ipl-logo

Book Report On A Lesson Before Dying

1218 Words5 Pages

A Lesson before Dying In the novel A Lesson before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, the author conveys multiple emotions that are presented throughout the book over a period of time. Gaines goes into several details that almost makes the reader believe they are a part of the book themselves. A twisted plot is presented towards the middle of the book, which leaves Jefferson’s future in the hands of others. Ernest J. Gaines was born January 15, 1933, on River Lake Plantation in Oscar, a small town in Pointe Coupee Parish, near New Roads, Louisiana. He is the oldest of twelve children and happened to be raised by his great aunt, Augusteen Jefferson, who provided him with the inspiration to write. “the lord just work for wite folk cause ever sens …show more content…

Not knowing his friends would do this, Jefferson has no choice but to take cover and hope for the best. Relying on nothing but prayers, Jefferson makes it out alive and is left to answer for the actions of his friends. Later on Jefferson is taken to jail, where the judge will make his ruling on what punishment he will be receiving for the actions of the shooting and robbery. “Twelve white men say a black man must die, and another white man sets the date and time without consulting one black person. Justice? …”(Brown 345) Jefferson is later on convicted of the crime and is sentenced to death by electrocution of the chair, which leaves his family stunned by amazement. “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.”(Gaines …show more content…

Religion is one major part of the story that helps many people understand Jefferson’s death, however without the faith his family would have lost their confidence. The church happens to hold a special place in Miss Emma’s heart whom is a very religious person herself. Religion is the piece that holds this family including Jefferson together through this tragic moment they are facing. Although religion is a big part of this book, the chair also shows a piece of importance as Jefferson is faced with death by electrocution. The electric chair serves as a reminder to Jefferson and the family that death is near, and the heart break will soon be over for

Show More
Related

Character Analysis Of Jefferson In Ernest J. Gaines A Lesson Before Dying

1052 Words | 5 Pages

No matter who a person is or what others think of him or her, that person will always have the opportunity to change for the better; Nobody has the power to tell a person what he or she can or cannot do. In the novel, A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines, the protagonist, Jefferson discovers that he could change as a whole person and finally become a man, even under difficult circumstances. He is constantly discriminated and does not feel welcomed to the society. Throughout the majority of the novel, Jefferson believes he is his own stereotype and takes it to heart when he is being called a hog. Although he knows he will be exiled, Jefferson and his family hopes for a change in his heart.

Read More

How Did Jefferson Learned In A Lesson Before Dying

757 Words | 4 Pages

He may not have understood, but something was touched, something deep down in him- because he was still crying’ (193). At this point, Jefferson practically was a hero. It was almost his time to be executed, and when that time came around, he went down a hero. Paul came to tell Grant, and Paul was explaining how Jefferson was the bravest man in the room when he was executed (256). Jefferson took his execution like a

Read More

A Lesson Before Dying Character Analysis

1015 Words | 5 Pages

In the novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J Gaines, Grant is a main character that has a lot of influence over the people in his community. Some might even consider him a hero. I believe that Grant is a hero because he helps Jefferson become a man, changes himself for the better, and wants to continue changing the community. Over the course of the novel, Grant helps Jefferson become the man that he needs to be in order to walk to his death with honor. When Grant first begrudgingly went to visit Jefferson in prison Jefferson was in a really low state.

Read More

Racial Injustice In Ernest Gaines A Lesson Before Dying

813 Words | 4 Pages

In Ernest Gaines’ novel, A Lesson Before Dying, the author uses a third person point of view to assess the issue of racial injustice in the South during the 1940’s. Grant understands that justice is evaluated unfairly and knows that it does not favor the poor and uneducated black man. Due to Grant’s ability to be able to understand others, he successfully learns how to bring justice, while assisting Jefferson. This presents the audience the significance of the novel as a whole, embracing responsibility and facing injustice. Grant feels as if he shouldn’t feel obligated or pressured to help bring justice to Jefferson.

Read More

A Lesson Before Dying Jefferson Character Analysis

1050 Words | 5 Pages

Characterization of Jefferson 05.05.18 Jefferson is one of the two main characters in the novel “A lesson before dying” by Ernest J. Gaines so in order to truly understand the novel it is crucial to shed some light on Jefferson’s character. To begin with, Jefferson is a 21 year old, uneducated young black man, who has worked his whole life on a plantation for little money without complaining (p.196, ll.11-14). However, now being innocently involved in a shooting and robbery (p.9, ll.16-17), he is sent to death. One have to take into account that his attorney defended him by comparing him to a hog (p.12, l.5).

Read More

Racial Bigotry In Ernest J. Gaines A Lesson Before Dying

1406 Words | 6 Pages

They made me come with them. You got to tell the law that Mr. Gropé.” (6). Unfortunately for Jefferson, Mr. Gropé dies. Jefferson goes to trial and is quickly found guilty: “A white man had been killed during a robbery, and though two of the robbers had been killed on the spot, one had been captured, and he, too would have to die” (4).

Read More

Why A Lesson Before Dying Should Not Be Banned

1214 Words | 5 Pages

Our children cannot afford to have the truth of the world withheld from them.” Many Americans agree with this statement by Laurie Halse Anderson about censorship. Banning a book is never the right choice when it contains a strong message that is not found in other “safe” books. A Lesson Before Dying include a message about a male, African American living in a white mans society. Although the novel contains different religious views and explicit language, A Lesson Before Dying should not be banned because it shows the

Read More

A Lesson Before Dying Argument

189 Words | 1 Pages

An african american man sits in a jail cell being charged with the murder that he did not do. Now this happened in the film A Lesson Before Dying. Jefferson was suppose to be going to the lake to fish when he got into a car with some friends. Him and his friends went to the shop where the two other friends killed the white folk. Jefferson was accused of it and was called a hog.

Read More

Thomas Jefferson Quotes And Analysis

853 Words | 4 Pages

•“She was not even listening. She had gotten tired of listening. She knew, as we all knew, what the outcome would be. A white man had been killed during a robbery, and thought two of the robbers had been killed on the spot, one had been captured, and he, too, would have to die” (4). This quote is important because it allows me to understand that Jefferson has to die because he was the only person in the liquor store and was a black man.

Read More

Theme Of A Lesson Before Dying

481 Words | 2 Pages

Considering A Lesson Before Dying the author’s handling of each character’s power or subservience, which therefore creates power imbalances, within a critical triad of the novel influences the author’s purpose with regards to theme. A critical triad from the novel includes Grant Wiggins, Tante Lou, and Miss Emma. These characters each have specific powers in the triad which work together towards the overall theme of the novel. These three characters often were seen working towards the common goal to make Jefferson into a man, overcome colored stereotypes,and go against what the white man wants. Grant Wiggins is the teacher in the novel as well as a very powerful character.

Read More

Grant Wiggins In A Lesson Before Dying

819 Words | 4 Pages

Many people believe that they have, or should have, full control of their own destiny; decisions made often result in positive actions or in bad consequences that ultimately leads to what they are destined to do. The character Grant Wiggins in Ernest J. Gaines Novel A Lesson Before Dying, is able to control his own destiny because he chose to attend an University to become a teacher and get the education that was required to be one. Someone else controlled the choice of racism in his community because the majority of people were strongly involved in racist actions. Grant also taught Jefferson life lessons and how to die with dignity. In conclusion, how everything that Grant did and decided on worked out to define his own destiny.

Read More

A Lesson Before Dying Research Paper

1080 Words | 5 Pages

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

Read More

The Scarlet Letter: The Penal System

1457 Words | 6 Pages

In A Lesson Before Dying, without attending the trial, Grant stated that he knew Jefferson would receive the death sentence (Ch 1, Pg 3). Jefferson’s defense attorney only argued that his lack of education was to blame for the murder (Ch 1, Pg 7). He did not deny that Jefferson committed the crime at any point, and did not care about the verdict (Ch 1). The jury, comprised of twelve, white men, immediately found Jefferson guilty, meaning “death by electrocution” (Ch 1, Pg 8-9). The racism within the penal system led to Jefferson’s death.

Read More

Manhood In A Lesson Before Dying

1177 Words | 5 Pages

To prove this point to the jury, he asks, “Do you see a man sitting here?... Do you see a modicum of intelligence? Do you see anyone here who could plan a murder, a robbery, can plan—can plan—can plan anything?... No, gentlemen, this skull here holds no plans'' (7). The words of Jefferson’s lawyer convey how at the beginning of the novel no one, not even Jefferson’s own lawyer, saw him as a man.

Read More

African American Women In A Lesson Before Dying

1179 Words | 5 Pages

African American women play significant roles throughout the storyline in the novel A Lesson Before Dying. Two strong and self-sufficient women, Tante Lou, and Miss Emma, impacted the decision men made despite the woman's position in society. As African American women in 1940’s southern society, they were not afraid to push boundaries and speak up for what they believed in. As an example, Jefferson’s lawyer likened his clients execution to that of a hog.

Read More

More about Book Report On A Lesson Before Dying

Related Topics

Open Document