Jefferson's Death In A Lesson Before Dying

Can you grow as a person when you know your fate? A Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines is focused on the unfair treatments of blacks and the growth of characters, one character, in particular, is treated the most unfairly and grows the most. Jefferson is tried and sentenced to execution because of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and being black. The majority of the book takes place in-between his trial and his execution date. During Jefferson's time in jail, he begins to understand and realize that he isn't a hog that is being slaughtered, he is worth more than what the white folks are telling him he is worth, and that he isn't a foolish boy but a man, which makes him the strongest at his own execution. In the beginning of the book, Jefferson is convinced that he is a hog that is being fattened up for slaughter. He refuses to believe anything else, no matter who tells him. "'Youmans dont stay in no stall like this im a old hog they fattening up to kill.'" (83.) Jefferson has the idea in his head

He believes he is property or a thing that white people get to own. “‘Do you see a man sitting here?… No, gentlemen, this skull here holds no plans… A thing to hold the handle of a plow, a thing to load your bales of cotton.’” (7.) Jefferson took those words, that his defense attorney said, to heart. It isn't shown that he believes otherwise until his diary entry at the end of the book. “good by mr wiggins tell them im strong… sincely jefferson.” (234.) He takes a while to believe what Grant has been saying because he was always told by so many white folks that he wasn't good enough. When Grant comes along and tells him that he's better than what the white folks are saying. It messes with him, and he doesn't know how to comprehend what he is being told, but he does eventually begins to understand and believe Grants