A Lesson Before Dying Research Paper

In the novel A Lesson Before Dying, the author Ernest J. Gaines shows how racism destroys personal identity and human dignity, yet he also emphasizes the importance of overcoming these challenges and finding that lost identity and dignity in difficult times. Gaines shows the challenges African Americans deal with, because of systematic racism, through Grant and Jefferson, who are humiliated throughout the book. He also shows the empowerment and overcoming of these challenges through the transformation of Jefferson. The influence of racism on self perception is evident through Jefferson and how he treats himself throughout the novel. When Jefferson is accused of the crime of killing the white man and stealing the money, his attorney calls him

By comparing himself to a hog being fattened for slaughter, Jefferson shows how racism has diminished his self worth, reducing him to an animal. Jefferson even starts acting like a hog, which is seen when Grant notes, “He knelt down on the floor and put his head inside the bag and started eating, without using his hands. He even sounded like a hog” (Gaines 83). Jefferson behaving an animal further emphasizes his lack of respect and dignity for himself, caused by the racism he’s dealt with, being told he’s a hog. Through the words and actions of Jefferson, Gaines portrays the negative effects of racism and how it can take away the humanity and self-respect of a person. Throughout the novel, African Americans are not only stripped of their humanity, but they are constantly belittled and dehumanized. An example of this is how the white men treat Grant. As Grant talks to his aunt about his experience going to the jail, he says, “‘The humiliation I had to go through, going into that man’s kitchen. The hours I had to wait while they ate, drank, and socialized before they would even see me. Now going up to

The humiliation the white men put Grant through shows the negative effects of racism on his dignity and how it builds up anger on him, which may cause him to take it out on the wrong people. Despite the dehumanization and humiliation Grant and Jefferson go through, Gaines provides a sense of redemption and dignity at the end of the story, when Jefferson walks to his death. In Jefferson’s final words to Grant, he says, “good by mr wign tell them im strong tell them im a man good by mr wigin.” (Gaines 234). At the very end, Jefferson reclaims his strength, dignity, and humanity. Through these words, Gaines gives a sense of hope and resilience for black individuals in this story. After Jefferson is executed, Paul is telling Grant how it went, and he says, “When Vincent asked him if he had any last words, he looked at the preacher and said, ‘Tell Nannan I walked.’ And straight he walked, Grant Wiggins. Straight he walked down the street. I’m a witness to this. Straight he walked” (Gaines 254). Paul’s testimony almost serves as a reward for Grant, letting him know that all that hard work and humiliation he had to go through for Grant’s sake ended up being worth