Matthew Cooper

11/17/16

Roenisch

6th Period

A Lesson Before Dying

A Lesson Before Dying is Ernest Gaines social commentary on 1940s southern Louisiana

life for the black community. The novel is told from the point of view of a school teacher named

Grant Wiggins who must teach a newly convicted black man on death row, named Jefferson,

what it means to be a man. He must do this because he is forced to by his aunt and her friend

Miss Emma who is the godmother of the Jefferson. At first Grant is highly against going to help

Jefferson and Jefferson too is difficult to work with, but as time passes on a strong bond forms

between the two due to Grant being the only figure who Jefferson can talk to about what he feels.

Grant ultimately chose not to attend Jeffersons execution which creates the notion that Grant

was not there to support Jefferson in his final moments. This is not true because Grant gave

Jefferson the tools throughout the novel to become a strong proud figure by calling him a hero

and connecting to him on a personal level to inspire Jefferson in his final moments.

Grant is the sole reason why Jefferson was able to get up and die like a man and not a hog due

to a combination of Grants teachings, lectures, emotional connections, and apathy towards him .

Through Grants teachings, Jefferson learns to pick himself up and is inspired so much that

Jefferson starts to even call Grant his friend , I cry cause you been so good to me an make me

think im somebody.(Gaines, 232) This is simply stating the truth that Jefferson relies on Grant

to remain active and be happy, reinforcing their strong relationship by proving that Jefferson just
doesnt want Grant to come back and visit him but he actually needs Grant to come back and

visit him. Grant is the only outlet that Jefferson has to communicate with and express himself

due to the fact that Grant has been the only person willing to listen and ask Jefferson what do

you want, what do you need, how do you feel? When Grant and Jefferson first started meeting

Jefferson would give Grant a snarky uncooperative attitude and Grant would act annoyed and

unhappy in Jeffersons presence, but towards the end the two of them really started to care about

each other. This caring about others got Jefferson to begin to care about his community, Ms.

Emma, and wanting to make Grant proud of him so he had to act strongly to make himself a

man. Grant gave the necessary emotional values to be brave and strong in that moment making it

most of all Grant, who was there for Jefferson.

The goal of Grants mission was to turn Jefferson from a hog into a man and the best way to

prove to everyone that Jefferson is a man is for Jefferson to walk himself without out the support

of another. To show everyone that I am Jefferson and I am a man and not the dirty hog that must

be leashed around by others that you say I am. Grant had to fix this perception that Jefferson had

on himself because it was barrier given to Jefferson by the judicial system during the trial. This

would teach all those who think of Jefferson as scum, that theyre wrong. White people believe

that theyre better than anyone else on earth - and thats a myth. The last thing they want to see is

a black man stand, (Gaines, 192) Nothing sends a stronger message than walking to your death

and looking it straight in the eye and being brave for yourself and for the sake of the whole

community. When Paul came down to the schoolhouse to find Grant he told him he was the

bravest man in that room today. Im a witness, Grant Wiggins. Tell them so.(Gaines, 256) The

proof that Jefferson was strong and noble to such an extent that a white man in the 1930s would
vouch for his bravery and strength shows that Jefferson must have been very impressive without

Grant making it more surprising and incredible.

Grants explanation of what a hero is and how they can help those around them really put

Jefferson out of his severe depression and into a much more active and cooperative mood to

become the symbol of the people and make Ms. Emma proud. He explains to Jefferson why he

must be a symbol to the people and how Grant knows that only Jefferson has the ability to be the

symbol that the black community so desperately needs in this marginalized time. Jefferson must

be that hero the community needs to show to white people that we are good strong people who

wont be cast aside and to show the black community that we can be strong and stand our

ground. Grant convinces Jefferson to be that symbol by calling him a hero and telling him what

he can do. A hero does for others. He would do anything for the people he loves because he

knows it would make their lives better. I am not that kind of person, but I want you to be.

(Gaines, 191) This is Grants attempt to get Jefferson to wake up and start interacting with the

people around him and to better himself by bettering the community and to be fondly

remembered as someone who doesnt lie down and take it like he has been previously. Using the

analogy of a hero is a very powerful because the word hero has an incredible positive

connotation behind it making people a whole lot more inspired than telling them to do something

and to obey. This idea of being a hero does connect to Jefferson turning him into the heroic

figure during his execution. Grant then is praised for his ability to communicate with Jefferson

and connect on an emotional level, having Paul congratulate Grant on his good work. Youre

one great teacher, Grant Wiggins I saw the transformation he could never have done that.

(Gaines, 254) Grant is the transforming force behind Jeffersons heroism and convinced
Jefferson to be the hero that would be a symbol for the black community during his final

moments.

Grant was there for Jefferson at the end because he made Jefferson the hero he was and not

another black youth being executed, only through the way of Grants speeches and teachings.

Jefferson also gave Grant the gift of starting to believe in something again as Grant was starting

to get fed up with his responsibilities. The two of them both started out in a poor mental state,

with the two of them meeting together it led to an improvement of character that led Grant into a

stronger state and Jefferson into a powerful figure ready to stand his ground. Grant was at the

execution for Jefferson by manner of support through ideas, lessons, and teachings.