Symbolism In A Lesson Before Dying

“Did Jefferson change by the end of A Lesson Before Dying?” “I’m a old hog,’ he said, more to himself than to me. ‘Just a old hog they fattening up to kill for Christmas.’ ‘You’re a human being, Jefferson. You’re a man”’(Ernest 68). In, A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines one of our main characters, Jefferson, goes from being a cowardly boy to a strong man. Jefferson is being convicted of a murder he did not commit and his teacher, Grant, has to teach him to be a man before his execution. The author, Gaines, uses elements like symbolism to help show these changes. An example of symbolism he uses is a radio. The radio can represent many things but, to me, it represents the relationship between the two and how much they

Grant has a change of heart and is less angry and more calm and patient with Jefferson, he visits and talks with Jefferson and we start to see the change between the two, ‘“Jefferson, do you know what ‘moral’ means?’ I asked him. He looked at me, knowing that I knew what he was thinking about. ‘Obligation?’ I said. ‘Do you know what ‘obligation’ means?’ He didn’t answer. But he kept looking at me. ‘No matter how bad off we are,’ I said, ‘we still owe something. You owe something, Jefferson. Not to me. Surely not to that sheriff out there. But to your godmother. You must show her some understanding, some kind of love”’(Ernest 114). These conversations help them to grow closer together and for Jefferson to change. They have more of a heart to heart during this period of transformation and Jefferson even shows him an emotional side we have never seen before, “‘That lady you spoke of, boy, cares a lot about you,’ I said to him. ‘She’s waiting at that school right now for me to bring her news about you. That’s a lady you spoke of, boy. That’s a lady. Because it’s she who keeps me coming here. Not your nannan, not my aunt. Vivian. If I didn’t have Vivian, I wouldn’t be in this damn hole. Because I know damn well I’m not doing any good, for you or for any of the others. Do you hear what I’m saying to you? Do you?’ I saw that grin slowly fade as he lowered his eyes toward the floor.

They begin to get more comfortable with each other and Grant gets Jefferson a radio as a gift and in the process of buying it he faces the racism of a lady at the store. This radio represents the connection between the two and the racism in the world. After receiving the radio Jefferson wouldn't stop listening, “I would hear later that Jefferson had not turned the radio off since Paul brought it to him on Friday evening. The other prisoners could hear the radio at all times of the day and night”(Ernest 146). The symbolism the author uses really conveys their relationship well as well as the racism black people have to endure. Later Grant gives Jefferson another gift, a journal, so he can write down his thoughts and feelings. Written in this journal are Jefferson's thoughts about dying, life, religion, the people he loved, and his acceptance of what he has done and who he is, “good by mr wigin tell them im strong tell them im a man good by mr wigin im gon ax paul if he can bring you this”(Ernest 190). This Diary finally states that he is a man, he has changed, he accepts what he has done and that he is going to die. He knows it's time to leave his beloved radio behind and say goodbye to the