Significance Of Society In Ernest J. Gaines A Lesson Before Dying

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines depicts how individuals assert the significance of their lives in a society that appears to devalue them. It furthers into ways the characters Grant and Jefferson find meaning and purpose in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges and societal oppression. The characters learned the importance of striving forward through difficult circumstances with the assistance of each other. The lessons acquired from A Lesson Before Dying are also supported through Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison and “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay. These texts are comparable to A Lesson Before Dying through the themes they hold. Grant gained an understanding of humanity through his interactions with Jefferson. The lesson

The white people out there are saying that you don’t have it—that you’re a hog, not a man. But I know they are wrong. You have the potential. We all have, no matter who we are”(Gaines 191). Grant conversates with Jefferson, teaching him the meaning of certain words and lessons while also connecting with him in order to alter Jefferson’s perception. Jefferson comprehends that by dying like a man, he will challenge the unjust society that falsely condemned him because of his dark complexion. Through his interactions with Grant, Jefferson gained a profound understanding of his own humanity, refusing to let the white people define his identity. Invisible Man depicts the developing theme of isolation through the narration of invisibility. It portrays someone who has lost part of their identity through the inattention of the society that surrounds them. He is not choosing to be invisible, but rather is being forced into this state by society. “It is sometimes advantageous to be unseen, although it is most often rather worn on the nerves. Then too, you’re constantly being bumped against by those with poor vision. Or again, you often doubt if you really exist”

Jefferson is physically isolated from his community, being falsely convicted and locked away from society. Both characters share a connection to the theme of isolation in Invisible Man, as they also question their presence and value in society. “If We Must Die” depicts the feeling of violence, dignity, and the act of resisting oppression. The structure of the poem addresses specific issues through repetition and then directly addresses the suggested action that needs to be taken.“If we must die, let it not be like hogs”(Mckay). The initial line suggests that in the worst predicament, may it not be devoid of significance, indicating the loss of their humanity. “Though far outnumbered let us show us brave, / And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow!”(Mckay). This line directly addresses the action that needs to be taken in order to not die in vain. In correlation to A Lesson Before Dying, the poem depicts a conversation between Grant and Jefferson. In one of the visits between them, Grant conversates with Jefferson about the importance of his death in their