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Analysis Of Ernest J. Gaines A Lesson Before Dying

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Ernest J. Gaines’ novel A Lesson Before Dying is a precise and straightforward examination of the value and dignity of human life in the face of racism and injustice. Through his characters and their experiences, Gaines highlights the devastating effects of dehumanization, hate and or segregation of individuals and communities, and brings significance to the importance of compassion, understanding, and respect in creating a more just, fair, and equal society. The Great Depression occurred around the time the novel was set in, and no other race was hit harder than the black people. Jim Crow Laws and racial segregation were a hit in the stomach for the blacks. Throughout the novel, we can see the discrimination towards the black race by the …show more content…

Jefferson was checked by the prosecutor, accused of murder, and he was out of luck to even make a bite back. A key theme of the novel is the value of human life. Ernest J. Gaines, interestingly, purposely returned to a plantation to experience and gain a wider view of black lives at the time. And as his name might infer, he “Gaines” the perspective of what black people lived like during the time and wrote novels based on interracial issues like Of Love and Dust and, of course, A Lesson Before Dying. The novel begins with Jefferson’s arrest and trial, where the white prosecutor and defense attorney referred to Jefferson as a “hog”. This dehumanizing term reflects the racial prejudice and discrimination that existed during that time, where …show more content…

Jefferson’s godmother, Miss Emma, enlists the help of Grant to teach Jefferson to die like a man, not like a hog. Through their lessons and conversations, Jefferson begins to understand the value of his own life and the importance of maintaining his dignity until the end. In the novel’s climatic scene, Jefferson addresses the people in the room, declaring that he is a man and deserves to be treated like one. This powerful moment reflects the redemptive power of education and the importance of valuing all human life, despite societal

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He also stated, “im strong, im a man” (Gaines 234). For the majority of the novel Jefferson stood firm in the belief that he was a hog, not a man. By Gaines’s redemptive and powerful words he tore down Jefferson’s insecure walls and resurrected a confidence within Jefferson. Many other people went to visit Jefferson, but their attempts at making him into a man failed. Gaines found success because he cared about Jefferson, and Jefferson could feel that compassion

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