“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others.”-MLK Jr. In the book A Lesson Before Dying, Ernest J. Gaines explores the relationship between a student and a teacher in Bayonne, Louisiana, in the 1940s, and how their actions affect the society they are living in. Jefferson, a young black man, is accused of a murder, and is sentenced to death because of his race. Miss Emma, Jefferson’s godmother, wants Grant Wiggins, an educated black teacher to “make him a man” before Jefferson dies. Even though Grant was reluctant that it would amount to anything, but he gave his word that he would try, and soon after a couple of visits to the jail, Grant starts to develop a bond with Jefferson. As the book progresses, Jefferson learns that you need to take responsibility for your own actions, you should always be humble, one should never submit their dignity no matter the circumstances, and always remember that even heroes are not perfect.
Throughout the book, Jefferson develops and changes the way he views himself. From the start, Jefferson had no self respect, he was always putting himself down, and thinking that he was not a human being. By the end of the book, he is a much more confident and discovers his dignity.
In the beginning of the book when Grant and Jefferson are talking at the jail, Jefferson says““I’m a old hog,” he said. “Youmans don’t stay in no stall like this. I’m a old hog they fattening up to kill.””(Gaines 83). Jefferson has no dignity whatsoever and clings to the belief that he is a worthless hog. However, by the end of t...
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...polish and perfect himself to the best of his ability.
In the world we live in today, many people call themselves men; but are they really? Jefferson learned a lot in his life, but he also taught a lot too. He walked up to the electric chair a man, and he died a man. He taught us that no matter what happens in life, stand tall and be proud of who you are. The actions that we choose to make are what determines what kind of a person we become. In life, we all make mistakes, and at times, the consequences may be harsher than we would expect. However, it is what you do when you get to that point where you are stripped of everything you have, and know you cannot fight the system you're living in, that truly matters. When you have nothing left, and still keep your dignity and sacrifice yourself to shape a better community; that is when the hero inside you truly shines.
After the Civil War ended, many blacks and whites, especially in the South, continued living as if nothing had changed with regards to the oppression and poor treatment of African Americans. Narrator Grant Wiggins, of Ernest J. Gaines' A Lesson Before Dying, possesses a similar attitude toward race relations. Through his experiences with a young man wrongly accused of murder, Grant transforms from a pessimistic, hopeless, and insensitive man into a more selfless and compassionate human being who can see the possibility of change in relations between whites and blacks.
Miss Emma, Jefferson’s Aunt, wants Jefferson to know that he is a human before he dies. She wi...
Without compassion, everyone would remain separated and divided which would only keep people from uniting to make the world a better place. Grant’s lack of compassion keeps him from developing a better relationship with Miss Emma as well as keeping him from helping Jefferson. Miss Emma is family to Grant and it would be in his best interest to help her, so his refusal to help Jefferson creates a barrier in their relationship. Later on in the story, Grant speaks to Jefferson in one of their meetings at the courthouse that lead up to Jefferson’s execution. Jefferson has been lost in thought as he has lost any and all motivation to reason with Grant. In an attempt to encourage Jefferson to try and better his relationship with Miss Emma, Grant states, “A hero does for others. He would do anything for people he loves, because he knows it would make their lives better. I am not that kind of person…You could give them something that I never could” (Gaines 191). In this excerpt, Grant tries to motivate Jefferson to be a better person than Grant by helping those he loves and putting their well-being above his
Thomas Jefferson is a well-known and respected man of American History. He was a legislator, president, a father, a spouse, a widow, an inventor, a plantation owner, and a slave owner. Many people fail to acknowledge the fact that, much like his fellow citizens, Jefferson too was a slave owner himself. In his life, he made so many accomplishments and strides of progress in the early days in favor of America, perhaps it is hard or unthinkable for some to believe that he was just an average man of his times. Similarly to many men of the time period, Jefferson also had sexual relations with one of his slaves. This relationship was reflective and consistent with Jefferson's views on slavery which were that of an abolitionist of sorts.
Thomas Jefferson has been a household name and has been greatly known by everyone in the United States since the late 1700’s. Not only was he present and play a crucial role in the American Revolution, but he also wrote the Declaration of independence and was also the third President of the United States. During his time as president his views and beliefs really countered the views of famous federalists of that time. (George Washington and John Adams) Jefferson had very passionate beliefs that favored the rights of the people and really gave the people and the states a lot more power than the Federalist Party believed they should have. “Jefferson’s political platform called for shrinking the infant
The book opens with the statement, “I was not there, yet I was there. No, I did not go to the trial, I did not hear the verdict, because I knew all the time what it would be” (Gaines 1). This is said by Grant. He is the narrator of this story. This is a very powerful statement to open the book with, because it shows exactly how race was treated during this time. By saying this, it is clear how Grant feels about the situation. This is a quote directly related to race. Even without actually mentioning race within the sentence. He already knows what the courtroom is going to say. He already knows that Jefferson will be found guilty, even if he was not. Grant knows that the men that would be making the decision are all white men. This means that because Jefferson is black, he will be found guilty. And because of this, since Grant is black too, he feels as he was also there. Three people were in the alcohol store. A white man and two black men lay dead, only one man is left standing, and he is also black. Grant already knows how this is going to look to the jury.
After he went and obtained a college degree, Grant Wiggins goes back to live with his grandmother. Being that he is a very educated person, Grant was elected by his grandmother to try and get Jefferson to realize that he was a man and not an animal like the white people had led him to believe. Throughout the entire novel, Grant is battling this idea in his head because he doesn’t feel that even he knows what it is to be a man. He doesn’t believe that he is the right person to talk to Jefferson. But by the end of the novel, he figures out what it is to be a man.
One of the times Grant visits Jefferson in jail, he holds a speech about what a hero is. According to Grant, “[a] hero is someone who does something for other people. He does something that other men don’t and can’t do. He is different from other men. He is above other men. No matter who those other men are, the hero, no matter who he is, is above them. […] He would do anything for the people he loves, because he knows it would make their lives better,” (Gaines 191). Grant’s definition of a hero is someone selfless who cares about others and doesn’t let the prejudice and condescension of white people affect him. He tells Jefferson, “White people believe they’re better than anyone else on earth[.] The last thing they ever want to see is a black man stand[.] It would destroy their myth. […] As long as none of us stand, they’re safe. […] I don’t want them to feel safe with you anymore,” (Gaines 192). Grant believes a ...
The ending of A Lesson Before Dying gives the reader a sense of despair and then portrays a sense of optimism. Gaines’ writing is unique because the reader feels this hope for the future and optimism without Gaines having to say it. Instead, he wrote about the execution and the hope was picked up from the “little things.” At the reader feels disappointed because Jefferson has died. The optimism comes into play through Grant and the fact that he has learned his lesson(s) from Jefferson. It is also uplifting because Jefferson has died with dignity on the day meant for him. I think that Gaines also throws a curve in at the end through the character of Paul whose purpose seems to stress the hope for the future of Blacks in a white society.
...kes a negative attitude throughout the article. He simply states the facts, supports them, and moves on to his next point. Jefferson never appears to be angry and does not point out anything that distracts the reader from the message that he is trying to convey. He keeps a serious tone throughout that keeps the reader drawn into what he is saying the entire time. The reader feels a sense that Jefferson is serious about what he is saying and he is not to be taken lightly at all.
“As a boy, Thomas Jefferson’s was shy and often tongue-tied…Preferred the company of books to that of most people.” (Wilmore, 1) These were words to describe the young Jefferson; his childhood would prove to be a key in shaping the man, who through his words would change a nation. Jefferson was born on April 13th 1743, in Shadwell Virginia. During his childhood he would spend 15 hours each day reading and writing, this would prove to make his writing skills at a high level (1). As he grew into an adult he would study law in his home of Virginia at the William and Mary College at Williamsburg (Bottorff, 15). During this time he would become a member of the Whig party and would advocate for the rights and liberties of mankind (Peterson, 1). It was in his childhood and as turned into an adult which he learned how to write and how to express his political views through words. “For Thomas Jefferson, the pen truly was mightier than the sword. From his pen flowed some of the worlds most famous and influential words.” (Wilmore, 1) Truer words could not have been spoken about Jefferson’s because it was through his words which adv...
Firstly, Jefferson is an example of a person who never gave up. He is young black man that is sent to jail under the false charges of murdering. During the court session, he was referred to as a hog. This made him believe that the word “hog” defines him as a person. However, after a few long talks with Grant Wiggins he started to stand up for himself as a proud black person. We begin to see this happen when Jefferson did not refer
For Jefferson, racial injustice is present in court. Because of the color of his skin, Jefferson was automatically found guilty by those 12 men. “12 white men say a black man must die, and another white man sets the date and time without consulting one black person, Justice?” (157) The jury that decided his sentence was made up of 12 white men. Jefferson’s trial was unfair because the verdict was made by all white men. Jefferson was really just at the wrong place at the wrong time, but the biased jury saw him as guilty before finding any real evidence. This scene from court is an example of how Jefferson is treated unfairly because of the way he is viewed by others.
The second characteristic that shows society does not defeat Jefferson is Jefferson’s remaining strong compassion for everyone around him. This shows that through defeat, Jefferson remains a strong person by not holding any grudges against his incarcerators. A selection from his diary reads, “This was the firs time I cry when they lok that door bahind me the very firs time…I was cryin cause of the bok an the marble he giv me and cause o the people that com to see me” (231). Jefferson displays tenderness, which is an obvious sign that Jefferson has not let his imprisonment destroy him.
Jefferson’s use of strategies and language is ineffective in making his points and persuading readers of his arguments. Using hasty generalization, begging the question, and insulting language in his analysis is a huge flaw which lessens the credibility of his argument and offenses his readers. Jefferson should use other argumentative strategies and prevent himself from using insulting language in order to convince readers of his arguments.