest J. Gaines is the person vs society conflict . This conflict is essential for the story’s themes of racism, ignorance and inequality. As well as the black man vs a racist society conflict is the entire reason for the events in the story to take place, and ties into many of the other conflicts in the book. A quote that demonstrates this type of conflict is this quote said by Professor Antoine : “Don't be a damned fool. I am superior to you. I am superior to any man blacker than me” (Gaines 65). Plot Element Example from novel Quotation from novel Exposition (initial situation) Inciting incident (what causes the events in the plot to happen) …show more content…

Jefferson has become a man, and now he is ready to die a man. Jefferson has now learned his lesson before dying. The Resolution of the story A Lesson Before Dying is when Jefferson is executed. Although it could also be considered the climax by many people, and rightly so. When Jefferson is executed all loose ends are tied up. “I have to go to Bayonne, Tante Lou,” I said. Something for school.” (exposition quote) Jefferson is trapped in a racist and ignorant place, this is shown countless times throughout the book, for example when Jefferson's defendant said ”A cornered animal to strike quickly in fear a trait inherited by his ancestors in the deepest jungles of blackest Africa...What you see here is a thing that acts on command. A thing to hold the handle of a plow, a thing to load your bales of cotton”(Gaines 7) . "Gentlemen of the jury, be merciful. For God's sake, be merciful. He is innocent of all charges brought against him. But let us say he was not. Let us for a moment say he was not. 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." …show more content…

"I want a man to go to that chair, on his own two feet." (2.29) Grant says "I want you to show them the difference between what they think you are and what you can be."

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