Significance Of A Lesson Before Dying

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The title A Lesson before Dying carries a great significance throughout the entirety of the book, and focuses on a teacher named Grant and an inmate named Jefferson. Grant’s goal in this book is to teach Jefferson one final lesson before Jefferson dies, but not before Grant learns it himself. This all started when Jefferson got arrested, and his court appointed attorney said “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 8). When the attorney called Jefferson an animal it made him, and Miss Emma feel as if Jefferson was more like a hog, and less of a human being. This became Jefferson’s final lesson. Jefferson needed to learn how to become a man so that he could die with dignity. This became the most difficult, and most important lesson that Grant had ever taught, because not only did he need to teach it to Jefferson, but he needed to teach it to himself as well. …show more content…

“ Idk where start pg 21 “. When Grant started to teach Jefferson how to become a man he slowly began to realize what that meant. When Grant realizes this he decides to teach Jefferson what he needs to know before it’s too late. Jefferson, however, was very reluctant to be taught, and spent most of the novel being angry, and feeling as if the world had betrayed him. He spent most of his time dwelling on his problems, and had even acted like a hog while eating food in front of his